Vera Farmiga life and biography

Vera Ann Farmiga: An Overview of Her Career and Accomplishments

Vera Ann Farmiga is a celebrated American actress and director, known for her versatility and compelling performances across film and television. She made her film debut in the 1998 drama thriller Return to Paradise, followed by supporting roles in the 2000 romantic film Autumn in New York and the 2001 television series UC: Undercover. She also appeared in the 2001 thriller 15 Minutes.

Early Career and Breakthroughs

Farmiga's early film roles include the 2003 comedy Dummy, the 2004 drama Down to the Bone, and the 2006 crime thriller The Departed. In 2007, she starred in the horror film Joshua, and in 2008, she appeared in the drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Her breakthrough came with the 2009 comedy-drama Up in the Air, for which she received critical acclaim and nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. That same year, she starred as Kate Coleman in the horror film Orphan.

Continued Success

Farmiga's first starring role was in the 2002 romantic drama Love in the Time of Money, which received a limited theatrical release. She gained further recognition with her performance in the 2004 independent drama Down to the Bone, earning several award nominations, including the "Best Actress" award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the "Best Female Lead" award from the Independent Spirit Awards. In 2004, she also had a supporting role in the thriller remake The Manchurian Candidate, which was a commercial success.

Farmiga has a unique approach to auditions, often making short films to submit for casting. This method led to Martin Scorsese inviting her for a "chemistry read" with Leonardo DiCaprio, which resulted in her role in The Departed. Her performance earned her an Empire Award nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

In 2007, she starred in the American-Korean drama Never Forever, earning praise from critics. She continued to deliver notable performances in films such as the psychological horror Joshua (2007), the drama Quid Pro Quo (2008), and the British drama The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008), for which she won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress.

Acclaim and Major Roles

Farmiga's role in the political thriller Nothing But the Truth (2008) earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2009 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards. In 2009, she starred in Orphan, which grossed over $76 million worldwide. Her performance in the 2009 comedy-drama Up in the Air alongside George Clooney brought her widespread acclaim, with Roger Ebert praising her as "one of the warmest and most attractive women in the movies." She received numerous award nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Directorial Debut and Recent Work

In 2010, Farmiga was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She made her directorial debut with the 2011 film Higher Ground, in which she also starred. The film received favorable reviews, and Farmiga was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director and the Satellite Award for Best Actress. She continued to appear in notable films such as the thriller Source Code (2011), the romantic comedy Henry's Crime (2010), and the horror film The Conjuring (2013), for which she received an MTV Movie Award nomination.

Farmiga reprised her role in The Conjuring 2 (2016) and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021). She starred in the romantic comedy At Middleton (2013), the Romanian-American comedy-drama Closer to the Moon (2013), and the drama The Judge (2014). She also appeared in the comedy Special Correspondents (2016), the adventure comedy-drama Burn Your Maps (2016), and the action thriller The Commuter (2018).

Television Success and Recent Projects

Farmiga returned to television in 2013, portraying Norma Louise Bates in the A&E series Bates Motel. Her performance earned her a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Actress. She also received nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award, the Primetime Emmy Award, and the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama.

Farmiga starred in the horror sequel Annabelle Comes Home (2019) and appeared in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us (2019), earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 2021, she starred in the Marvel miniseries Hawkeye and appeared in the film prequel to The Sopranos, The Many Saints of Newark. In 2022, she starred in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series Five Days at Memorial.

Personal Life

Farmiga met French actor Sebastian Roché while filming Roar. They eloped to the Bahamas in 1997, but their marriage ended in 2004. In September 2008, she married Renn Hawkey, a carpenter and former keyboardist for the synthpop band Deadsy. They have two children: Fynn, born in 2009, and Gytta Lubov, born in 2010. Farmiga's family members have been involved in her projects, including her sister Taissa and her husband Renn.

Upcoming Projects

Farmiga will star in the Heaven's Gate cult biopic The Leader, portraying group founder Bonnie Nettles. She is also set to voice a character in the upcoming animated series Gossamer, based on the novel by Lois Lowry. Her dedication to her craft and her ability to deliver powerful performances continue to make her a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

Awards:

For her role in Up in the Air (2009) Farmiga gained nominations for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Farmiga received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Bates Motel (2013–2017). For her performance in the miniseries When They See Us (2019), Farmiga received her second Primetime Emmy Award nomination, in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.

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