Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director based in NY. She has collaborated with Noah Baumbach on several films, including Greenberg (2010), Frances Ha (2012), for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, and Mistress America (2015). Gerwig made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), which she also wrote, and has also had starring roles in the films Damsels in Distress (2011), Jackie (2016), and 20th Century Women (2016).
Greta Celeste Gerwig was born in Sacramento, California, to Christine Gerwig (née Sauer), a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist, but also attended an all-girls Catholic school. She has described herself as "an intense child". With an early interest in dance, she intended to get a degree in musical theatre in New York. She graduated from Barnard College in NY, where she studied English and philosophy, instead.
Originally intending to become a playwright, after meeting young film director Joe Swanberg, she became the star of a series of intellectual low budget movies made by first-time filmmakers, a trend dubbed "mumblecore". Gerwig was cast in a minor role in Swanberg's LOL (2006) in 2006, while still studying at Barnard. She then appeared in many of Swanberg's films, and personally co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced one entitled Nights and Weekends (2008). She has worked with good quality directors such as Ti West (The House of the Devil (2009)), Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress (2011)), or Woody Allen (To Rome with Love (2012)) but success and (international) recognition did not come until Frances Ha (2012), directed by Noah Baumbach, a film she also co-wrote. Both tall and immature, awkward and graceful, blundering and candid, annoying and engaging, Greta has won all hearts in the title role of Frances Ha(liday).
In 2017, she wrote and directed the highly acclaimed, semi-autobiographical teen movie Lady Bird (2017), set in 2002-2003, and starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Timothée Chalamet. In 2011, Gerwig received an award for Acting from the Athena Film Festival for her artistry as one of Hollywood's definitive screen actresses of her generation.
Photos
Movies (47)
Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
2027 · Director, Producer, Writer
Jay Kelly
2025 · Lois Sukenick
Pavements
2025 · Self (uncredited), Thanks
Snow White
2025 · Additional Writing
Carole & Grey
2024 · Greta Gerwig
Janet Planet
2024 · Thanks
Greta Gerwig: Itinerary of a Rising Star
2024 · Self (archive footage)
Barbie
2023 · Executive Producer, Director, Writer
White Noise
2022 · Babette Gladney
Little Women
2019 · Writer, Director
Isle of Dogs
2018 · Tracy Walker (voice)
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
2017 · Victoria (voice)
Lady Bird
2017 · Writer, Director
20th Century Women
2016 · Abbie
Jackie
2016 · Nancy Tuckerman
Wiener-Dog
2016 · Dawn Wiener
Maggie's Plan
2016 · Maggie Hardin
Mistress America
2015 · Brooke Cardinas, Producer, Writer
China, Il The Musical
2015 · Pony Merks, Writer
Jagoo
2015 · Olivia
The Humbling
2014 · Pegeen Mike Stapleford
Eden
2014 · Julia
Making a Scene | 11 Performances
2013
Frances Ha
2013 · Frances Halladay, Writer
Side by Side
2012 · Self
Lola Versus
2012 · Lola
To Rome with Love
2012 · Sally
Damsels in Distress
2012 · Violet Wister
Arthur
2011 · Naomi Quinn
The Dish & the Spoon
2011 · Rose
No Strings Attached
2011 · Patrice
Northern Comfort
2010 · Cassandra, Writer
Art House
2010 · Nora Ohr
Greenberg
2010 · Florence Marr
The House of the Devil
2009 · Megan
Family Tree
2009
A NY Thing
2009 · Tamera
You Wont Miss Me
2009 · Bridget
Nights and Weekends
2008 · Mattie, Director, Writer, Producer
Quick Feet, Soft Hands
2008 · Lisa
Yeast
2008 · Gen
Baghead
2008 · Michelle
Hannah Takes the Stairs
2007 · Hannah, Writer
Thanks for the Add!
2006 · Girl
LOL
2006 · Greta
Thomas the Obscure
2005 · Anne
Untitled Chronicles of Narnia Film #2
· Director, Writer
TV shows (22)
Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter
2023 · Self
Cannes Festival
2022 · Self - Guest
The Ghost and Molly McGee
2021 · Self (voice)
Directors on Directors
2021 · Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Self - Guest
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015 · Self
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014 · Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self - Guest
Off Camera with Sam Jones
2014 · Self
The Mindy Project
2012 · Sarah Branum
China, IL
2011 · Pony Merks (voice)
Portlandia
2011
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
Made in Hollywood
2005 · Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self (uncredited), Self, Self - Guest
The View
1997 · Self
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Cameo (uncredited)
60 Minutes
1968 · Self
The Oscars
1953 · Self
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · Self - Nominee
How I Met Your Dad
· Sally Javits, Writer, Producer