Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films ''

Stay Stay may refer to: Places * Stay, Kentucky, an unincorporated community in the US Law * Stay of execution, a ruling to temporarily suspend the enforcement of a court judgment * Stay of proceedings, a ruling halting further legal process in a tr ...

'', '' The Family Stone'', ''

Sweet Land ''Sweet Land'' is a 2005 American independent period drama film written and directed by Ali Selim. It is an adaptation of the 1989 short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat" by Will Weaver. The film stars Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee, Lois S ...

'', '' Against the Current'', ''

The Twilight Saga The Twilight Saga may refer to: * ''Twilight'' (novel series), a novel series by Stephenie Meyer. * ''The Twilight Saga'' (film series), a film series on based the novel series by Stephenie Meyer * '' The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated ...

'', ''

Young Adult A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...

'', and '' Ouija: Origin of Evil'', and the TV series '' Saved'', ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into ...

'', ''

The Ex-List ''The Ex List'' is an American comedy-drama television series based on the Israeli series ''The Mythological X'' created and written by Sigal Avin. The Americanized version, developed by Diane Ruggiero, premiered on CBS on October 3, 2008. Avin a ...

'', ''

The Good Wife ''The Good Wife'' is an American legal and political drama television series that aired on CBS from September 22, 2009, to May 8, 2016. It focuses on Alicia Florrick, the wife of the Cook County State's Attorney, who returns to her career in ...

'', ''

True Detective ''True Detective'' is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. The series, broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States, premiered on January 12, 2014. Each season of the ...

The Handmaid's Tale ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is a futuristic dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and published in 1985. It is set in a near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state known as the Republic of Gilead, which ...

'', and ''

The Haunting of Hill House ''The Haunting of Hill House'' is a 1959 gothic horror novel by American author Shirley Jackson. A finalist for the National Book Award and considered one of the best literary ghost stories published during the 20th century, it has been ...

''.

Early life and education

Reaser was born in the affluent

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

suburb of

Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills is a small city (5.04 sq. miles) in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Metro Detroit and is approximately northwest of Downtown Detroit. Except a small southern border with the city of Birm ...

. Her parents are Karen Davidson (née Weidman) and John Reaser.The Jewish News: "Bill’s Dreams Live On"
October 11, 2012 She is the middle of three sisters. In 1995, her mother married billionaire businessman William Davidson. Reaser attended both the Academy of the Sacred Heart in

and Avondale High School in Auburn Hills where she graduated in 1993. After high school, she attended Oakland University for one year, then attended the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most ...

's Drama Division (1995–1999, Group 28), where she graduated with a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachelor ...

degree in 1999.

Career

Reaser prepared for her role on '' Saved'' by spending time in an emergency room, observing the behavior of medical staff. In October 2004, ''

Interview An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...

'' magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women. Her work in the film ''

'' earned the "Jury Award" at the

Newport Beach Film Festival The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is an annual film festival in Newport Beach, California, typically held in late April. In 2022, it was announced that the festival have permanently changed its date to be held in October, as the festival be ...

and a nomination for the

Independent Spirit Award The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass ...

"Best Female Lead" award. Reaser earned a

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 and 2008 on the television series ''

''. Reaser is best known for her portrayal of Esme Cullen in the film ''

Twilight Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this ...

'', and its follow-ups '' The Twilight Saga: New Moon'' in 2009, '' The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'' in 2010, and parts one (2011) and two (2012) of ''The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn''. Reaser appeared on the CBS' legal drama, ''

'' in October 2010. Reaser appeared in Season 3 of ''The Handmaid's Tale'' on Hulu.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reaser, Elizabeth 1975 births Living people Actresses from Michigan American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Juilliard School alumni Oakland University alumni People from Bloomfield, Oakland County, Michigan 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses American Shakespearean actresses