Julianne Nicholson (born July 1, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the film August: Osage County (2013) and the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006–2009), Masters of Sex (2013–2014), Eyewitness (2016), Mare of Easttown (2021), Paradise and Hacks (both in 2025), the latter three of which earned her nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards, winning two for Mare of Easttown and Hacks.
Nicholson's other notable credits include Tully (2000), Ally McBeal (2001–2002), Kinsey (2004), Conviction (2006), Boardwalk Empire (2011–2013), Black Mass (2015), I, Tonya (2017), Togo (2019), The Outsider (2020) and Blonde (2022).
Early life After Nicholson's parents separated when she was young, she lived with her mother and stepfather in Wendell, a small town in western Massachusetts. She later described her upbringing as a "different way of living .. We had kerosene lanterns and camp candles and had a pump for water". She began living with her father at 11 years old. At age 18, she moved to New York, where she majored in French and anthropology at Hunter College. While in New York, Nicholson supported herself by waitressing and eventually left school to study acting and begin her professional career.
Career Film In her first feature film role, Nicholson starred opposite Michael Caine and James Spader in the Peter Yates film Curtain Call. Later she won what proved to be both her breakthrough and favorite role as a headstrong young feminist in Peter Chan's The Love Letter. She has worked with other international directors in films such Alain Berliner's Passion of Mind, and Nick Hurran's Little Black Book. Nicholson's domestic drama credits include William Vincent, Staten Island, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Tully, Kinsey, and August: Osage County, for which the ensemble cast was nominated for several awards. Her domestic comedy credits include Seeing Other People, Puccini For Beginners, and Disney's Togo opposite Willem Dafoe. She also stars in the American espionage thriller, The Amateur.
Television Among Nicholson's television credits are a supporting role in the television miniseries Storm of the Century and guest-starring roles in ER and Law & Order. She was tapped by Steven Spielberg for the lead role in the paranormal drama The Others. In late 2001, Nicholson became one of the main cast members of the hit show Ally McBeal, portraying Jenny Shaw for 13 episodes. She worked on the medical drama Presidio Med and the HBO pilot Marriage. Julianne worked on the short-lived NBC television drama, Conviction and in what is her best known role, as Megan Wheeler, in the sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Nicholson has said her favorite Criminal Intent episode was "Weeping Willow"."Exclusive interview: Julianne Nicholson, of Law & Order: Criminal Intent." BuddyTV, February 27, 2007. Retrieved on September 8, 2008. As of the Criminal Intent episode "Major Case", Nicholson departed the series when she went on maternity leave for the birth of her second child (which was written into the show as the birth of her first child).
In 2011, she guest-starred on Royal Pains as "Jess", one of Dr. Lawson's patients, who has panic attacks. She also appeared on Boardwalk Empire as the recurring character of U.S. Assistant Attorney General Esther Randolph (a character based on the real life Mabel Walker Willebrandt) that same year. In 2012, she guest-starred on The Good Wife as Callie Simko, an attorney who has an interest in Will Gardner.
On October 16, 2016, Nicholson played the lead role of Sheriff Helen Torrance in USA Network's 10-episode police drama, Eyewitness.
In 2021, Nicholson starred in the HBO series Mare of Easttown as Lori Ross, best friend of the titular Mare Sheehan, played by Kate Winslet. The series proved to be a ratings hit for HBO, breaking viewership records. Her role in the series brought her critical acclaim, with critics especially highlighting her harrowing performance in the series finale. The role won Nicholson her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. She also earned a nomination at the Critics Choice Awards for the same role.
In 2025, Nicholson earned Emmy nominations in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category for her role as Mary "Dance Mom" Alice in Hacks, and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for her role as Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond in Paradise, winning the former.
Theater Nicholson has been in a number of plays in New York. Her work in theater includes plays written by Craig Lucas, Adam Rapp, and Sam Shepard.
Personal life In 2004, she married British actor Jonathan Cake in Italy; they met while playing a couple on an unaired HBO pilot called Marriage. They have two children.
Acting credits
Film Year Title Role Notes1998HarvestLou YatesLong Time SinceVivian James / PhoebeOne True ThingCollege StudentCurtain Call / It All Came TrueSandra Hewson1999Jennifer McNeely2000HeroYoung German WomanShort filmPassion of MindKimGodassNancyTullyElla Smalley2001Dead DogCharity2002SpeakeasyRebeccaStrike a LightGirlI'm with LucyJo2004Seeing Other PeopleAliceLittle Black BookJoyce MooreKinseyAlice Martin2005SeagullJulianneHer Name Is CarlaCarla2006Flannel PajamasNicole ReillyPuccini for BeginnersSamanthaTwo WeeksEmily Bergman2009Brief Interviews with Hideous MenSara QuinnStaten IslandMary Halverson2010Shadows and LiesAnnAlso known as In Praise of Shadows and William Vincent2012Keep the Lights OnClaire2013August: Osage CountyIvy Weston2015Black MassMarianne ConnollyTen Thousand SaintsHarriet Horn2016Sophie and the Rising SunSophie WillisFrom NowhereJackie2017NovitiateNora HarrisI, TonyaDiane RawlinsonWho We Are NowBethAlso producer2018WeightlessJaneece2019Monos'Doctora' Sara WatsonTogoConstance SeppalaIniciales S.G.Jane2021With/In: Volume 2MomSegment: "Touching"; also director2022BlondeGladys Pearl BakerWeird: The Al Yankovic StoryMary Yankovic2023Janet PlanetJanetDream ScenarioJanet Matthews2025The AmateurDirector Samantha O'BrienThe TigerTwinShort film TBA The Riders Jennifer Scully Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes1997Nothing SacredCaraEpisode: "Parents and Children"1998DellaventuraCarol DakinEpisode: "David & Goliath"New York UndercoverDaisyEpisode: "Sign o' the Times"1999Storm of the CenturyKatrina WithersTV miniseries2000Marian KittMain role (13 episodes)2001Law & OrderJessie LucasEpisode: "All My Children"2001–2002Ally McBealJenny ShawMain role (13 episodes)2002Presidio MedDr. Jules KeatingMain role (4 episodes)2004ERJordanEpisodes: "Just a Touch", "Abby Normal"2006BarbaraTV filmConvictionChristina FinnMain role (13 episodes)2006–2009Law & Order: Criminal IntentDetective Megan WheelerMain role (Seasons 6–8)2011Royal PainsJess WalshEpisode: "Fight or Flight"2011–2013Boardwalk EmpireEsther RandolphRecurring role (11 episodes)2012Callie SimkoEpisodes: "Pants on Fire", "The Penalty Box"Covert AffairsAnna Lise PoundEpisode: "The Last Thing You Should Do"2013–2014Masters of SexDr. Lillian DePaulRecurring role (12 episodes)2014–2015The Red RoadJean Jensen12 episodes2016EyewitnessSheriff Helen TorranceMain role (10 episodes)2017Law & Order True CrimeJill LansingMain role (5 episodes)2020The OutsiderGlory MaitlandTV miniseriesRobot ChickenWinifred Sanderson (voice)Episode: "Ghandi Mulholland in: Plastic Doesn't Get Cancer"2021Mare of EasttownLori RossTV miniseries2022Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers DynastyCranny McKinney7 episodes2025–presentParadiseSamantha 'Sinatra' RedmondMain cast (16 episodes)2025Dope GirlsKate Galloway6 episodesHacksDance Mom3 episodes
Theater Year Title Role Playwright Director Notes 2000 Stranger Stewardess / Linda's Mom / Girl Craig Lucas Mark Brokaw The Vineyard Theater 2009 This Jane Melissa James Gibson Daniel Aukin Playwrights Horizons 2010 Parents' Evening Judy Bathsheba Doran Jim Simpson The Flea 2011 The Hallway Trilogy: Rose Mary Adam Rapp Adam Rapp Rattlestick Playwrights Theater The Hallway Trilogy: Paraffin Margo Adam Rapp Daniel Aukin Rattlestick Playwrights Theater 2012 Heartless Sally Sam Shepard Daniel Aukin Signature Theatre
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 2003 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Female Tully 2004 US Comedy Arts Festival Best Actress Seeing Other People 2013 Hollywood Film Awards Hollywood Ensemble Award August: Osage County Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Detroit Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Phoenix Film Critics Society Best Acting Ensemble Nevada Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Cast 2014 Capri Hollywood International Film Festival Best Ensemble Cast Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2015 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series Masters of Sex 2017 Hollywood Film Awards Hollywood Ensemble Award I, Tonya 2021 Astra TV Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Movie Mare of Easttown Dorian TV Awards Best Supporting TV Performance Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series 2022 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Women Film Critics Circle Mommie Dearest Worst Screen Mom of the Year Blonde 2025 Astra TV Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Paradise Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Hacks Online Film & Television Association Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Paradise
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