Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films Stay, The Family Stone, Sweet Land, Against the Current, The Twilight Saga, Young Adult, and Ouija: Origin of Evil, and the TV series Saved, Grey's Anatomy, The Ex-List, The Good Wife, True Detective, Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Haunting of Hill House.
Early life and education Reaser was born in the affluent Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills. Her parents are Karen Davidson (née Weidman) and John Reaser. She is the middle of three sisters. In 1995, her mother married billionaire businessman William Davidson.Davidson's Wife to Succeed Him As Owner of the Pistons Yahoo Sports, March 14, 2009
Reaser attended both the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills 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's Drama Division (1995–1999, Group 28), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts 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 magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women. Her work in the film Sweet Land earned the "Jury Award" at the Newport Beach Film Festival and a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award "Best Female Lead" award. Reaser earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 and 2008 on the television series Grey's Anatomy.
Reaser is best known for her portrayal of Esme Cullen in the film Twilight, 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, The Good Wife in October 2010.
Reaser appeared in Season 3 of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes2001 Miriam Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Young Woman In Class 2002 Emmett's Mark Alison Holmes 2004 Mind the Gap Malissa Zubach2005 Stay Athena Sweet Land Young Inge Susannah Stone Trousdale2006 The Wedding Weekend Julep Puccini for Beginners Allegra 2007 Purple Violets Bernadette 2008 Twilight Esme Cullen2009 Against the Current Liz Clark Esme Cullen 2010 Esme Cullen2011 Charlotte Howe Esme Cullen Young Adult Beth Slade2012 Liberal Arts Ana Esme Cullen2015 One & Two Elizabeth Hello, My Name Is Doris Dr. Edwards 2016 Ouija: Origin of Evil Alice Zander 2018 Nightmare Cinema Helen "This Way to Egress" segment 2020 Embattled Susan Boykins 2023 Dark Harvest Donna Shepard 2024 The Uninvited Rose 2026 Act One Julie
Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal Molly Episode: "Scrubs" 2000 Stace Episode: "D-Girl" 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Serena Whitfield Episode: "The Insider"2004 Hack Elaine Jones Episode: "Extreme Commerce" Rachel Byrnes Episode: "Pilot"2006Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jillian Slaughter Episode: "Proud Flesh" Saved Alice Alden, M.D. 13 episodes Standoff Anya Reed Episode: "Heroine" 2007–2008 Grey's Anatomy Ava / Rebecca Pope 18 episodes2008 Wainy Days Annie Episode: "The Waindow" Bella Bloom 13 episodes 2010–2012 Tammy Linnata 7 episodes 2013 Bonnie and Clyde: Dead and Alive P.J. Lane 2 episodes 2014 True Detective Laurie Perkins Episode: "The Secret Fate of All Life" 2015 Mad Men Diana Baur 2 episodes 2016–2019 Easy Andi 5 episodes 2017 Manhunt: Unabomber Ellie Fitzgerald 8 episodes Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders Pam Bozanich 7 episodes 2018 The Haunting of Hill House Adult Shirley Crain 8 episodes 2019 The Handmaid's Tale Mrs. Winslow 3 episodes 2020 50 States of FrightSara2 episodes 2021 Impeachment: American Crime Story Kathleen Willey 2 episodes
Theater Year Title Role Notes1999Sweet Bird of YouthHeavenlyLa Jolla Playhouse2000MimiBlue Lights Theatre Company2001BlackbirdFroggyBush TheatreCloserAlicePortland Center Stage2002Stone Cold Dead SeriousShaylee Ledbetter / ShariceAmerican Repertory Theater2003PerditaClassic Stage Company2005Top GirlsPatient Griselda / Nell / JeanineWilliamstown Theatre Festival2012How I Learned to DriveLi'l BitSecond Stage Theatre2014ConvictionNo Name Bay Street Theater2015The Money ShotKarenLucille Lortel TheaterPermissionCyndy
Awards and nominations + List of awards and nominations Year Award Category Title of work Result 2006 Newport Beach Film Festival Jury Award – Best Actress (Feature Film)Sweet Land 2007 Independent Spirit Award Best Female Lead 2007 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesGrey's Anatomy 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2009 Prism Award Best Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline
References
External links