Ellen Adair (born 1988) is an American actor and writer, best known for playing Bess McTeer on season 2 of the USA anthology series The Sinner,Sarkar, Barnana. “Bess Is a Woman with a Backbone: Ellen Adair on ‘The Sinner’ Season 2 and Much More.” MEAWW, updated September 3, 2018. https://meaww.com/the-sinner-season-2-ellen-adair-says-acting-is-like-taking-care-of-someone-relatable. and Janet Bayne on season 7 of the Showtime series Homeland.Stewart, Vaughn. “Ellen Adair Takes Life in Her Own Hands.” Cool America Magazine, November 16, 2021. https://coolamericamag.com/ellen-adair/. They have starred in multiple horror films, including Trick (2019), Cryptid (2022), and Herd (2023).Miska, Brad. “Ellen Adair Shambles to Zombie Horror ‘Herd’; Exclusive Poster Art.” Bloody Disgusting, March 31, 2022. https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3709275/ellen-adair-shambles-to-zombie-horror-herd-exclusive-poster-art/. For the later film, Awards Radar included Adair's portrayal of Jamie Miler among their "Best Horror Performances of 2023."Hamer, Robert. “Sunday Scaries Interview: Ellen Adair on How ‘Herd’ Reflects the Best and Worst of Humanity.” Awards Radar, October 15, 2023. https://awardsradar.com/2023/10/15/sunday-scaries-interview-ellen-adair-on-how-herd-reflects-the-best-and-worst-of-humanity/.
A veteran stage performer, Adair has appeared in the cult hit Sleep No More at The McKittrick Hotel, as well as numerous productions with Shakespeare Theatre Company, American Shakespeare Center, and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company.The Actors Center. “Ellen Adair.” The Actors Center, accessed June 19, 2025. https://theactorscenter.org/bio/ellen-adair/.
Early life and education Ellen Adair was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kathleen A. Foster, an Art Historian, and Henry Glassie, a Folklorist and Ethnomusicologist. Growing up, their parents' fieldwork resulted in the family living many different places.Veasey, Matt. “10 Questions With Ellen Adair.” The Bell (Matt Veasey), May 9, 2020. https://mattveasey.com/2020/05/09/philadelphia-phillies-10-questions-with-ellen-adair/.
Adair earned a BA in English from Boston University, and spent an erasmus year at the University of Oxford. During their time in Boston they began to work professionally as an actor.Noelle. “Interview: Ellen Adair Talks ‘The Sinner’ Season 2 Finale – Exclusive.” Pop City Life, September 21, 2018. https://popcitylife.com/2018/09/21/interview-ellen-adair-talks-sinner-season-2-finale/.
Career Adair made their professional stage debut in 2005 as Thomasina in Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia at The Publick Theatre in Boston, earning an IRNE Award nomination for Best Actress.The State of Shakespeare. “About Ellen Adair.” The State of Shakespeare. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.stateofshakespeare.com/TSS/Ellen_Adair.html. Over the next four years, they would prove a fixture in Boston theatre, appearing in numerous productions with Huntington Theatre Company, Lyric Stage Boston, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Actors' Shakespeare Project, SpeakEasy Stage Company, and New Repertory Theatre.About the Artists. “Ellen Adair.” About the Artists. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/270871-ellen-adair.
In 2006 Adair made their television debut as a guest star on the Showtime crime series Brotherhood. From 2009-2010 they appeared as Nurse Gretchen Taylor on the long-running CBS soap opera As the World Turns.Block, Michael. “Spotlight On... Ellen Adair.” Theater in the Now, February 29, 2016. https://www.theaterinthenow.com/2016/02/spotlight-onellen-adair.html. Adair's breakthrough role came in 2015, when they were cast as ADA Bridget Saltire in the NBC miniseries The Slap.TV Guide. “The Slap - Full Cast & Crew.” TV Guide. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-slap/cast/1030571949/. In 2017 Adair appeared in season 2 of the Showtime series Billions.TV Guide. “Billions - Full Cast & Crew.” TV Guide. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/billions/cast/1000601182/. Their character Graff was a portfolio manager at Axe Capital, and an employee of Damien Lewis's character Bobby Axelrod. The following year, Adair had a recurring arc as antagonist Janet Bayne on season 7 of the Showtime series Homeland.TV Guide. “Homeland - Full Cast & Crew.” TV Guide. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/homeland/cast/1030528064/. Later that same year Adair appeared as Bess McTeer on season 2 of the USA anthology series The Sinner.TV Guide. “The Sinner - Full Cast & Crew.” TV Guide. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-sinner/cast/1000706882/.
Adair made their film debut as Jen in the 2013 horror film The Unwanted.Rotten Tomatoes. “The Unwanted (2014).” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_unwanted_2014. In 2019 they starred opposite Omar Epps in the slasher film Trick.Rotten Tomatoes. “Trick (2019).” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/trick_2019. In 2022 Adair appeared the independent drama film Love and Communication, which explores parenting a young child on the autism spectrum.Rotten Tomatoes. “Love and Communication (2022).” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/love_and_communication. In 2023 they starred in the horror films CryptidRotten Tomatoes. “Cryptid (2022).” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cryptid. and Herd.Rotten Tomatoes. “Herd (2023).” Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/herd_2023. For the later film, Awards Daily included Adair among their "Best Horror Performances of 2023."
In addition to acting, Adair is also a published poet and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.Whyte, Thomas. “Ellen Adair : Part One.” poetry mini interviews, March 29, 2021. https://poetryminiinterviews.com/2021/03/ellen-adair-part-one.html. Their debut poetry collection Curtain Speech was published by Pen & Anvil Press in 2015.Pen and Anvil Press. Curtain Speech. By Ellen Adair. First privately printed 2015; published January–December 2018 (published broadly Dec. 2018). Accessed June 19, 2025. https://penandanvil.com/curtain-speech-by-ellen-adair/.
Personal life In 2013 Adair married fellow actor Eric Gilde, with whom they co-founded Happy Few Theatre Company. They live together in Jackson Heights, Queens.Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. “Five Questions with the Real‑Life Married Couple of Constellations.” Repertory Theatre of St. Louis News & Updates, January 31, 2017. https://www.repstl.org/news/detail/five-questions-with-the-real-life-married-couple-of-constellations.
Adair is vocal fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, and regularly appears as a sports analyst on the MLB Network’s Off Base. They've also appeared on Hot Stove, MLB Now, and MLB Central.MLB.com. “Ellen Adair Joins Hot Stove.” Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB.com, November 10, 2021. https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/video/ellen-adair-joins-hot-stove.
Adair is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales. “Ep302 – Ellen Adair: Rosalind Is My Gender Identity.” January 2, 2024. In The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales. Broadway Podcast Network. https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/the-theatre-podcast-with-alan-seales/ep302-ellen-adair-rosalind-is-my-gender-identity/330
Acting Credits Film Year Title RoleRef.2013The UnwantedJenRotten Tomatoes. Ellen Adair – Movies & TV. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/ellen_adair.2019Trick Lisa Jayne2022Love and CommunicationJulia2023CryptidHarriet2023HerdJamie Miller2025WombMartha2025The HousemaidLisa
Television Year Title Role NotesRef.2006BrotherhoodJamie FinnertyEpisode: "Matthew 22:10"TV Guide. Ellen Adair – Credits. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ellen-adair/credits/3030180207/.2007-2009American MastersVarious3 episodes 2009-2010As the World TurnsGretchen TaylorRecurring, Season 542010God in AmericaSister Mary JohnsonEpisode: "A Nation Reborn"2014Nurse JackieLady PharmacistEpisode: "Nancy Wood"2015VeepWallace2 episodes2015The SlapADA Bridget SaltireMiniseries, 4 episodes2016The FamilyReporter2 episodes2016I Love You ... But I LiedNicoleEpisode: "Paranoid"2017BillionsGraff6 episodes2018HomelandJanet Bayne5 episodes2018The SinnerBess McTeerMain role, Season 22018Shades of BlueInternal Affairs Detective JaneEpisode: "Goodnight, Sweet Prince"2018Chicago FireAmy WhittakerEpisode: "Thirty Percent Slight of Hand"2019The Good FightFiona NovakEpisode: "The One Where a Nazi Gets Punched"2019-2021BullADA Glover3 episodes2020NCIS: New OrleansKarla MonroeEpisode: "Waiting for Monroe"2022Archive 81Emma TrillayEpisode: "The Ferryman"2022FBIOlivia BlakeEpisode: "Face Off"2024Law & OrderDr. Angela JeffersEpisode: "On the Ledge"2024FoundJocelyn MosleyEpisode: "Missing While Gabi Mosley"2024-2025Chicago MedMary Katherine Trempley2 episodes
Web Series Year Title Role NotesRef. 2016Detroit, I Love YouIrisMaine role, 4 episodes 2018RoommatingVivianMaine role, 5 episodes2021JoylandKaren LapidusMaine role, 3 episodes
Video games Year Title Role NotesRef.2018 Red Dead Redemption 2 Additional voices Rockstar Games Behind the Voice Actors, “Ellen Adair (visual voices guide),” accessed June 22, 2025, Behind the Voice Actors, https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Ellen-Adair/.
Audio books Year Title Author PublisherRef.2023 Why We Love Baseball Joe Posnanski Penguin Random House Verducci, Joe. Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments. Narrated by Ellen Adair. New York: Random House Audio, 2023. Audiobook. https://www.audible.com/pd/Why-We-Love-Baseball-Audiobook/B0BR8HRYC1.2024 Dirty Diana Jen Besser and Shana Feste Penguin Random House Somerville, Shana Feste, dir. Dirty Diana. Performed by Demi Moore, Claes Bang, Mackenzie Davis, Carmen Ejogo, Betsy Brandt, and Ellen Adair. Audible Originals, 2024. Audiobook. https://www.audible.com/pd/Dirty-Diana-Audiobook/B0CZ7N3B3L.2024 The History of Sound Ben Shattuck Penguin Random House Klavens, Ben. The History of Sound. Narrated by Vikas Adam, Ellen Adair, Daniel Henning, and Pete Cross. New York: OrangeSky Audio, 2023. Audiobook. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-History-of-Sound-Audiobook/B0CNFDPHZN.2024 Charlie Hustle Keith O'Brien Penguin Random House Giglio, Keith O’Brien. Charlie Hustle. Narrated by Ellen Adair. Nashville: RB Media, 2023. Audiobook. https://www.audible.com/pd/Charlie-Hustle-Audiobook/B0CBCXPRLY.
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