Kim Dickens is an American actress. She is known for starring as Madison Clark in the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead (2015–2018; 2022–2023), Joanie Stubbs in HBO's Deadwood (2004–2006; 2019), and Detective Rhonda Boney in Gone Girl (2014).
She has also starred as Kate Baldwin in the Netflix political drama House of Cards (2015–2017), Cassidy Phillips on the ABC television series Lost (2006–2009) and has had film roles in Mercury Rising (1998), Hollow Man (2000), House of Sand and Fog (2003), The Blind Side (2009), and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016).
Early life and education Dickens was born in Huntsville, Alabama, to Pam (Clark) Howell and Justin Dickens, a country-western singer.Hollywood Life She graduated from that city's Lee High School and attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications. Dickens soon moved to New York City, where she worked as a waitress, to continue her studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Career 1990s Dickens made her stage debut in a student production of David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago, at Vanderbilt University. In 1995, she made her professional screen debut in Alan Taylor's comedy film Palookaville, playing Vincent Gallo's character's girlfriend. Dickens spent the following year playing supporting roles in the made-for-television films Voice from the Grave and Two Mothers for Zachary. In 1997, Dickens returned to film, playing the female leading role opposite Vincent Gallo again in neo-noir thriller Truth or Consequences, N.M., directed by Kiefer Sutherland. The film received negative reviews from critics. In 1998, she appeared in Great Expectations, a film adaptation of the Charles Dickens's novel, and had the female leading roles in Zero Effect and Mercury Rising. In 1999, she starred alongside Antonio Banderas in the comedy film, The White River Kid.
2000s In 2000, Dickens had co-starring roles in films Committed opposite Heather Graham, Hollow Man with Elisabeth Shue and Kevin Bacon, and The Gift starring Cate Blanchett. The following year, she played the lead in the independent film Things Behind the Sun. She received acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead nomination. Later in 2001, Dickens was a regular cast member in the short-lived CBS police drama series, Big Apple. In 2003, she co-starred opposite Felicity Huffman and Eric Stoltz in the Showtime miniseries Out of Order.
During the 2000s, Dickens mostly worked on television, playing Joanie Stubbs, the madam, in the HBO western Deadwood from 2004 to 2006. She was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2007 for this role. She was a regular cast member in the unaired HBO comedy series, 12 Miles of Bad Road starring Lily Tomlin and Mary Kay Place. She had recurring roles on Lost and Friday Night Lights. In film, Dickens co-starred in House of Sand and Fog (2003) with Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley, Thank You for Smoking (2005), Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006), Red (2008) and The Blind Side (2009).
2010s
From 2010 to 2013, Dickens was a regular on the HBO ensemble drama series, Treme, as chef Janette Desautel. From 2013 to 2014, she had a recurring role as Colette Jane in the FX crime drama, Sons of Anarchy. In 2015, she had a recurring role in the Netflix political drama House of Cards. In film, she co-starred in Footloose (2011) and At Any Price (2012). In 2014, she had a major supporting role as Detective Rhonda Boney in the psychological thriller film Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher, and in 2016, co-starred as the lead character's mother in Tim Burton's film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
In August 2015, Dickens began playing Madison Clark in The Walking Dead companion series Fear the Walking Dead on AMC. Dickens left the series in June 2018. She returned to the series in 2022.
2020s Dickens appeared in the 2021 film Land.
In December 2021, it was announced on Talking Dead that Dickens would be returning to Fear the Walking Dead in the seventh season and would be a series regular in its eighth season. Dickens herself made a surprise guest appearance on the show to make the announcement to fans personally.
Personal life Dickens moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s. She is currently in a relationship with musician and actress Leisha Hailey, known for being a member of the musical duo the Murmurs, as well as her role as Alice Pieszecki on The L Word.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1995PalookavilleLaurie1997Truth or Consequences, N.M.Addy Monroe1998Zero EffectGloria SullivanGreat ExpectationsMaggieMercury RisingStacey1999The White River KidApple Lisa2000CommittedJennyHollow ManSarah KennedyNominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actress - Science FictionThe GiftLinda2001Things Behind the SunSherryNominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead2003House of Sand and FogCarol Burdon2004Goodnight, Joseph ParkerMuriel2005Thank You for SmokingJill Naylor2006Wild Tigers I Have KnownThe Counselor2007WaitingJohn's WifeShort film2008RedCarrie2009One Way to ValhallaJennyThe Blind SideMrs. Boswell2011FootlooseLulu Warnicker2012At Any PriceIrene Whipple2014Gone GirlDetective Rhonda BoneyNominated — Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best EnsembleNominated — Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble 2016Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar ChildrenMaryann Portman 2018 Lizzie Emma Borden 2019 The Highwaymen Gladys Hamer 2021 Land Emma 2022 The In Between Vickie The Good Nurse Linda Garran 2027 An Innocent Girl Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes1995New York NewsUnknownEpisode: "Cost of Living"1996Swift JusticeAnnie PetersEpisode: "Out on a Limb"Voice from the GraveTerry DeverouxTelevision filmTwo Mothers for ZacharyNancy1997Spin CityVeronicaEpisode: "Kiss Me, Stupid"Heart Full of RainSusan DoyleTelevision film2001Big AppleSarah Day8 episodes2003Out of OrderDanni6 episodes2004–2006DeadwoodJoanie Stubbs33 episodes Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series2006Numb3rsCrystal Hoyle2 episodes2006–2009LostCassidy Phillips4 episodes200812 Miles of Bad RoadJonelle Shakespeare6 episodes1%RhondaUnsold television pilot2008–2009Friday Night LightsShelby Saracen11 episodes2009FlashForwardKate StarkEpisode: "137 Sekunden"2010Reviving OpheliaLe AnneTelevision film2010–2013TremeJanette Desautel36 episodes2013Second SightSamantha WildeUnsold television pilot2013–2014Sons of AnarchyColette Jane7 episodes2013White CollarJillEpisode: "Quantico Closure"2014Red ZoneHelen WellerUnsold television pilot2015–2017House of CardsKate Baldwin9 episodes2015–2018;2022–2023Fear the Walking Dead Madison ClarkLead role (seasons 1–4, 8)Guest star (season 7)Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (2016–2017)2016–2018; 2021Talking DeadHerself7 episodes2019Deadwood: The MovieJoanie StubbsTelevision film2020BriarpatchEve Raytek9 episodes2025The Better SisterNancy Guidry8 episodes
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes2020Half-Life: AlyxScientist
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