Anne Emily BerglBirths, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com (born 25 April 1975) is an English-born American actress. Bergl is known for her roles as Rachel Lang in the supernatural horror film The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), Francie Jarvis on Gilmore Girls (2001–2003), Annie O'Donnell on the ABC series Men in Trees (2006–2008), Tammi Bryant on the TNT drama series Southland (2009–2013), Beth Young on Desperate Housewives (2010–2012), Sammi Slott on Shameless (2014–2015), Lilah Tanner on American Crime (2016–2017), and Tessie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2018–2023). She also performs as a cabaret singer.
Early life and education Bergl was born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, to an Irish mother and an English architect father. She has one brother. Bergl's family emigrated to the United States when she was six, initially residing in Denver, Colorado. When she was ten, they moved to Glenview, Illinois, where she spent the remainder of her upbringing. She attended Glenbrook South High School and Grinnell College, where she was the lead in several school productions. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and theatre. During her college years, she spent a semester (spring 1996) studying with the National Theater Institute at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. She received additional acting training at HB Studio in New York City.
Career
Bergl began acting in theater, appearing in a production of Romeo and Juliet opposite Neil Patrick Harris at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in 1998. She then had the lead role of Rachel Lang in the 1999 film The Rage: Carrie 2, the sequel to the 1976 supernatural thriller Carrie. She has appeared in episodes of the TV shows Gilmore Girls, CSI: Miami, Medium, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NYPD Blue, Grey's Anatomy and Star Trek: Enterprise. She also appeared in the psychological thriller Chasing Sleep, opposite star Jeff Daniels. She had a major role in the Steven Spielberg 2002 miniseries Taken.
From 2006 to 2008, Bergl had a significant co-starring role in the ABC series Men in Trees as Annie, an enthusiastic fan of the series' main character, played by Anne Heche.
In 2009, Bergl starred in Becky Shaw at Second Stage Theatre on Broadway in New York City.
From 2010 to 2012, Bergl played Paul Young's new wife, Beth, in the seventh season of Desperate Housewives."Desperate Housewives" Exclusive: "Trees" Charmer to Play Paul's Bride!, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2010
From 2014 to 2015, Bergl played Sammi Slott on Shameless.
From 2016 to 2017, Bergl played Lilah Tanner on American Crime.
From 2018 to 2023, Bergl played Tessie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
In 2023, Bergl played June Levant in the Tony Award-winning Broadway play Good Night, Oscar, opposite Tony Award winner Sean Hayes as Oscar Levant.
In 2025, Bergl played Nina/Mary in the Broadway musical Just in Time, a jukebox musical featuring Tony Award winner Jonathan Groff as Bobby Darin.
Cabaret In 2010–2011, Bergl performed a cabaret show called Kidding on the Square, which had a run in the summer of 2010 in Los Angeles and New York City, then later in Chicago. In September 2011, with the show in New York, The New York Times wrote of her performance:
A later article elaborated on her cabaret acts.
Acting credits
Film Year Title Role Notes1999Rachel Lang2000Chasing SleepSadie2001Happy CampersTalia2003Final DraftHelga2006Natalie2009Get the DimeKristyShortDate BlindSusanShort2012GrassrootsTheresa Glendon2013Blue JasmineHal and Jasmine's FriendI Know What I'm DoingJune BennettEvaEvaShort2017MiyubiCherylShort
Television Year Title Role Notes1999WastelandCorieEpisode: "Indian Summer"2000NYPD BlueAnya WeissEpisode: "Welcome to New York"ERGloria MiltonEpisode: "May Day"2001Providence3 episodes2001–2003Gilmore GirlsFrancie Jarvis4 episodes2002TakenLisa ClarkeMiniseries2003Lisa Soderblom (voice)Episode: "Look Who's Squawking"Star Trek: EnterpriseBethanyEpisode: "North Star"2004CSI: MiamiMelanie HinesEpisode: "Blood Moon"2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentAliceEpisode: "Vacancy"2006–2008Men in TreesAnnie O'DonnellMain role2008Dr. Heather McManusTelevision film2009MediumVictoriaEpisode: "Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead"Bree2 episodes2009–2013SouthlandTammi Bryant16 episodes2010Grey's AnatomyTrishaEpisode: "Shiny Happy People"2010–2012Desperate HousewivesBeth Young14 episodes2011Royal PainsNola Cadeau2 episodesHawaii Five-0Rhea CarverEpisode: "Ua Lawe Wale"2012Ms. AustinEpisode: "Something Rotten in Redmund"2013Warehouse 13Autumn RadnorEpisode: "Parks and Rehabilitation"2014ElementaryMarion WestEpisode: "Art in the Blood"Mrs. Hemming3 episodes2014–2015ShamelessSamantha "Sammi" SlottRecurring role (season 4); main role (season 5)2015Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJudith BriggsEpisode: "December Solstice"ScandalJanet BeeneEpisode: "Put a Ring on It"2016Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LifeFrancie JarvisEpisode: "Spring"2016–2017American CrimeLilah Tanner9 episodes2018YouNancy WhitesellEpisode: "The Captain"Mommy BloggerImogen2 episodes2018–2023Tessie Myerson8 episodes2019MindhunterMs. Leland2 episodesHow to Get Away with MurderSallyEpisode: "Say Goodbye"2020Dirty JohnMarie Stewart6 episodes2022FBI: Most WantedBecca McCannEpisode: "Patent Pending"2026Law & OrderKate LeavyEpisode: "Never Say Goodbye"
Theatre +YearTitleRoleNotes 1998 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Old Globe Theatre2023Good Night, OscarJune LevantBroadway2025Just in TimeNina/MaryBroadway
Accolades Bergl was nominated for two Saturn Awards by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: in 2000, for Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress for The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999); and in 2003, for Best Actress in a Television Series for Taken (2002). For her work in the Broadway musical Just in Time, she received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
References
External links
Emily Bergl Interview by Beth Stevens on Broadway.com Emily's Men in Trees blog on TVGuide.com