Anna Gunn
Anna Gunn (born August 11, 1968)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Skyler White on the AMC drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2013 and 2014.
Anna Gunn | |
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![]() Gunn at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con | |
Born | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | August 11, 1968
Alma mater | Northwestern University |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1992–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Early life
Gunn was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but moved at an early age and was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the daughter of Sharon Anna Kathryn "Shana" Gunn (née Peters), an interior designer, and Clemens Earl Gunn Jr., who worked in real estate.[2][3] She graduated from Santa Fe Preparatory School in 1986.[4] She attended Northwestern University, where she majored in theater[2] and graduated in 1990.[1][5] During fall of 1988, Gunn spent a semester abroad to study at the British American Drama Academy.[6] After moving to Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, she shared a house with Pamela Adlon.[7]
Career
Gunn is known for her role as Skyler White in the AMC drama series Breaking Bad. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance, winning in 2013 and 2014.[8] In August 2013, she wrote an op-ed piece for The New York Times examining the public dislike directed toward her character.[9]
Gunn played a recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Jean Ward on the ABC series The Practice from 1997 to 2002, and was a regular as Martha Bullock on HBO's Deadwood from 2005 to 2006. She appeared on Seinfeld in the episode "The Glasses", in the Six Feet Under episode "Parallel Play", and on the first season of Murder One.
Gunn provided the voice for Ariel in the Legacy of Kain series of video games.[10][11][12][13] She also appeared in the Quantum Leap episode "The Play's The Thing". In 2011, she played a lead role in the Lifetime movie Secrets of Eden, opposite John Stamos.[14] Her other film credits include Without Evidence, Enemy of the State, Treading Water, Twelve Mile Road, and Red State.
In February 2013, the cable network Bravo announced Gunn would star in a television pilot for a one-hour drama, Rita, based on a Danish TV series about a private-school teacher and mother. The Fox TV Studios pilot was to be written by Krista Vernoff and directed by Miguel Arteta.[15]
In 2014, Gunn starred Off-Broadway with Billy Magnussen in Sex with Strangers, directed by David Schwimmer at Second Stage Theatre.[16]
Gunn starred in the 2016 film Equity. Billed as the first female-driven Wall Street movie, the film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.[17][18]
In 2019, Gunn starred as Maxine Faulk in the Noël Coward Theatre limited time production of Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana.[19][20]
Personal life
Gunn married Scottish actor and real estate broker Alastair Duncan in 1990. They divorced in 2009.[2] They have two daughters, Eila Rose and Emma.[21]
Filmography
![](../I/Anna_Gunn_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg.webp)
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | French Intensive | Rachel | Short film |
Junior | Casitas Madres Receptionist | ||
1995 | Without Evidence | Liz Godlove | |
If Someone Had Known | Officer Linda Reed | ||
1997 | Santa Fe | Jane | |
1998 | Enemy of the State | Emily Reynolds | |
2000 | Lost Souls | Sally Prescott | |
2001 | Nobody's Baby | Stormy | |
2002 | Treading Water | The Actress | |
2011 | Red State | Travis' Mother | |
2012 | Little Red Wagon | Laurie Bonner | |
Sassy Pants | June Pruitt | ||
2016 | Equity | Naomi Bishop | |
Sully | Dr. Elizabeth Davis | ||
2018 | Being Frank | Laura Hansen |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Quantum Leap | Liz | Episode: "The Play's the Thing" |
Indecency | Celeste | Television film | |
1992–1993 | Down the Shore | Arden | 29 episodes |
1993 | Seinfeld | Amy | Episode: "The Glasses" |
1994 | Missing Persons | Ellie Keogh | Episode: "My Beautiful Son Is O.K..." |
NYPD Blue | Kimmy | 2 episodes | |
Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire | Agt. Alex King | Television film | |
1995–1996 | Murder One | Melissa Griotte | 3 episodes |
1996 | Chicago Hope | Megan Stanard | Episode: "Sexual Perversity in Chicago Hope" |
The Lazarus Man | The Journal | Episode: "The Journal" | |
Men Behaving Badly | Michelle | Episode: "Babies Having Babies" | |
The Big Easy | Evie | Episode: "Snake Dance" | |
1997 | Sleepwalkers | Angie Gilpin | Episode: "Night Terrors" |
1997–2002 | The Practice | Jean Ward | 10 episodes |
1999 | ER | Ekabo's Lawyer | Episode: "Point of Origin" |
The Drew Carey Show | Kelly Walker | Episode: "Drew's Reunion" | |
Judging Amy | Emily Noble | Episode: "Presumed Innocent" | |
2000 | Bull | Miss Coyle | Episode: "A Beautiful Lie" |
2001 | The Guardian | Meghan Barstow | 2 episodes |
2002 | Yes, Dear | Jessica | Episode: "Kim's New Nanny" |
2003 | Twelve Mile Road | Leah | Television film |
Dragnet | Dr. Louise Nottingham | 2 episodes | |
The O'Keefes | Phyllis | Episode: "Pilot" | |
L.A. Confidential | Unsold TV pilot | ||
Wild Card | Janell Morgan | Episode: "The Cheese Stands Alone" | |
The Lyon's Den | Elizabeth Hopper | Episode: "Blood" | |
Miss Match | Maureen Weston | Episode: "Kate in Ex-tasy" | |
Miracles | Rebecca Webb | Episode: "You Are My Sunshine" | |
2004 | NYPD 2069 | Natalie Franco | Unsold TV pilot |
The D.A. | Shelly Ward | Episode: "The People vs. Sergius Kovinsky" | |
Six Feet Under | Madeline | Episode: "Parallel Play" | |
2005–2006 | Deadwood | Martha Bullock | 21 episodes |
2007 | Boston Legal | Attorney Susan Bixby | Episode: "Nuts" |
2008–2013 | Breaking Bad | Skyler White | Lead role; 61 episodes |
2010 | Law & Order | Marielle Di Napoli | Episode: "Love Eternal" |
Lie to Me | Jenkins | Episode: "Dirty Loyal" | |
2012 | Secrets of Eden | Detective Catherine Benincasa | Television film |
2014 | The Mindy Project | Sheila Hamilton | Episode: "Girl Crush" |
Gracepoint | Detective Ellie Miller | 10 episodes | |
2015 | Criminal Minds | Special Agent Lily Lambert | Episode: "Beyond Borders" |
Portlandia | Glynis Brooks | Episode: "House for Sale" | |
2016 | Robot Chicken | Skyler White (voice) | Episode: "Food" |
2017 | Shades of Blue | Julia Ayres | 10 episodes |
2019 | Deadwood: The Movie | Martha Bullock | Television film |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain | Ariel/Azimuth the Planer/DeJoule the Energist (voice) | |
1999 | Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver | Ariel (voice) | |
2001 | Soul Reaver 2 | ||
2003 | Legacy of Kain: Defiance | ||
References
- "Anna Gunn: Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- Dougherty, Margot (March 2014). "Anna Gunn: From 'Breaking Bad' to Breakthrough Star". MORE Magazine. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
- "Anna Gunn Pedigree Chart - Anna K. Gunn - Ahnentafel No: 1 (62293)". www.famouskin.com. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- Oliveira, Adele (May 31, 2013). "Santa Fe Prep graduation: 'Our choices are ours'". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
- LaMagna, Maria (April 8, 2010). "Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' star reflects on NU memories". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
- "'Breaking Bad' star Anna Gunn (LTP Fall 1998) won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a drama. Congrats!". Facebook. October 1, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
- Actress Pamela Adlon Says Better Things Is Dedicated to Her Daughters. Fresh Air. NPR. September 6, 2016. Event occurs at 7:20.
- Rice, Lynette (July 19, 2012). "Emmys 2012: And the nominees are..." Entertainment Weekly.
- Gunn, Anna (August 23, 2013). "I Have a Character Issue". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- "Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain - Credits". Allgame. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- "Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver - Credits". Allgame. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
- "Soul Reaver 2 - Credits". Allgame. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
- "Legacy of Kain: Defiance - Credits". Allgame. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
- "About the Movie Secrets of Eden". Lifetime. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- Andreeva, Nellie (February 1, 2013). "Anna Gunn To Star In Bravo Drama Pilot 'Rita'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- Isherwood, Charles (July 30, 2014). "Between the Sheets: Anna Gunn and Billy Magnussen Star in Sex with Strangers". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- McNary, Dace. "Anna Gunn Starring in Female-Driven Wall Street Movie". Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- Chang, Justin. "Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2016 Competition, Next Films". Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara; Alvarez, Joe (February 2, 2019). "The Night Of The Iguana: Clive Owen Returns to The West End". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- Johnson, Robin (February 1, 2019). "Clive Owen, Anna Gunn & Lia Williams to star in The Night Of The Iguana". Official London Theatre. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- Gee, Alison (September 14, 2006). "Deadwood's Anna Gunn Has a Girl". People. Retrieved March 21, 2013.