The Many Faces of Ann Dowd ~ 25 Years in Film & TV
Monday, June 22, 2015 at 8:45AM As this new week begins, I need to take a moment to express gratitude for what made last week special. Ann Dowd was gracious with her time and thoughts for a special guest blog day. In case any of you missed it, it was neat to get an insight into her work on The Leftovers, hear about her teenage reaction to Romeo & Juliet, and more. I particularly enjoyed her comments on falling in love with acting and advice for young actors. Regarding the latter, I'm not an actor but it resonated with me strongly and I think it's great advice for any career that requires risk, heart, soul, and the ability to handle considerable peaks and valleys.
Which is quite a few careers if you stop to think about it.
Ann Dowd's film and television career began in earnest 25 years ago in 1990 with a role in the Golden Globe Comedy winner Green Card and guest appearances on two different TV series The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd and The Baby-Sitter's Club.
this is just scratching the surface
Her gallery of characters has been growing ever since but with critical raves and a few prizes for her riveting film-carrying work as a duped fast food manager in Compliance (2012) audiences finally starting putting a name to the face. Ever since we've been blessed with more and more of her. The Leftovers was arguably her greatest showcase yet. If Emmy voters don't notice what casting directors already have, it'll be their loss.
What's your favorite Ann Dowd character and did her Guest Blog Day make you long for more peeks into your favorite character actors? (I'll take suggestions)
Reader Comments (9)
I just watched 'Cop Gives Waitress $2m Tip' the other night and didn't recognise her as Bridget Fonda's BFF until the credits rolled. She's a true character actress!
I first noticed Dowd in Garden State and like many character actresses she's able to disappear into multiple roles over a wide variety of media forms. Recently I'm glad to see she's getting such great and varied work. I didn't much care for Compliance but thought she was great and her recent tv work is especially where she has hit me with her talent. On Masters she's great even if I find the writing for her character much weaker then other parts of the show. The Leftovers is her crowning achievement of her tv work of the 2014-2015 tv season. Starring in The Divide, The Leftovers, Masters of Sex and Olive Kitteridge this past tv season I don't think any one can say they acted in so many different projects which is great because she deserves all the praise she gets. Also her day on TFE was so fun and makes me love her more. Someone I feel needs to right a film or tv show for her because she can play almost anything.
Oh My God! She was the sister of Tom Hanks in Philadelphia! I forgot about that! She looks at him with so much love...
Compliance is my favorite.
Patti in The Leftovers is definitely my favorite Dowd character, as unpleasant as she was.
@ Eoin Daly: Mary Steenburgen gives her a run for the money with Justified, Togetherness, The Last Man on Earth and Orange Is the New Black.
(Consider that a suggestion, Nat.)
What ignited your new found appreciation of character performers? You pay close attention to stars, former stars, and now emerging stars. Some of the people who have profiled here seem random because they were a one scene wonder for you you had to immediately highlight from fear if they were to ever become a full on Melissa Leo or Kathy Bates you had bragging rights to say I saw them first and it made you underline their name for remembrance sake.
The only character performers I'm curious about are nonwhite. Since they have a much different struggle than the most fringe of white character performers.
3rtful -- not newfound. I've always been interested in character actors. Been watching credits for their names since before IMDb existed :). Always had a category for "limited performance" since the day the Film Bitch Awards arrived. I
Paul - she'd be great. I met her son when his first movie came out last year and in our interview i mentioned to him that i had JUST written about his mom. He was totally surprised i think that i even knew he was her son or that some movie sites still write about actresses of a certain age.
Her son directed The One I Love?!?!
Paul - whaaaaa?? The talent in that family!!!
Oh my God, I didn't realize she was in Philadelphia! Wow.
I also love that 'The Jack' called 'It Could Happen to You' (zzz) by it's original title, 'Cop Gives Waitress Two Million Dollar Tip,' which is a *far* better title (and probably would've made the movie more money for oddity reasons alone).