Greta Gerwig
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 4, 1983
- Place of birth
- Sacramento, California, USA
Biography
Greta Gerwig is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director based in NY. She has collaborated with Noah Baumbach on several films, including Greenberg (2010), Frances Ha (2012), for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, and Mistress America (2015). Gerwig made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), which she also wrote, and has also had starring roles in the films Damsels in Distress (2011), Jackie (2016), and 20th Century Women (2016).
Greta Celeste Gerwig was born in Sacramento, California, to Christine Gerwig (née Sauer), a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist, but also attended an all-girls Catholic school. She has described herself as "an intense child". With an early interest in dance, she intended to get a degree in musical theatre in New York. She graduated from Barnard College in NY, where she studied English and philosophy, instead.
Originally intending to become a playwright, after meeting young film director Joe Swanberg, she became the star of a series of intellectual low budget movies made by first-time filmmakers, a trend dubbed "mumblecore". Gerwig was cast in a minor role in Swanberg's LOL (2006) in 2006, while still studying at Barnard. She then appeared in many of Swanberg's films, and personally co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced one entitled Nights and Weekends (2008). She has worked with good quality directors such as Ti West (The House of the Devil (2009)), Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress (2011)), or Woody Allen (To Rome with Love (2012)) but success and (international) recognition did not come until Frances Ha (2012), directed by Noah Baumbach, a film she also co-wrote. Both tall and immature, awkward and graceful, blundering and candid, annoying and engaging, Greta has won all hearts in the title role of Frances Ha(liday).
In 2017, she wrote and directed the highly acclaimed, semi-autobiographical teen movie Lady Bird (2017), set in 2002-2003, and starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Timothée Chalamet. In 2011, Gerwig received an award for Acting from the Athena Film Festival for her artistry as one of Hollywood's definitive screen actresses of her generation.
Movies with Greta Gerwig
- Isle of Dogs 2018 · ★ 7.8
- No Strings Attached 2011 · ★ 6.3
- Jackie 2016 · ★ 6.5
- To Rome with Love 2012 · ★ 5.8
- Frances Ha 2013 · ★ 7.3
- The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) 2017 · ★ 6.5
- 20th Century Women 2016 · ★ 7.3
- The House of the Devil 2009 · ★ 6.2
- White Noise 2022 · ★ 5.6
- Arthur 2011 · ★ 5.6
- Greenberg 2010 · ★ 5.9
- Mistress America 2015 · ★ 6.5
- Jay Kelly 2025 · ★ 6.1
- Maggie's Plan 2016 · ★ 5.7
- Side by Side 2012 · ★ 7.3
- Wiener-Dog 2016 · ★ 5.6
- Damsels in Distress 2012 · ★ 5.5
- The Humbling 2014 · ★ 5.1
- Lola Versus 2012 · ★ 5.0
- Eden 2014 · ★ 5.8
- Baghead 2008 · ★ 5.8
- LOL 2006 · ★ 5.7
- Hannah Takes the Stairs 2007 · ★ 5.2
- Nights and Weekends 2008 · ★ 5.6
- The Dish & the Spoon 2011 · ★ 5.4
- Pavements 2025 · ★ 6.9
- You Wont Miss Me 2009 · ★ 4.9
- Yeast 2008 · ★ 5.6
- A NY Thing 2009 · ★ 3.4
- Northern Comfort 2010 · ★ 4.8
- Greta Gerwig: Itinerary of a Rising Star 2024 · ★ 5.2
- Thanks for the Add! 2006 · ★ 3.0
- Quick Feet, Soft Hands 2008 · ★ 0.0
- Carole & Grey 2024 · ★ 1.0
- Family Tree 2009
- Art House 2010
- Jagoo 2015
- China, Il The Musical 2015
- Making a Scene | 11 Performances 2013
- Thomas the Obscure 2005
Movies directed by Greta Gerwig
- Barbie 2023 · ★ 6.9
- Lady Bird 2017 · ★ 7.2
- Little Women 2019 · ★ 7.8
- Nights and Weekends 2008 · ★ 5.6
- Narnia: The Magician's Nephew 2027