Ann Dowd

For Compliance, she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. For Mass, she earned nominations for a British Academy Film Award and a Critics' Choice Award. Dowd was a series regular on the HBO series The Leftovers (2014–2017), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She played Aunt Lydia Clements on the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Ann Dowd studied at DePaul University, College of the Holy Cross and Williston Northampton School. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is acting. Distinctions recorded are Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Supporting Actress and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

• Name — Ann Dowd • Born — 30 January 1956 • Birthplace — Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. • Years Active — 1983–present • Education — College of the Holy Cross (BA) DePaul University (MFA) • Occupation — Actress • Children — 3 • Relatives — Kip Dowd (grandfather) • Awards — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2017)

Dowd was born on January 30, 1956, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She is of Irish American descent. Her father, John, ran an insurance company, and her mother, Dolores, was a homemaker. She has two brothers and four sisters. Dowd attended the Williston Northampton School, where she performed in school plays, graduating in 1974. She then attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1978. As an undergraduate at Holy Cross, she initially intended to become a surgeon, but decided to pursue acting in her senior year at the encouragement of a professor. After college, Dowd traveled to New York City to audition for the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University in Chicago, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting in 1982. While at DePaul, Dowd received a prestigious scholarship from the Sarah Siddons Society, an award that had also gone to Carrie Snodgress. Dowd was classmates with Elizabeth Perkins and also worked as a waitress during this time.

Dowd's first appearance was in the 1985 television movie First Steps with fellow Chicago actor Megan Mullally. She has appeared in many popular television shows including House and Louie, on both of which she played a nun. Other shows include Chicago Hope, The X-Files, Third Watch, NYPD Blue, Judging Amy and Freaks and Geeks, in which she played the mother of Busy Philipps. Dowd has also appeared in many episodes of the Law & Order franchise. In 1995 she portrayed Rose Long, Louisiana's first female senator, in the television movie Kingfish, opposite John Goodman. In 2008 she appeared in the television movie Taking Chance starring Kevin Bacon. Dowd was a series regular on Nothing Sacred, which was filmed in Los Angeles and aired for one season (97/98), in which she played a nun. For this role she was nominated for a VQT award for Best Supporting Actress. Dowd also co-starred on The Leftovers as Patti Levin, leader of the group The Guilty Remnant. In 2017, Dowd began starring as Aunt Lydia Clements on the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2021, she was cast as Edna Garrett for the third installment of Live in Front of a Studio Audience on ABC, featuring both Diff'rent Strokes and the spin-off The Facts of Life.

Dowd has appeared on Broadway three times. In 1993 she received the Clarence Derwent Award for her Broadway debut performance in the play Candida starring Mary Steenburgen. She next appeared in Taking Sides (1996) with Elizabeth Marvel, and Vera Farmiga, who was Dowd's understudy. In 2008 she appeared in The Seagull starring Carey Mulligan and Kristin Scott Thomas. Dowd has also won three Jeff Awards for her work in Chicago theatre, including a 1987 Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Emma Brookner in The Normal Heart. In 2007, Dowd played the role of Sister Aloysius in Doubt at the George Street Playhouse. The New York Times described her performance as "chilling" and said she was "masterful in this role." In 2011, Dowd performed Off-Broadway in Blood from a Stone, playing the mother of Ethan Hawke. In 2015, Dowd starred in Naomi Wallace's play Night Is a Room at Signature Theater.

Dowd and her husband, Lawrence "Larry" Arancio, both coach acting and are frequent collaborators. Arancio, who is from New York City, is a writer and acting chair for the CAP21 program who has also taught at the HB Studio and Columbia College Chicago. Arancio has worked with Lady Gaga as her acting coach. Dowd and Arancio met while students in Chicago. They have three children, and reside in New York City. Dowd is a foster care advocate. Her alma mater College of the Holy Cross conferred an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree on her on May 27, 2016.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1985 — First Steps — Debby — Television movie • 1990 — data-sort-value="Baby-Sitters Club, The" | The Baby-Sitters Club — Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer — 2 episodes • data-sort-value="Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, The" | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd — Nurse Courtney — Episode: "Here's a Rare Photo Opportunity" • 1991, 1994, 1996, 2003 — Law & Order — Teresa Franz — Episode: "Sonata for Solo Organ" • Dorothy Baxter — Episode: "Breeder" • Patricia Smith — Episode: "Pro Se" • Dr. Beth Allison — Episode: "Compassion" • 1994 — Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III — Maureen — 3 episodes • data-sort-value="Cosby Mysteries, The" | The Cosby Mysteries — Television movie • 1995 — Chicago Hope — Eleanor Robertson — Episode: "Growth Pains" • Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long — Rose McConnell Long — Television movie • 1997–1998 — Nothing Sacred — Sister Maureen "Mo" Brody — 20 episodes • 1999 — Providence — Mary — Episode: "Home Again" • data-sort-value="X-Files, The" | The X-Files — Mrs. Reed — Episode: "Rush" • 1999–2000 — Judging Amy — Mrs. Schleewee — 2 episodes • 2000 — NYPD Blue — Ann Collins — Episode: "Along Came Jones" • Freaks and Geeks — Cookie Kelly — 2 episodes • Family Law — Episode: "Love and Money" • Baby — Ms. Minifred — Television movie • 100 Centre Street — Episode: "Queenie's Running" • 2001 — Amy & Isabelle — Lenora — Television movie • data-sort-value="Division, The" | The Division — Sarah — Episode: "Obsessions" • 2001, 2003, 2009 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Louise Durning — Episode: "Victims" • Sally Wilkens — Episode: "Soulless" • Lillian Siefeld — Episode: "Lead" • 2001–2002 — data-sort-value="Education of Max Bickford, The" | The Education of Max Bickford — Jean — 3 episodes • 2002–2003 — Third Watch — Sgt. Beth Markham — 3 episodes • 2003 — Touched by an Angel — Paula — Episode: "Song for My Father" • 2004 — data-sort-value="Jury, The" | The Jury — Evelyn Berry — Episode: "The Honeymoon Suite" • Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Laurie Manotti — Episode: "Inert Dwarf" • House — Mother Superior — Episode: "Damned If You Do" • 2005 — Law & Order: Trial by Jury — Karen Ames — Episode: "Truth or Consequences" • 2009 — Taking Chance — Gretchen — Television movie • 2010 — Louie — Nun — Episode: "God" • 2011 — Pan Am — Marjorie Lowrey — Episode: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" • 2013–2014 — Masters of Sex — Estabrook Masters — 7 episodes • 2014 — True Detective — Betty Childress — Episode: "Form and Void" • Love's a Bitch — Wes' Mom — Episode: "Family Time" • data-sort-value="Divide, The" | The Divide — Ida Bankowski — 2 episodes • Olive Kitteridge — Bonnie Newton — 4 episodes • Big Driver — Ramona Norville — Television movie • 2014–2017 — data-sort-value="Leftovers, The" | The Leftovers — Patti Levin — 14 episodes • 2016 — Quarry — Naomi — 4 episodes • 2016–2017 — Good Behavior — FBI Agent Rhonda Lashever — 10 episodes • 2017 — Girls — Phaedra — Episode: "Goodbye Tour" • 2017–2025 — data-sort-value="Handmaid's Tale, The" | The Handmaid's Tale — Aunt Lydia Clements — 42 episodes • 2018 — 3Below: Tales of Arcadia — Zeron Omega (voice) — 6 episodes • 2019 — Lambs of God — Sister Margarita — 4 episodes • 2019–2020 — At Home with Amy Sedaris — Teri Tucker — Episode: "Hospital-tality" • Janice Shanks — Episode: "Signature Dishes" • 2020 — Helpsters — Marching Band Marsha — Episode: "Primmflandia Day/Marching Band Marsha" • 2021 — Search Party — Paula Jo — 2 episodes • Live in Front of a Studio Audience — Edna Garrett — Episode: "Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life" • 2023 — American Dad! — Miss Macadoo (voice) — Episode: "Fellow Traveler" • Deborah (voice) — Episode: "Stretched Thin" • data-sort-value="Other Two, The" | The Other Two — Paula Davies — Episode: "Cary Gets His Ass Handed to Him" • Teenage Euthanasia — Erica (voice) — Episode: "Sexually Educated" • Debt Announcer (voice) — Episode: "A Very Fantasy Vacation" • 2024 — Terminator Zero — The Prophet (voice) — 3 episodes • 2026 — data-sort-value="Testaments, The" | The Testaments — Aunt Lydia Clements — Main role • Hacks — Smoker — Episode: "Number One Fan"

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1983 — A Different Moon — Sarah — Next Theatre Company, Chicago • 1986 — Uncle Vanya — Sonya — Court Theatre, Chicago • 1987 — The Normal Heart — Dr. Emma Brookner — Ivanhoe Theatre, Chicago • 1988 — The Glass Menagerie — Laura Wingfield — Court Theatre, Chicago • 1989 — The Paper Gramophone — Victoria — Hartford Stage • 1989 — The Crucible — Abigail Williams — Long Wharf Theatre • 1990 — New York 1937 — Elsie — Jewish Repertory Theatre • 1993 — Candida — Miss Proserpine Garnett — Criterion Center Stage Right • 1996 — Taking Sides — Tamara Sachs — Brooks Atkinson Theatre • 2001 — Kimberly Akimbo — Pattie — South Coast Rep • 2001 — An Immaculate Misconception — Dr. Melanie Laidlaw — Primary Stages • 2004 — The Happy Journey — Ma — Connelly Theater • 2004 — Pullman Car Hiawatha — A Stout Amiable Woman — Connelly Theater • 2007 — Doubt — Sister Aloysius — George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick • 2008 — The Seagull — Polina — Walter Kerr Theatre • 2009 — Quartermaine's Terms — Melanie Garth — Williamstown Theatre Festival • 2011 — Blood from a Stone — Margaret — Acorn Theatre • 2015 — Night Is a Room — Dore — Pershing Square Signature Center • 2021 — Enemy of the People — Various — Park Avenue Armory

Dowd starred in Shiloh (1997) and its sequels, Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season (1999) and Saving Shiloh (2006) as Louise Preston. She appears in the 1997 cult film All Over Me and in the 1998 film Apt Pupil, in which she played the mother of Brad Renfro's character. Dowd has acted in two films directed by Jonathan Demme, as Jill Beckett, sister of Tom Hanks' character, Andrew Beckett, in Philadelphia (1993), and in The Manchurian Candidate (2004), starring Meryl Streep. Also in 2004, Dowd played the mother of Natalie Portman's character in Garden State and appeared in The Forgotten starring Julianne Moore. In 2005, she starred opposite Gretchen Mol in The Notorious Bettie Page, portraying Edna Page, Bettie Page's mother. She also played the role of Mrs. Strank in the 2006 Clint Eastwood film Flags of Our Fathers. In 2008, Dowd appeared in Marley & Me starring Jennifer Aniston. She received rave reviews for her work in the 2012 movie Compliance, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In the film, Dowd plays Sandra, a fast food restaurant manager caught in a mysterious ethical nightmare. For this role, Dowd was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress and received the National Board of Review award. She has played supporting roles in two Steven Soderbergh films, The Informant! in 2009, and Side Effects in 2013, in which she played the mother of Channing Tatum's character. She played the supporting role of Joan in the 2018 horror film Hereditary.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1990 — Green Card — Peggy • 1992 — Lorenzo's Oil — Pediatrician • 1993 — Philadelphia — Jill Beckett • 1994 — It Could Happen to You — Carol • 1995 — Bushwhacked — Mrs. Patterson • 1996 — Shiloh — Louise Preston • 1997 — All Over Me — Anne • 1998 — Apt Pupil — Monica Bowden • 1999 — Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season — Louise Preston • 2004 — Garden State — Olivia • data-sort-value="Manchurian Candidate, The" | The Manchurian Candidate — Congresswoman Beckett • data-sort-value="Forgotten, The" | The Forgotten — Eileen the Accountant • 2005 — data-sort-value="Thing About My Folks, The" | The Thing About My Folks — Linda • data-sort-value="Notorious Bettie Page, The" | The Notorious Bettie Page — Edna Page • 2006 — Saving Shiloh — Louise Preston • Flags of Our Fathers — Mrs. Strank • 2007 — Gardener of Eden — Ma Harris • data-sort-value="Living Wake, The" | The Living Wake — Librarian • data-sort-value="Babysitters, The" | The Babysitters — Tammy Lyner • Alice Upside Down — Aunt Sally • 2008 — Familiar Strangers — Dottie Worthington • Marley & Me — Dr. Platt • 2009 — data-sort-value="Informant!, The" | The Informant! — FBI Special Agent Kate Medford • Taking Chance — Gretchen Phelps Mack • 2011 — data-sort-value="Art of Getting By, The" | The Art of Getting By — Mrs. Grimes • Coming Up Roses — Lynne • 2012 — Compliance — Sandra • Bachelorette — Victoria • data-sort-value="Discoverers, The" | The Discoverers — Patti • 2013 — Side Effects — Mrs. Taylor • Gimme Shelter — Kathy • 2014 — data-sort-value="Drop, The" | The Drop — Dottie Stipler • St. Vincent — Shirley • Wildlike — Jeanie • 2015 — Our Brand Is Crisis — Nell • 2016 — Captain Fantastic — Abigail Bertrang • data-sort-value="Great & the Small, The" | The Great & the Small — Detective Dupre • Norman — Carol Raskin • Collateral Beauty — Sally Price • 2017 — Hedgehog — Joan • 2018 — American Animals — Betty Jean "BJ" Gooch • Nancy — Betty Freeman • Tyrel — Silvia • Hereditary — Joan • data-sort-value="Kid Like Jake, A" | A Kid Like Jake — Catherine • 2020 — Cowboys — Detective Faith Erickson • Rebecca — Mrs. Van Hopper • 2021 — Mass — Linda • 2022 — Family Squares — Judith • data-sort-value="Independent, The" | The Independent — Patricia Turnbull • 2023 — data-sort-value="Exorcist: Believer, The" | The Exorcist: Believer — Ann • 2024 — The Friend — Marjorie