Jayne Atkinson

In films, Atkinson notably played foster mother Annie Greenwood in the Free Willy franchise.

• Name — Jayne Atkinson • Born — 18 February 1959 • Birthplace — Bournemouth, England • Citizenship — * United Kingdom • United States • Education — * Northwestern University (BS) • Yale University (MFA) • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1985–present • Spouse — Joe Urla • Children — 1 • Website — Official Blog

Atkinson was born on 18 February 1959 in Bournemouth, England. Her family moved to the United States in 1968 when she was 9 years old. She grew up in North Miami Beach, Florida, and graduated from Pine Crest School, where she was elected Homecoming Queen in 1977. She attended Northwestern University (BS Communications, 1981), where she was initiated as a member of Alpha Chi Omega and a sorority sister of Laura Innes; and graduated with an MFA from the Yale Drama School in 1985.

After working in regional theatres, Atkinson appeared off-Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Bloody Poetry in 1987. She made her Broadway debut the same year in a revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Subsequently, she landed title roles in more stage productions, which include Henry VIII, Tru, and The Art of Success. She earned a Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in The Skriker in 1996. Atkinson's work in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 1999 production of The Rainmaker earned her a Tony Award nomination, and her performance in the 2003 play Enchanted April earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award, another Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk nomination. In 2009, she starred as Ruth Condomine in a Broadway revival of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, which co-starred Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, and Angela Lansbury. She has appeared in such films as Free Willy, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, 12 and Holding, Blank Check, The Village and Syriana. Her television acting credits include A Year in the Life, Parenthood, The X-Files, Law & Order, The Practice, Criminal Minds, 24, Gossip Girl and House of Cards, opposite Kevin Spacey and husband Michel Gill. Her performance in the made-for-TV movie Our Town garnered her a Satellite Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Atkinson is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United States. She is married to actor Michel Gill, with whom she has one son. Atkinson and Gill met when they appeared together in a 1989 production of The Heiress at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut. They both appeared in House of Cards, though not as a couple: Gill played President Garrett Walker and Atkinson played Secretary of State Catherine Durant.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1986–1988 — A Year in the Life — Lindley Gardner Eisenberg — 25 episodes • 1989 — Moonlighting — Robin Fuller — Episode: "Shirts and Skins" • 1990–1991 — Parenthood — Karen Buckman — 12 episodes • 1995 — The X-Files — Willa Ambrose — Episode: "Fearful Symmetry" • 1997 — The Practice — Ruth Gibson — Episode: "Part 1" • 2001–2002 — The Education of Max Bickford — Lyla Ortiz — 7 episodes • 2002 — Law & Order — Dr. Claire Snyder — Episode: "Dazzled" • 2004 — Joan of Arcadia — Fran Montgomery — Episode: "Friday Night" • 2006–2007 — 24 — Karen Hayes — 30 episodes Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series • 2007–2014, 2020 — Criminal Minds — Erin Strauss — 24 episodes • 2008 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Marion Springer — Episode: "Savant" • 2008 — Law & Order — Senator Melanie Carver — Episode: "Political Animal" • 2010 — Gossip Girl — Dean Reuther — 4 episodes • 2011 — White Collar — Helen Anderson — Episode: "Deadline" • 2012 — Blue Bloods — Sharon Harris — Episode: "Reagan V. Reagan" • 2012 — Perception — Helen Paulson — 2 episodes • 2013 — The Following — Jacob's mother — 2 episodes • 2013–2018 — House of Cards — Secretary of State Catherine Durant — 35 episodes Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series • 2015 — Zoo — Amelia Sage — 2 episodes • 2016 — The Good Wife — Nora Valentine — Episode: "Landing" • 2016 — Chicago Med — Laura Clay — Episode: "Disorder" • 2018 — Madam Secretary — Vice President Teresa Hurst — 5 episodes; Seasons 4–5 • 2018 — The Walking Dead — Georgie — Episode: "The Key" • 2018 — Castle Rock — Daria Reese — 2 episodes • 2019 — Bluff City Law — Della Bedford — Series Regular • 2021 — Clarice — Ruth Martin — 4 episodes • 2024 — Death and Other Details — Katherine Collier — Recurring

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1987 — All My Sons — Sue Bayliss • 1989–1990 — Tru — Jan • 1997–1998 — Ivanov — Anna Petrovna • 1999–2000 — The Rainmaker — Lizzie Curry — Nominated—Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play • 2002–2003 — Our Town — Mrs. Gibbs • 2003 — Enchanted April — Lotty Wilton — Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated—Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play • 2009 — Blithe Spirit — Ruth • 2019 — Ann — Ann Richards — Arena Stage, Washington D.C.