Mary Stuart Masterson

Biography

Mary Stuart Masterson is an American actress, director, and producer, born on 28 June 1966 in Los Angeles, California. She comes from a family closely connected to the film and theatre world; her parents were actor, director, and writer Peter Masterson and actress Carlin Glynn.

Early Life and Career

Masterson made her screen debut as a child in The Stepford Wives (1975), appearing alongside her real-life father. She subsequently stepped away from acting for several years to focus on her education. As a teenager, she also performed on stage, including an appearance in a Broadway production of Alice in Wonderland.

She returned to films in the 1980s with Heaven Help Us (1985) and followed it with roles in At Close Range (1986), Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Gardens of Stone (1987), Chances Are (1989) and Immediate Family (1989). Her performance in Immediate Family earned her the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Film Career

Masterson reached another career milestone with Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), followed by the cult romantic comedy Benny & Joon (1993), in which she starred opposite Johnny Depp. She also appeared in films including Bad Girls (1994) and Bed of Roses (1996).

Her other notable screen work includes The Postman (1997), The Book of Stars (1999), Something the Lord Made (2004), Skin (2018), Daniel Isn't Real (2019) and Five Nights at Freddy's (2023).

Television and Theatre

During the 2000s, Masterson increasingly worked in television. She starred in Kate Brasher (2001) and portrayed Dr. Helen Taussig in the acclaimed HBO production Something the Lord Made (2004). She also appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Mercy, NCIS, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Blindspot, and For Life.

On Broadway, she appeared in the 2003 revival of Nine, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Directing and Producing

Masterson expanded into filmmaking behind the camera, making her feature directorial debut with The Cake Eaters (2007). The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and received recognition at independent film festivals. She also produced Tickling Leo (2009).

Beyond filmmaking, Masterson has narrated several audiobooks and has worked on documentary theatre projects with her husband, Jeremy Davidson.