Elisabeth Moss | Success Story of the Golden Globe-Winning Actress

Elisabeth Moss is an American actor and producer. She has been a part of the entertainment industry for over three decades. Born in Los Angeles, California, Elisabeth rose to fame during the late 90s. In her long and successful career, she has acted in significant projects like The West Wing, Mad Men, The Handmaid’s Tale, The One I Love, The Invisible Man, Us, and Get Him to the Greek. The film and TV fraternity consider Elisabeth one of the most talented actors. In 2017, Vulture classified Moss as the Queen of Peak TV (Golden Age of Television). 

About

Elisabeth Moss started her acting journey at eight. She has won several prestigious accolades for her outstanding performances. Her achievements include two Primetime Emmys, two Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She gained wider recognition in 2017 after playing the lead role in Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The Guardian ranked the show 25 in its 100 Best TV shows of the 21st century. In her career, Elisabeth has worked with iconic actors like Natalie Portman, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Hugh Grant, David Tennant, and Naomi Watts.

Early Life

On the 24th of July 1982, Elisabeth Singleton Moss was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. Her father, Ronald Charles Moss, was a music manager. In contrast, her mother, Linda Ekstrom Moss, was a professional jazz and blues harmonica player. Elisabeth’s father comes of British descent, and her mother has Swedish ancestry. As a child, Elisabeth dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. Her parents supported her, and she traveled to New York to study ballet. In New York, Elisabeth attended the School of American Ballet. Later, she was admitted to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Elisabeth’s parents did not opt for traditional education for her. They had busy schedules. As a result, Elisabeth was homeschooled. 

Beginning of Career

From age eight, Elisabeth started acting. She made her debut with NBC’s Lucky Chances. Later, in 1992, Elisabeth starred in David Kelley’s Picket Fences. She appeared on the show till 1995. During her teenage years, Elisabeth continued to study ballet and acting. However, after getting better acting roles, she had to leave ballet. It was a tough decision for Elisabeth. But she decided to go with acting. In 1995, Walt Disney Pictures signed Elisabeth for the fantasy-adventure film Escape to Witch Mountain. Simultaneously, she lent her voice to several TV and film series like Frosty Returns, Once Upon a Forest, and Freakazoid. However, she could not gain much recognition in the industry. It was after nine years of debut that Elisabeth earned a significant role. 

Pathway to Success

In September 1999, Elisabeth starred in NBC’S The West Wing. It was a political drama based in the White House’s West Wing. Elisabeth played the role of Zoey Bartlet, the President’s youngest daughter. The show achieved unprecedented success. Elisabeth portrayed Zoey till the series ended in 2006. Through The West Wing, she gained considerable recognition. In 1999, Elisabeth starred in Girl, Interrupted alongside Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie. She played minor and supporting roles in several movies and TV series during the early 2000s. Some of them were renowned shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Invasion, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Practice. Later, in 2006, Matthew Weiner cast her as Peggy Olson in the iconic TV series Mad Men. 

Elisabeth was a series regular in Mad Men. The show garnered several accolades, including five Golden Globes and sixteen Primetime Emmy Awards. Mad Men became one of the most remarkable television series of all time. In 2009, Elisabeth played a supporting role in Marc Lawrence’s Did You Hear About the Morgans? She also made her Broadway and West End debut while working in Mad Men. In 2013, Moss played the role of a detective in the miniseries Top of the Lake. The series achieved critical acclaim. For the role, Elisabeth won her first-ever Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Miniseries. 

Wider Recognition 

2017 marked the release of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The show was an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. It revolved around June Osborne, a captured woman forced to be a handmaid of a government official. The series garnered worldwide recognition. Elisabeth’s portrayal of June achieved critical and commercial acclaim. She won a Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, and Critics’ Choice Award for the role. In 2020, Elisabeth starred in the critically acclaimed sci-fi horror film The Invisible Man. The film grossed over $140 million at the box office, making it a commercial success. Through these outstanding performances, Elisabeth became one of Hollywood’s finest actors.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Elisabeth Moss (@elisabethmossofficial)

Also read: David Tennant | Success Story of the “Doctor Who” Actor