Carrie Preston (born June 21, 1967) is an American actress on both stage and screen. She has also done producing, directing, and editing work in the business. Her husband is actor Michael Emerson.

Biography

Early life

Carrie Preston was born in Macon, Georgia to an artist/art therapist mother and a geotechnical engineer father. After spending her Freshman year at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Evansville and then went on to graduate from the prestigious school of performing arts, The Juilliard School.

Career

Preston has worked with her husband, actor Michael Emerson, on a number of projects. Emerson plays Ben Linus on television’s Lost, and Preston was a guest star in episode 20 of season 3, The Man Behind the Curtain. She played Ben’s mother Emily for several flashback scenes, though she and Emerson never appeared in any scenes together. Emerson and Preston were both featured in the 2004 comedy Straight-Jacket.

Preston is co-owner of the production company Daisy 3 Pictures with James Vasquez and Daisy Todd.

Selected stage and screen credits

Acting

Film

• My Best Friend’s Wedding (as Mandy), 1997
• Mercury Rising (as Emily), 1998
• Straight-Jacket (as Sally), 2004
• The Stepford Wives (as Barbara), 2004
• Transamerica (as Sydney), 2005
• Lovely By Surprise (as Marian), 2007
• Nothing is Private (as Mrs. Vuoso), 2007
• Ready? OK! (as Andy Dowd), 2008
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona, 2008

Television

• Sex and the City (in episode “The Chicken Dance” as Madeline Dunn), 1999
• Emeril (as B.D. Benson), 2001
• Wonderfalls (as Sister Katrina), 2004
• Numb3rs (in episode “Dirty Bomb” as Vicky Sites), 2005
• The Inside (in episode “Pre-Filer” as Kelly Comack), 2005
• Arrested Development (in episode “Fakin’ It” as Jan Eagleman), 2006
• True Blood (in episode “Pilot” as Arlene Fowler), 2007
• Lost (in episode “The Man Behind the Curtain” as Emily), 2007
• Desperate Housewives (in episode “You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover” as Lucy), 2007

Theater

• The Tempest (as Miranda), Broadway, 1995
• Antony and Cleopatra (as Octavius Caesar), Joseph Papp Public Theater, 1997
• Freedomland (as Polly), Playwrights Horizons, 1998
• Straight Jacket (as Sally), Playhouse 91, 2000
• She Stoops to Conquer (as Kate Hardcastle), Center Stage, 2000
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (as Honey), Guthrie Theater, 2001
• Chaucer in Rome (as Sarah), Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 2001
• Boys and Girls (as Shelly), Duke on 42nd Street, 2002
• No Foreigners Beyond This Point (as Paula Wheaton), Center Stage, 2002
• The Rivals (as Julia), Broadway, 2004-2005
• Hamlet (as Ophelia), McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton, New Jersey, 2005
• Cycling Past the Matterhorn (as Amy), Clurman Theatre, 2005
• Festen (as Mette), Music Box Theatre (Broadway), 2006
• Esther Demsac (as the reluctant nanny), NY Theatre Workshop’s 4th Street Theatre, 2008
• Likeness, Primary Stages Theater (307 W. 38th Street), 2008

Directing

Film

• 29th and Gay, 2005
• Feet of Clay, short film written by David Caudle

Theater

• Girl Talk, screenplay by actress Kellie Overbey, 2008

Producing

Film

• 29th and Gay, 2005
• Feet of Clay, short film written by David Caudle
• Ready? OK!, 2008

References

1. ^ Carrie Preston biography
2. ^ http://www.filmreference.com/film/57/Carrie-Preston.html
3. ^ “”News – January ‘07″”. Daisy 3 Pictures (2007-01). Retrieved on 2008-03-15.