Jennifer Westfeldt Biography

Jennifer Westfeldt (born February 2, 1970) is an American actress and screenwriter known for the 2001 hit independent film Kissing Jessica Stein, her 2004 Tony nomination for Wonderful Town, and her 2012 film Friends with Kids.

Early life

Westfeldt was born in Guilford, Connecticut, the daughter of Constance "Connie" (ne Meyers), a therapist, and Patrick McLoskey Westfeldt, Jr., an electrical engineer. Westfeldt's mother is Jewish, while, through her father, she is a descendant of the untitled family of Wstfelt in the nobility of Sweden. She graduated from Guilford High School and attended Yale University, where she sang with the a cappella group Redhot & Blue.

Acting career

Westfeldt started her career as a New York-based theater actor, and has starred in over 25 Off-Broadway and regional productions. She first came to Hollywood in 1997. That year, she co-wrote and starred in an Off-Broadway play with Heather Juergensen called Lipschtick: The Story of Two Women Seeking The Perfect Shade that caught the attention of Hollywood studios. It was optioned by Radar Pictures and made into Kissing Jessica Stein, in which Westfeldt and Juergensen starred. Westfeldt is also well known for her most recent film, Friends with Kids, in which she starred, produced and made her directorial debut. She is also a veteran television actress and has held roles in a diverse selection of shows.

In 2001, Westfeldt appeared in her breakthrough role as Jessica in Kissing Jessica Stein. Fox Searchlight released it to critical acclaim in March 2002. The film was an extended version of one of the sketches Westfeldt and Juergensen had written for Lipschtick. For her role, Westfeldt won the Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress in A Comedy, an Indie Spirit nomination for Best First Screenplay with Juergensen, and a Special Jury Prize for Writing and Acting at the Los Angeles International Film Festival. The film also won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, the Audience Favorites Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Miami Film Festival, Best Feature at the Louisville Jewish Film Festival, and the GLAAD Media Award.

In 2004, Westfeldt starred opposite Paul Schneider in the film How to Lose Your Lover. Westfeldt wrote, produced, and starred alongside Chris Messina in Ira and Abby, which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2006, and was released by Magnolia Pictures in September 2007. Westfeldt won Best Actress at The HBO US Comedy Arts Festival for her performance as Abby, and the film won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Jury Prize for Best Feature at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, and the Audience Award at The Boston Jewish Film Festival.

In 2011, she wrote, produced, starred and made her directorial debut in Friends with Kids. The all-star cast also included Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Fox and her boyfriend, Jon Hamm. The film was a breakout hit at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011, and was released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions in March 2012.

Westfeldt was cast in a series regular role for Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place alongside Ryan Reynolds, Traylor Howard and Richard Ruccolo during its first season on ABC in 1997. In 2001 she was featured in three episodes of Judging Amy. In 2007, Jennifer was cast as the lead of ABC's Notes from the Underbelly, directed and executive produced by Barry Sonnenfeld. Notes ran for two seasons on ABC. Her recent television credits include memorable arcs on ABC's hit Grey's Anatomy, as well as starring in the TV movie Before You Say I Do (2009) opposite David Sutcliffe. Additional television credits include appearances in The Gene Pool, Dante, Hack, Snoops, and The Untitled New York Project.

In 2010, she was a guest star on Numb3rs for show 24 of the eighth season. She first appeared in the first four episodes of the season and returned in the final episodes of the series.

She provided the voice of Kit Luntayne in the Martha Speaks episodes "Cora! Cora! Cora!" and "Cora Encore!"

A veteran theater actress, Westfeldt has starred in over 25 Off-Broadway and regional productions. She made her 2004 Broadway debut in a revival of Wonderful Town. Her performance won her a Theatre World Award, Drama League Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut and a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. Her recent stage work includes the world premiere of Joe Gilford's Finks at the Powerhouse Theater, opposite Josh Radnor (2008); the world premiere of Cusi Cram's A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages (2009); Three Sisters at LA Theaterworks (2011) and the world premiere of Stephen Belber's The Power of Duff at the Powerhouse Theater, opposite Greg Kinnear (2012).

Personal life

Since 1997, Westfeldt has been in a long-term relationship with actor Jon Hamm. They split time between homes in Los Angeles and New York City.

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations: feature film and theatrical

Year	Title	Role	Award/ Nomination
2002	Kissing Jessica Stein	Jessica Stein	Golden Satellite - Best Actress in a Comedy - 2003
	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	Los Angeles Film Festival - Special Jury Award - 2001
	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	Los Angeles Film Festival - Audience Award, Best Feature - 2001
	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	Chicago International Film Festival - Audience Award - 2001
	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	Miami International Film Festival - Best Feature - 2001
	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	GLAAD Media Award - 2003
	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	Deauville Film Festival - Grand Special Prize nomination
2003	Kissing Jessica Stein	Acting and Writing	Indie Spirit nomination, Best Screenplay
	Wonderful Town	Eileen Sherwood	Theater World - Outstanding Broadway Debut - 2004
	Wonderful Town	Eileen Sherwood	Drama League Award
2004	Wonderful Town	Eileen Sherwood	Tony Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
2007	Ira and Abby	Abby	HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen - Best Actress
	Ira and Abby	Acting and Writing	HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen - Best Feature
	Ira and Abby	Abby	Puerto Vallarta Film Festival - Best Actress
	Ira and Abby	Abby	Boston Jewish Film Festival - Audience Award, Best Feature - 2006
2012	Friends with Kids	Julie Keller	My Cinema Award nomination, Best Actress in a Comedy