Vera Farmiga Biography

Vera Ann Farmiga (born August 6, 1973) is an American actress and film director. Farmiga made her film debut in the 1998 drama thriller Return to Paradise. This was followed by supporting roles in the 2000 romantic film Autumn in New York and the 2001 television series '.

Farmiga gained critical acclaim following her work in the 2009 comedy-drama Up in the Air, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She also starred as Kate Coleman in Orphan in 2009, Capt. Colleen Goodwin in the 2011 thriller/action movie Source Code, and famous paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren in the 2013 horror film The Conjuring. As of 2013, she stars as Norma Louise Bates in the A&E TV series, Bates Motel, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Early life

Farmiga, the second of seven children, was born in Clifton, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants Mykhailo, a computer-systems analyst, and Luba Farmiga, a schoolteacher. Farmiga was raised in an "insular" Ukrainian American community, with Ukrainian as her native language. She attended a Ukrainian Catholic school in Newark and toured with a Ukrainian folk-dancing ensemble, Suyovika. As a girl, she converted with her family from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to Pentecostalism. In 1991, Farmiga graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School.

Career

1996"2001

Although she originally intended to become an ophthalmologist, Farmiga attended Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts. She made her Broadway debut in 1996 as an understudy in the play Taking Sides. The same year, she starred as Miranda in the American Conservatory Theater production of The Tempest. She also performed in several productions as a member of The Barrow Group, a prestigious New York City Theatre Company, where her credits include The Seagull and Good. Following her theater debut, she played a role in the television series Roar, which was filmed in Australia, alongside Heath Ledger. Farmiga said that the series "wanted to be Braveheart but turned out more Xena: Warrior Princess." Throughout the late 1990s, she continued appearing in stage, television and film roles, including a supporting role as Kerrie in the 1998 film Return to Paradise, a drama thriller about two friends struggling to save another friend from an impending death sentence. Farmiga co-appeared with Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche and Joaquin Phoenix.

In 2000, the romantic comedy-drama Autumn in New York, in which Farmiga had a small role, was released. The film is about a man who falls in love with a beautiful young woman who is terminally ill. Autumn in New York afforded her the chance to work with actors Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. Later, Farmiga had a major supporting role in the crime-thriller 15 Minutes (2001), starring Robert De Niro. She starred in the Macedonian film Dust, opposite Joseph Fiennes. The film opened at the 2001 Venice Film Festival. That same year, she portrayed the character of Josephine in Snow White: The Fairest of Them All, a made-for-television film. In 2001, Farmiga joined the cast of the NBC action-thriller television series '. The show, however, was canceled in early 2002.

2002"2008

Farmiga had her first starring role in the 2002 romantic drama film Love in the Time of Money. The film received a limited theatrical release. The following year, she appeared alongside Milla Jovovich and Adrien Brody in the romantic comedy Dummy (2003), which had also a limited release. In 2004, Farmiga released the independent drama film Down to the Bone. The film took place mainly in upstate New York and was filmed in digital video. Her performance as the character of Irene earned her several awards nominations, including the "Best Actress" award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the "Best Female Lead" award from the Independent Spirit Awards. Farmiga also had a supporting role in the 2004 thriller remake The Manchurian Candidate. Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep co-starred in the film. The Manchurian Candidate was well received by critics and was a mild success at the worldwide box office, grossing $96 million. In 2005, at the Toronto International Film Festival, opened fantasy feature Neverwas, in which she played Eleanna.

Rather than attending auditions for films in which she is interested, Farmiga makes short films which she submits for casting. "To fade in and fade out, have intimacy with the mikes, the lighting, and have the luxury of takes " you could make yourself as ugly or as beautiful as you wanted." One of these audition films led to Martin Scorsese inviting her for what she calls "a chemistry read" with Leonardo DiCaprio, which led to her role as a police psychiatrist in The Departed. Later she was nominated for an Empire Award and shared with the other The Departed members cast the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture nomination. In 2007, Farmiga landed the lead role in the American/Korean drama Never Forever, about a New York woman arranging to pay an illegal immigrant from Korea to have sex with her, so that she might get pregnant and save her marriage. Her performance was praised by critic G. Allen Johnson who described her as "...the best American actress you've never heard of".

Farmiga starred with Sam Rockwell in the 2007 psychological horror Joshua. Later, she appeared in the 2008 drama film Quid Pro Quo, appearing as Fiona. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and received favorable reviews; David Edelstein of New York magazine stated that Farmiga "is " as usual " scarily good. Her madness isn't something out of the ether. She's always visibly calculating, thinking better of something reckless she's about to do " then doing it anyway."

Farmiga appeared in the British drama The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008), as the wife of a Nazi commandant, played by David Thewlis. The films tells a friendly relationship between two eight-year-old boys, one the son of the camp's Nazi commandant, the other a Jewish inmate. She won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film. That year, Farmiga played the role of Erica Van Doren in the political thriller Nothing But the Truth, which starred Matt Dillon and Kate Beckinsale. The role earned Farmiga a nomination for the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2009 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.

2009"present

Farmiga next appeared in Jaume Collet-Serra's horror-thriller film, Orphan. In the film, she and Peter Sarsgaard portrayed a couple who, after the death of their unborn child, adopt a mysterious 9-year old girl. The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 24, 2009. Orphan received mixed reviews and grossed $76,699,632 worldwide. Toby Young of Times wrote that Farmiga "becomes more convincing as the story unfolds. By the end, she has you in the palm of her hand."

Farmiga starred opposite George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, and Melanie Lynskey in the 2009 comedy-drama, Up in the Air (2009), which was initially given limited release (and later, wider release) on December 25, 2009. In an interview with NJ.com, Farmiga explained her character: "She doesn't temper her desires at all. She makes clear her needs and expects to have the world accommodate them. It's not a character we often see on-screen, and when we do, more often than not she's bereft of dignity. So that was cool." Up in the Air received universal acclaim and was one of Farmiga's biggest box office successes, with a worldwide $163,227,071 gross. Roger Ebert praised her, saying: "Farmiga is one of the warmest and most attractive women in the movies, or at least she plays one." In 2010, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress " Motion Picture as well as many other nominations.

On June 25, 2010, she was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Farmiga started filming the surrealist romantic comedy film, Henry's Crime, with Keanu Reeves in December 2009, with filming wrapping in early 2010. The film was screened at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival on September 14. Farmiga played Colleen Goodwin in the techno-thriller, Source Code, which was released on April 1, 2011, by Summit Entertainment. She had her directorial debut in the 2011 film Higher Ground, in which she also stars.

In June 2012, playing Christine McVie, Farmiga started to film The Drummer, a biopic about Dennis Wilson, drummer in The Beach Boys, alongside Aaron Eckhart, Rupert Grint and Chloë Grace Moretz.

In 2013, Farmiga starred in the horror film The Conjuring, which was both a critical and financial success. She portrayed the famous paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren, alongside Patrick Wilson, who played her husband and partner, Ed. A sequel to the film is in pre-production, with both Wilson and Farmiga signed on to return.

Commencing in 2013, Farmiga played the role of Norma Bates, the mother of Norman Bates in the A&E television series Bates Motel, both a prequel to, and a story reboot of, Alfred Hitchcock's film Psycho, which earned Farmiga a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Actress as well as being nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Personal life

Farmiga met French actor Sebastian Roché while filming Roar. The two eloped to the Bahamas after the series ended in 1997. The marriage ended in 2004.

Farmiga married Renn Hawkey in September 2008. Hawkey, a carpenter, is the former keyboardist for a synthpop band named Deadsy. Farmiga and Hawkey have a son, Fynn, born in 2009, and a daughter, Gytta, born in 2010.

Her sister is actress Taissa Farmiga.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Return to Paradise	Kerrie
2000	Autumn in New York	Lisa Tyler
2001	15 Minutes	Daphne Handlova
2001	Dust	Amy
2001	Snow White: The Fairest of Them All	Queen Josephine, Snow White's mother	TV movie
2002	Love in the Time of Money	Greta	Limited release
2003	Dummy	Lorena
2004	Down to the Bone	Irene	BendFilm Festival's Jury Prize for Best Actress Marrakech International Film Festival's Award for Best Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Sundance Film Festival's Special Jury Prize Nominated"?Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Nominated"?National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (3rd place)
2004	Iron Jawed Angels	Ruza Wenclawska	TV movie
2004	Touching Evil	Detective Susan Branca	TV Series
2004	Mind the Gap	Allison Lee
2004	'	Jocelyne Jordan
2005	'	Dr. Charlie Brooks
2005	Neverwas	Eleanna
2006	Running Scared	Teresa Gazelle
2006	Breaking and Entering	Oana
2006	'	Madolyn Madden	Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble Satellite Award for Best Cast " Motion Picture Nominated"?Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Ensemble Cast (2nd place) Nominated"?Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated"?Empire Award for Best Newcomer Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2007	Joshua	Abby Cairn
2007	Never Forever	Sophie Lee
2007	In Tranzit	Natalia
2008	Quid Pro Quo	Fiona
2008	The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas	Elsa (Mother)	British Independent Film Award for Best Actress
2008	Nothing But the Truth	Erica Van Doren	Nominated"?Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
2009	'	Baroness Aurora	New Zealand Film and TV Award for Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film
2009	Orphan	Kate Coleman
2009	Up in the Air	Alex Goran	International Cinephile Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated"?Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated"?Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble (2nd place) Nominated"?Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (3rd place) Nominated"?Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated"?Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress " Motion Picture Nominated"?Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year Nominated"?New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress (2nd place) Nominated"?Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated"?St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated"?Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2010	Henry's Crime	Julie
2011	Source Code	Capt. Colleen Goodwin
2011	Higher Ground	Corinne	Also director Premiere at Sundance Film Festival Nominated"?Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Overlooked Film Nominated"?Gotham Award for Best Breakthrough Director Nominated"?Satellite Award for Best Actress " Motion Picture
2012	Safe House	Catherine Linklater
2012	Goats	Wendy
2013	The Conjuring	Lorraine Warren
2013	Middleton	Edith
2014	The Judge		Filming

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	Roar	Diana	11 episodes
1998	Law & Order	Lindsay Carson	Episode: "Expert"
1998	Trinity	Unknown	Episode: "In Loco Parentis"
2001"2002	'	Alex Cross	11 episodes
2004	Touching Evil	Detective Susan Branca	12 episodes
2013"present	Bates Motel	Norma Louise Bates	10 episodes Nominated"?Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Actress Nominated"?TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama Nominated"?Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Awards and nominations

In 2011, Vera Farmiga was honored with the Excellence in Acting Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival.

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result
2004	BendFilm Festival	Best Actress	Down to the Bone
2004	International Film Festival of Marrakech	Best Actress	Down to the Bone
2005	Independent Spirit Awards	Best Female Lead	Down to the Bone
2005	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress	Down to the Bone
2006	Boston Society of Film Critics Awards	Best Cast	The Departed
2006	National Board of Review	Best Cast	The Departed
2006	Satellite Awards	Best Cast " Motion Picture	The Departed
2007	Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast	The Departed
2007	Empire Awards	Best Newcomer	The Departed
2007	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture	The Departed
2008	British Independent Film Awards	Best Actress in a British Independent Film	The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
2009	Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nothing But the Truth
2009	Chicago Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2009	New York Film Critics Circle Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2009	San Diego Film Critics Society Awards	San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2009	Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards	Best Ensemble	Up in the Air
2009	Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2010	Academy Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2010	BAFTA Awards	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	Up in the Air
2010	Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	Best Cast	Up in the Air
2010	Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2010	Golden Globe Awards	Best Supporting Actress " Motion Picture	Up in the Air
2010	London Film Critics Circle Awards	Actress of the Year	Up in the Air
2010	Online Film Critics Society Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2010	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	Up in the Air
2010	Toronto Film Critics Association Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2010	Vancouver Film Critics Circle	Best Supporting Actress	Up in the Air
2011	Satellite Awards	Best Actress " Motion Picture	Higher Ground
2013	Critics' Choice Television Awards	Best Actress in a Drama Series	Bates Motel
2013	Television Critics Association Awards	Individual Achievement in Drama	Bates Motel
2013	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Bates Motel