Age: 42
female
Greta Gerwig is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director based in NY. She has collaborated with Noah Baumbach on several films, including Greenberg (2010), Frances Ha (2012), for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, and Mistress America (2015). Gerwig made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), which she also wrote, and has also had starring roles in the films Damsels in Distress (2011), Jackie (2016), and 20th Century Women (2016). Greta Celeste Gerwig was born in Sacramento, California, to Christine Gerwig (née Sauer), a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist, but also attended an all-girls Catholic school. She has described herself as "an intense child". With an early interest in dance, she intended to get a degree in musical theatre in New York. She graduated from Barnard College in NY, where she studied English and philosophy, instead. Originally intending to become a playwright, after meeting young film director Joe Swanberg, she became the star of a series of intellectual low budget movies made by first-time filmmakers, a trend dubbed "mumblecore". Gerwig was cast in a minor role in Swanberg's LOL (2006) in 2006, while still studying at Barnard. She then appeared in many of Swanberg's films, and personally co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced one entitled Nights and Weekends (2008). She has worked with good quality directors such as Ti West (The House of the Devil (2009)), Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress (2011)), or Woody Allen (To Rome with Love (2012)) but success and (international) recognition did not come until Frances Ha (2012), directed by Noah Baumbach, a film she also co-wrote. Both tall and immature, awkward and graceful, blundering and candid, annoying and engaging, Greta has won all hearts in the title role of Frances Ha(liday). In 2017, she wrote and directed the highly acclaimed, semi-autobiographical teen movie Lady Bird (2017), set in 2002-2003, and starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Timothée Chalamet. In 2011, Gerwig received an award for Acting from the Athena Film Festival for her artistry as one of Hollywood's definitive screen actresses of her generation.
Greta Gerwig
Director
for Director in A Life Unscripted: The Adrienne Shelly Story
Suggested by kamsismith
“A Life Unscripted” explores the multifaceted life of Adrienne Shelly, a rising star in the independent film scene of the 1990s. From her early days in New York City, navigating the complexities of the entertainment industry, to her triumphs in film and theater, the series delves into the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. Each episode captures a pivotal moment in her life, including her breakout role in “The Unbelievable Truth,” her critically acclaimed film “Waitress,” and the powerful themes of empowerment and resilience she wove into her storytelling. The series also highlights her relationships with notable figures in the industry, her struggles with self-doubt, and her unwavering determination to carve out a space for herself as a creator. The narrative takes a dark turn as it addresses the tragic circumstances of her untimely death, weaving in the impact it had on her family, friends, and the film community. Through flashbacks and emotional recollections, we see the legacy Adrienne left behind—how her voice continues to inspire future generations of filmmakers and women in the arts.
