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 Beyond the Spotlight: The Jon-Erik Hexum Story
Suggested by kamsismith
"Beyond the Spotlight" explores the meteoric rise and heartbreaking fall of Jon-Erik Hexum, the charismatic actor whose charm captivated audiences and whose tragic fate shocked the world. The film opens in the glitzy backdrop of the 1980s, showcasing Hexum's early days as a model and his breakout role in the hit TV series "Cover Up." Through a series of vibrant flashbacks, we witness Hexum’s relentless drive, his friendships with fellow actors, and his struggles with the pressures of fame. His passion for acting and zest for life is palpable, drawing viewers into his world. However, beneath the surface, we see the toll that stardom takes on him—intense media scrutiny, personal insecurities, and the quest for validation. As Jon-Erik navigates the highs and lows of his career, the narrative builds towards a fateful day on set, when a moment of reckless playfulness leads to a devastating accident. The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the entertainment industry, portraying the struggles of the relentless pursuit of perfection.
