Hope Davis

Biography:

Hope Davis (born March 23, 1964) is an American actress whose career has earned her three Emmy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and a Tony Award nomination.

She made her film debut in Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners (1990) and went on to appear in well-reviewed films such as The Daytrippers (1996), About Schmidt (2002), Infamous (2006), and Asteroid City (2023). Her performance in American Splendor (2003) earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and she received an Independent Spirit Award as part of the ensemble cast of Synecdoche, New York (2008). In 2016, she entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Maria Stark—Tony Stark’s mother—in Captain America: Civil War.

Davis made her Broadway debut in 1992 in Two Shakespearean Actors. In 1997, she returned as Sasha in Ivanov, performing alongside Kevin Kline and Marian Seldes. She later received major acclaim for her 2009 performance in Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.

Her early television work includes roles in the NBC series Deadline (2000–2001) and the ABC drama Six Degrees (2006–2007). She later received Primetime Emmy nominations for her roles in HBO’s In Treatment (2009), The Special Relationship (2010), and Succession (2021–2023). She has also appeared in Mildred Pierce (2011), The Newsroom (2012–2013), and Your Honor (2020–2023).

Davis first gained attention as a dramatic performer in Flatliners (1990), playing the fiancée of William Baldwin’s character. That same year, she appeared briefly in Home Alone as an airport receptionist. Her major stage breakthrough came in 1992 with David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow in Chicago, directed by Joel Schumacher. She made her Broadway debut the same year in Two Shakespearean Actors. Her first leading film role came in The Daytrippers (1996), which earned her strong praise from critics.

She continued to build her résumé with roles in Next Stop Wonderland (1998) and the comedy The Impostors (1998), which led to parts in studio films such as Arlington Road (1999). On television, she co-starred with Oliver Platt in the drama Deadline (2001). She earned critical praise for her performance in About Schmidt (2002), receiving a New York Film Critics Circle Award nomination. Her portrayal of Joyce Brabner in American Splendor (2003) won her the NYFCC Award and a Golden Globe nomination.

Davis continued taking stage roles, starring in the New York premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s Spinning into Butter (2000) and in Charlie Kaufman’s audio play Hope Leaves the Theater (2005). She appeared in films such as The Matador, Proof, and The Weather Man (all 2005), and played Slim Keith in Infamous (2006). She followed with roles in The Nines (2007), Charlie Bartlett (2007), and Synecdoche, New York (2008).

In 2009, she co-starred in Season 2 of HBO’s In Treatment as Mia, earning an Emmy nomination, and returned to Broadway in God of Carnage. In 2010, she portrayed Hillary Clinton in The Special Relationship, gaining another Emmy nomination. She then appeared in Mildred Pierce (2011) and in The Newsroom (2012–2013). She took on roles in Allegiance (2015), Wayward Pines (2015–2016), and American Crime (2016). Marvel approached her in 2015 to play Maria Stark in Captain America: Civil War.

In more recent years, Davis narrated the PBS NOVA episode The Truth About Fat in 2020, starred as Gina Baxter in Showtime’s Your Honor (2020–2023), and appeared as Sandi Furness in Succession (2021–2023), earning another Emmy nomination. She also appeared in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City (2023).

Davis is the second of three children, born in Englewood, New Jersey, to Joan—a librarian—and William Davis, an engineer. She grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, where she graduated from Tenafly High School in 1982. She was a childhood friend of Mira Sorvino, with whom she acted in backyard plays. Davis earned a degree in cognitive science from Vassar College and studied acting at HB Studio in New York City. She is married to actor Jon Patrick Walker, and they have two daughters, Georgia and Mae.