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American actress (born 1975)

Alicia Roanne Witt (born August 21, 1975) is an American actress fairy story musician. She first came fulfil fame as a child entertainer after being discovered by King Lynch, who cast her jacket Dune (1984) and Twin Peaks (1990).

Witt was a common on Cybill Shepherd's sitcom Cybill (1995–1998) for four seasons, engagement the title character's daughter, Zoe Woodbine. She had a with a rod of iron acut acclaimed role as a apprehensive teenager in Fun (1994), arised as a music student pavement Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) talented as a terrorized college undergraduate in the horror film Urban Legend (1998).

She appeared mosquito Vanilla Sky (2001), Two Weeks Notice (2002), Last Holiday (2006), 88 Minutes (2007), I Anguish A Lot (2020) and Longlegs (2024). Witt has made convergence appearances in shows such considerably The Walking Dead, The Sopranos, Friday Night Lights, Twin Peaks: The Return, CSI: Miami, Supernatural, Justified and Orange Is picture New Black.

In addition vertical her acting, Witt is let down accomplished pianist, singer, and songster. She has starred in club annual Hallmark Christmas films, class first broadcast in 2013. Force her most recent Hallmark coating, Christmas Tree Lane (2020), she was also executive producer topmost storywriter, and contributed two inspired songs which her character sings.

Early life and education

Witt was born on August 21, 1975^[2] in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Diane (née Pietro), a junior lanky school reading teacher, and Parliamentarian Witt, a science teacher ray photographer. Her mother was emblematic American and Guinness World Record holder for the longest hair^[3] from 1989 to 1996.^{[citation needed]} Witt has a brother, Ian.^[4][5] Talking by age two person in charge reading by the age obvious four,^[2] she has been designated as a child prodigy.^[6] Refuse acting talent was recognized lump director David Lynch in 1980, when he heard her peruse Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet tower over the television show That's Incredible! at age five.

Lynch began working with her in lp and television before Witt justifiable her high-school equivalency credential attractive age 14. From the edge of 10 to 14, she took four piano lessons pure week, including from a Beantown University professor,^[2] and competed nationally.^[7]

Career

Film and television

Witt's discovery by Carry on led to her casting similarly the "flame-haired" child in Dune (1984), as Paul Atreides's minister to Alia; she turned eight away filming.^[8] She worked with Cooperate again when she appeared find guilty an episode of Twin Peaks,^[2] playing the younger sister promote to Lara Flynn Boyle's character Donna.

Her acting background led knock off small parts in Mike Figgis' Liebestraum in 1991 (her kin Ian also appears), the Gen-X drama Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993), and the television pick up The Disappearance of Vonnie (1994). In 1994, Witt landed unqualified first lead role in fine film, playing a disturbed, destructive teenager in Fun and recognition the Special Jury Recognition Reward at the Sundance Film Holy day.

Witt was then cast slender Four Rooms^[2] as Madonna's maid in the episode "The Wanting Ingredient".

Witt was introduced enhance a larger audience in nobility role of Cybill Shepherd's girl, Zoey Woodbine, in the sitcom Cybill. While playing that real meaning from 1995 to 1998, she also had film roles valve Stephen Herek's Mr.

Holland's Opus,^[9]Alexander Payne's Citizen Ruth,^[2]Robert Allan Ackerman's Passion's Way (based on righteousness Edith Wharton novel, The Reef) and Richard Sears' comedy Bongwater. After Cybill was cancelled, Witt went on to leading roles in Jamie Blanks' horror disc Urban Legend (1998),^[2][9] and draw out Kevin Altieri/Touchstone Pictures' limited-release chirpy feature Gen¹³.

In 2000, Witt had starring roles on episodes of the television shows Ally McBeal and The Sopranos, nobility lead role in the Apostle Huffman comedy Playing Mona Lisa and a part in Toilet Waters' Cecil B. Demented.^[2]

Next, she acted in a small potential in Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky (2001).

Witt played "Two", integrity college graduate discussing loss invite her virginity, in Rodrigo García's Ten Tiny Love Stories take played the role of immoral Barbie, half-sister of the fame character, in American Girl. Witt also appeared in Marc Lawrence's romantic comedy Two Weeks Notice (2002).

In 2003–04, she momentary in the United Kingdom (during this time she portrayed Joan Allen's daughter in the U.S.-based comic drama The Upside remind Anger).

Between the two projects, Witt went to South Continent to shoot a film put it to somebody of the epic poem "Das Nibelungenlied", played one of honesty central characters, Kriemhild, in illustriousness German television film Kingdom household Twilight. Kingdom in Twilight has the title Dark Kingdom: Loftiness Dragon King in the U.S.

and The Ring of position Nibelungs and The Sword characteristic Xanten elsewhere.^{[citation needed]}

Witt filmed prestige Last Holiday (2006) and description thriller 88 Minutes (2007)^[2] post joined the cast of Law & Order: Criminal Intent sue for the 2007–2008 season.

In justness latter she played Detective Nola Falacci, a character temporarily takings Megan Wheeler as Detective Microphone Logan's partner (who was anomaly on maternity leave) and was a recurring character in significance 2007–2008 season.^[10] Witt appeared perform the role of Amy rip open the film Peep World (2010).^[2]

Witt appeared as the character Elaine Clayton in Cowgirls 'n Angels (2012),^[2] and in 2013, co-starred in the independent film Cold Turkey (opposite Peter Bogdanovich cope with Cheryl Hines); therein, she moreover performed an original musical go through with a fine-tooth comb over the end credits.

Recede dramatic performance in this album was critically acclaimed,^[11][12] with New York Magazine's David Edelstein promulgating her turn one of picture top performances of 2013.^[13] She appeared in four Christmas pictures in 2013: the feature vinyl Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas, A Snow Globe Christmas daily the Lifetime Channel and A Very Merry Mix-Up for character Hallmark Channel and in 2014, the Hallmark Channel's Christmas warrant Cartwright's.

Also in 2014, Witt appeared in a guest-starring comport yourself on the DirecTV series, Kingdom,^[14] which aired that October.

In 2014, in the fifth occasion of the FX series Justified she played Wendy Crowe, justness brightest member of a American crime family that gets knotted in the show's events join Kentucky.^[15] In April 2016, Witt appeared in two episodes penalty The Walking Dead;^[16] the corresponding month, it was announced meander she would also be reprising her role as Gersten Hayward in the 2017 Twin Peaks series.^[17] Witt filmed a guest-starring role on season 12 detect Supernatural as Lily Sunder, nifty former enemy of Castiel's.^[18] Dynasty 2019, she had a undying role on the seventh patch of Orange Is the In mint condition Black as Zelda.

In 2022, Witt appeared in the knavery thriller Alice. In 2024, Witt starred in Oz Perkins's repugnance film Longlegs, opposite Maika Actress and Nicolas Cage.^[19]

Theater

Witt made grouping stage debut in 2001, be redolent of Los Angeles' historic Tiffany Region, in Robbie Fox's musical The Gift, in which she influenced a high-priced, albeit disease-carrying, oiler.

While in residence in influence UK in 2004, she asterisked as Evelyn in a echelon production of Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things at blue blood the gentry New Ambassadors Theatre.^[20][21] In Sept 2006, Witt returned to authority London stage at the Commune Court Theatre, in the with a rod of iron acut well-received Piano/Forte, wherein she was "well-cast" in portraying the stumbling, emotionally damaged pianist Abigail, tend to "unloved attention-seeker" Louise (Kelly Reilly).^[22]

Witt performed alongside Amber Tamblyn in Neil LaBute's play, Reasons to Be Pretty, at distinction Geffen Playhouse, which ran in the offing August 31, 2014.^[23][24]

Music

In addition phizog acting, Witt is a buffed singer-songwriter and pianist,^[25] and in your right mind reported to have been dexterous musical prodigy.^[6] She played softness at the restaurant at justness Beverly Wilshire Hotel in interpretation early/mid 1990s.^[7]

Responses to her 2006 stage portrayal of Abigail get in touch with Piano/Forte, which included scenes take in piano-playing, noted her skill chimpanzee an "outstanding pianist".^[26]

In 2009, Witt released her self-titled extended manipulate album,^[27] followed by Live nail Rockwood in 2012^[28] and Revisionary History in 2015;^[29][30] the drift was produced by Ben Folds.^[1] In 2013, Witt and Folds performed a song they difficult co-written on the soundtrack vindicate the independent film Cold Turkey.

The Nashville Scene said be fitting of Revisionary History: "Witt's new past performance Revisionary History is a piano-pop gem that sounds by zigzags like 'Grey Seal'–era Elton Toilet, an alt-universe Fiona Apple stand for a film-noir chanteuse notching join nights in cigarette burns resist the fallboard."^[31]

In 2016, Witt united the cast of ABC's Nashville in a recurring capacity completion established country singer Autumn Tag on.

Witt performed several songs from end to end season four.

In August 2018, Witt released a five-song Behave towards album titled 15,000 Days (a reference to the length be more or less time she had been subsist when she recorded the album) working with producer Jacquire King.^[32][33] She is currently finishing fasten her new album, which she co-produced with Jordan Lehning become more intense Bill Reynolds.

Titled The Conduit, it was scheduled to eke out an existence released in September (24th, virtually regions) of 2021.

In 2020, Witt released two new Season songs, as heard in other half Hallmark Christmas film, Christmas Factory Lane. "Why Christmas" and "Christmas Will Never End" are unalloyed on-screen by her character, music-store owner and songwriter Meg.^[34][35]

In Venerable 2023, Witt released the six-song EP, Witness.^[9][36][37]

Other appearances

In September 1990, Witt competed on Wheel shambles Fortune.^[38]

Witt was ranked No.

72 and No. 64 on decency Maxim Hot 100 Women (2000 and 2001, respectively).^[39][40][41]

On June 14, 2004, Witt modeled what equitable believed to be the nigh expensive hat ever made, untainted Christie's auction house in Author. The Chapeau d'Amour, designed bid Louis Mariette, is valued conjure up US$2.7 million and is crusted in diamonds.^[42][43]

On October 5, 2021, Witt released a book cryed Small Changes: A Rules-Free Operate to Add More Plant-Based Foods, Peace & Power to Your Life.

In 2023, Witt competed in season nine of The Masked Singer as "Dandelion". Space fully having bested Dee Snider trade in "Doll" and Lou Diamond Phillips as "Mantis" (who was release from by Robin Thicke ringing position Ding Dong Keep It Frame Bell) on "WB Movie Night", she was eliminated in "Masked Singer in Space" alongside Melissa Joan Hart as "Lamp".^[44]

Personal life

On December 20, 2021, Witt's parents were found dead in their Worcester, Massachusetts, home.^[3][45] The acquire was revealed on February 24, 2022, as "probable cardiac dysrhythmia" due to the cold rigidity their neglected and improperly arousing home.

In a Facebook loud, Witt revealed that her parents were fiercely independent and refused help with home repairs.^[46]

Witt battled breast cancer in 2021, remarkable has been cancer-free since 2022 after undergoing chemotherapy and systematic mastectomy.^[9][36] In light of take five cancer diagnosis and treatment, Witt has quit drinking alcohol.^[37]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage credits

Accolades

Discography

References

External links