Christine Baranski

Christine Baranski
Name	Christine Baranski
Caption	Baranski in 2013
Birth name	Christine Jane Baranski
Birth date	2 May 1952
Birth place	Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Education	Juilliard School (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1974–present
Spouse	Matthew Cowles, 1983, 2014

Christine Baranski is an American actress renowned for her commanding presence and versatility across stage, film, and television. A graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School, she first achieved major acclaim on Broadway, winning consecutive Tony Awards for her performances in The Real Thing and Rumors. She later became widely recognized for her television roles on series such as Cybill, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award, and The Good Wife, and for film appearances in projects like Chicago and the Mamma Mia! franchise.

Early life and education

Christine Jane Baranski was born in Buffalo, New York, to parents of Polish descent. She attended the Villa Maria Academy before pursuing higher education at Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied under the renowned acting teacher John Houseman as part of Group 1 of the school's Drama Division. She graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, having honed her craft in a rigorous classical training program that prepared her for a career in the theatre.

Career

Baranski's professional career began on the stage, with early work at institutions like the Yale Repertory Theatre and the Long Wharf Theatre. Her breakthrough came on Broadway, leading to a prolific career in television and film. On television, she gained fame for her role as Maryann Thorpe on the CBS sitcom Cybill, a performance that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She later received critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations for her portrayal of attorney Diane Lockhart on the CBS drama The Good Wife, a role she reprised in the spin-off series The Good Fight. Her film career includes notable roles in Mike Nichols's The Birdcage, the musical Chicago, and as Tanya in both Mamma Mia! and its sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Personal life

In 1983, she married actor and playwright Matthew Cowles; the couple had two daughters, Isabel Cowles and Lily Cowles, both of whom are actresses. The family resided in Connecticut for many years. Baranski was widowed in 2014 following the death of her husband from congestive heart failure. She is known for her philanthropic work, supporting organizations such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Alzheimer's Association.

Filmography

A selective list of her film work includes *Legal Eagles (1986), *Reversal of Fortune (1990), *The Addams Family (1991), *The Birdcage (1996), *Bulworth (1998), *Chicago (2002), *Mamma Mia! (2008), *Into the Woods (2014), and *Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). On television, beyond her signature series, she has made guest appearances on shows like Frasier and The Big Bang Theory and voiced characters for animated series such as American Dad!.

Stage work

Baranski's theatrical career is anchored by her celebrated work on Broadway. She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 1984 for Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and again in 1989 for Neil Simon's Rumors. Other notable Broadway credits include The House of Blue Leaves, Hurlyburly, and a 2005 revival of Mame. She has also performed in productions at major regional theatres, including the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Kennedy Center.

Awards and nominations

Throughout her career, Baranski has received numerous accolades. Her Tony Award wins are complemented by several other nominations, including for her performance in Boeing-Boeing. For television, she has won a Primetime Emmy Award and received multiple nominations for both Cybill and The Good Wife. She has also been recognized by the Screen Actors Guild Awards, winning awards as part of the ensemble casts for Chicago and The Good Wife.

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:Tony Award winners Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:Actresses from Buffalo, New York Category:1952 births Category:Living people