Hannah Wilder

Hannah Wilder is an American actress and producer known for her work in independent film and television. She first gained recognition for her role in the Sundance Film Festival-premiering drama The Last Light and has since built a career characterized by nuanced performances in character-driven projects. Wilder is also a co-founder of the production company Wilder Pictures, which focuses on developing stories by emerging filmmakers.

Early life and education

Hannah Wilder was born and raised in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Her mother, a former stage actress who performed with the Theatre of NOTE, and her father, a cinematographer who worked on documentaries for PBS, fostered an early interest in the performing arts. She attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she studied theatre and appeared in student productions of works by Tennessee Williams and August Wilson. Wilder subsequently enrolled at the University of Southern California, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the USC School of Dramatic Arts. During her time at USC, she performed in several productions at the Bing Theatre and studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Career

Wilder's professional career began with guest appearances on television series such as Criminal Minds and New Girl. Her breakthrough came with a supporting role in The Last Light, a critically acclaimed drama that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017. This led to a recurring role on the Netflix series The OA, playing the friend of protagonist Brit Marling's character. In 2019, she starred opposite John Boyega in the indie thriller Static, which was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival. That same year, she co-founded the production company Wilder Pictures with filmmaker Alex Ross Perry; their first feature, The Gardener, was selected for the Cannes Film Festival's International Critics' Week. More recently, Wilder received praise for her leading performance in the Hulu limited series The Unseen, adapted from the novel by Donna Tartt.

Personal life

Wilder resides in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and has worked with organizations like The Trevor Project and Active Minds. In interviews with Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, she has spoken about the influence of directors like Mike Leigh and Lynne Ramsay on her approach to acting. Wilder is also a trained pianist and has performed at benefits for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Filmography

* 2017: The Last Light (role: Elise) – Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival * 2018: The OA (TV series, recurring role) – Aired on Netflix * 2019: Static (role: Clara) – Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival * 2021: The Gardener (role: Sylvia; also producer) – Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival * 2023: The Unseen (TV miniseries, lead role) – Aired on Hulu

Awards and nominations

* 2018: Nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor for The Last Light * 2020: Won the Special Jury Prize for Acting at the Sundance Film Festival for her performance in Static * 2022: Received a nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series at the Critics' Choice Television Awards for The Unseen * 2023: Honored with the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Los Angeles Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:Living people Category:1992 births