Holly Hunter
Biography
Holly Hunter, born March 20 1958 in Conyers, Georgia, is an American actress. She first performed as Helen Keller in a fifth‑grade play and later appeared in Rockdale County High School productions of Oklahoma!, Man of La Mancha, and Fiddler on the Roof. Hunter earned a drama degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and acted in local theatre before relocating to New York City with Frances McDormand, where she began a Broadway career. In 1981 she appeared in the slasher film The Burning, and a year later moved to Los Angeles, taking supporting roles in theatrical and television movies. Her career progressed to a starring role in Raising Arizona (1987), which earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Career overview
Holly Hunter was born on March 20, 1958 in Conyers, Georgia. Her first experience on stage came as a fifth‑grader playing Helen Keller, and she continued to act in high‑school productions at Rockdale County High School, appearing in Oklahoma!, Man of La Mancha, and Fiddler on the Roof. After completing a drama degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, she performed in local theatre before relocating to New York City with fellow actress Frances McDormand, where she began a career on Broadway.
Hunter’s first screen credit was the 1981 slasher film The Burning. One year later she moved to Los Angeles, where she took on a variety of supporting roles in both theatrical releases and television movies. Her career progressed to a starring part in the 1987 comedy Raising Arizona, a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Incredibles 3 (2028) as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026) as Nahla Ake
- The Electric State (2025) as Madeline Vance
- Incredicoaster | Disneyland Resort (2025) as Elastigirl (voice)
- Hurricanna (2025)
- LEGO Pixar: BrickToons (2024) as Helen Parr (voice)
- Mulligan (2023) as (voice)
- Mr. Mayor (2021) as Arpi
- Pixar Popcorn (2021) as Helen Parr (voice)
- The Comey Rule (2020) as Sally Yates
- My Darling Vivian (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Bless the Harts (2019) as Marjune (voice)
- Succession (2018) as Rhea Jarrell
- Incredibles 2 (2018) as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
- Here and Now (2018) as Audrey Bayer-Boatwright
- Bergman: A Year in a Life (2018) as Self
- Big Mouth (2017)
- The Big Sick (2017) as Beth Gardner
- Song to Song (2017) as Miranda
- Spielberg (2017) as Self
- Breakable You (2017) as Eleanor Weller
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as Senator Finch
- Strange Weather (2016) as Darcy Baylor
- Manglehorn (2015) as Dawn
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
- Top of the Lake (2013) as GJ
- The Frame (2013) as Helen Remington
- Bonnie & Clyde (2013) as Emma Parker
- Trespassing Bergman (2013) as Self
- Paradise (2013) as Melanie Mannerheim
- From the Bottom of the Lake (2013) as herself
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012) as (archive footage)
- Won't Back Down (2012) as Evelyn Riske
- Jackie (2012) as Jackie
- Portraits in Dramatic Time (2011)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Skavlan (2009) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) as Self - Guest
- Saving Grace (2007) as Grace Hanadarko
- Sangre (2006) as Cafe waitress
- The Big White (2005) as Margaret Barnell
- Nine Lives (2005) as Sonia
- The Incredibles (2004) as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
- Peep and the Big Wide World (2004) as Robin (voice)
- Little Black Book (2004) as Barb
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self - Guest
- Thirteen (2003) as Melanie
- Thirteen (2003) Executive Producer
- Levity (2003) as Adele Easley
- Moonlight Mile: A Journey to Screen (2003) as Self / Mona Camp
- Moonlight Mile (2002) as Mona Camp
- Searching for Debra Winger (2002) as Self
- When Billie Beat Bobby (2001) as Billie Jean King
- When Billie Beat Bobby (2001) Co-Executive Producer
- Festival in Cannes (2001) as Self (uncredited)
- Down from the Mountain (2001) as Self
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) as Penny
- Jesus' Son (2000) as Mira
- Lost Souls (2000) Thanks
- Timecode (2000) as Renee Fishbine
- The Coen Brothers (2000) as Self
- Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) as Rebecca Waynon (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")
- Harlan County War (2000) as Ruby Kincaid
- Woman Wanted (1999) as Emma Riley
- Living Out Loud (1998) as Judith Moore
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- A Life Less Ordinary (1997) as O'Reilly
- Crash (1996) as Helen Remington
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Copycat (1995) as M.J. Monahan
- Home for the Holidays (1995) as Claudia Larson
- Eco-Challenge (1995)
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- The Piano (1993) as Ada McGrath
- The Firm (1993) as Tammy Hemphill
- Inside 'The Piano' (1993) as Self
- The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993) as Wanda Holloway
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self - Guest
- Crazy in Love (1992) as Georgie Symonds
- Once Around (1991) as Renata Bella
- Always (1989) as Dorinda Durston
- Roe vs. Wade (1989) as Ellen Russell / Jane Doe
- Miss Firecracker (1989) as Carnelle Scott
- Animal Behavior (1989) as Coral Grable
- Rabbit Ears - The Three Billy Goats Gruff/The Three Little Pigs (1989) as Narrator (voice)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)
- American Experience (1988) as Mary Lincoln (voice)
- Raising Arizona (1987) as Ed
- Broadcast News (1987) as Jane Craig
- End of the Line (1987) as Charlotte
- A Gathering of Old Men (1987) as Candy Marshall
- Blood Simple (1985) as Helene Trend (voice) (uncredited)
- Swing Shift (1984) as Jeannie Sherman
- With Intent to Kill (1984) as Wynn Nolen
- An Uncommon Love (1983) as Karen
- Svengali (1983) as Leslie
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- The Burning (1981) as Sophie
- The Oscars (1953) as Self