Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Biography
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an American actress and singer born on November 28, 1984, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Known for her versatility across a wide range of film and television projects, she has built a career spanning multiple genres, including horror, drama, and action. Winstead has appeared in 74 known credits throughout her professional career. In addition to her work as an actress, she is recognized for her musical contributions. She was previously married to filmmaker Riley Stearns in 2010. Her professional background includes work in both major feature films and television series, establishing her as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
Career overview
Winstead began her career with early roles in television, including her first major part as Jessica Bennett on the NBC soap opera Passions from 1999 to 2000. She later gained further attention for her work in the horror series Wolf Lake between 2001 and 2002. Her filmography includes appearances in horror titles such as Final Destination 3 and Death Proof. She is widely recognized for playing Lucy Gennero-McClane in the Die Hard film franchise, specifically in Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard. Other notable film roles include Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mary Todd Lincoln in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and Holly Keely in The Spectacular Now. In 2020, she portrayed Helena Bertinelli, also known as Huntress, in Birds of Prey.
In television, Winstead has held roles in various series, including Nikki Swango on the FX series Fargo, Mary Phinney on the PBS series Mercy Street, and Laurel Healy on the CBS series BrainDead. She also appeared as Anna Urbanova in the Paramount+ series A Gentleman in Moscow. Her body of work is noted for its variety, ranging from independent films to major studio productions. She remains an active performer in both the motion picture and television industries.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (2025) as Caitlin Morales
- A Gentleman in Moscow (2024) as Anna Urbanova
- Rich Flu (2024) as Laura Palmer
- Ahsoka (2023) as Hera Syndulla
- Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023) as Ramona Flowers (voice)
- Hollywood's Hard Hitters: Women in Action (2023) as Self
- Kate (2021) as Kate
- Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) as Helena Bertinelli / Huntress
- Long Way Up (2020) as Self
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Water Crisis (2020) as Self - Ramona Flowers
- Love, Death & Robots (2019) as Gail
- Gemini Man (2019) as Danny Zakarweski
- The Parts You Lose (2019) as Gail
- All About Nina (2018) as Nina Geld
- AAA - Worldwide From Monterrey (2018)
- Danger & Eggs (2017) as Trix Blixon (voice)
- So It Goes (2017) as Samantha
- 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) as Michelle
- BrainDead (2016) as Laurel Healy
- Swiss Army Man (2016) as Sarah
- Mercy Street (2016) as Mary Phinney
- The Hollars (2016) as Gwen
- Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio (2016) as (voice)
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- The Returned (2015) as Rowan Blackshaw
- Alex of Venice (2015) as Alex
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Fargo (2014) as Nikki Swango
- Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
- Kill the Messenger (2014) as Anna Simons
- Faults (2014) as Claire
- Faults (2014) Producer
- Showing Up (2014) as Self
- The Spectacular Now (2013) as Holly Keely
- A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) as Lucy McClane
- A.C.O.D. (2013) as Lauren Stinger
- A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2013) as Kate
- The Cub (2013) Executive Producer
- Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012) as Self
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) as Mary Todd Lincoln
- The Beauty Inside (2012) as Leah
- Smashed (2012) as Kate Hannah
- Casque (2012) as Girl
- The Thing (2011) as Kate Lloyd
- Cost of Living (2011) as The Computer (voice)
- Magnificat (2011) as Lynn
- Magnificat (2011) Executive Producer
- The Scarf (2011) as Woman
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) as Ramona Flowers
- The Making of 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010) as Self
- Make It Happen (2008) as Lauryn Kirk
- Live Free or Die Hard (2007) as Lucy McClane
- Death Proof (2007) as Lee
- Grindhouse (2007) as Lee Montgomery (segment "Death Proof")
- May All Your Christmases Be Black (2007) as Self
- Final Destination 3 (2006) as Wendy Christensen
- Factory Girl (2006) as Ingrid Superstar
- Black Christmas (2006) as Heather Fitzgerald
- Bobby (2006) as Susan Taylor
- Dead Teenager Movie (2006) as Self
- Death's Design: Making "Final Destination 3" (2006) as Self
- Checking Out (2006) as Lisa Apple
- Kill Shot: The Making of 'FD3' (2006) as Self
- Sky High (2005) as Gwen Grayson / Royal Pain
- The Ring Two (2005) as Young Evelyn
- Monster Island (2004) as Maddy
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Tru Calling (2003) as Bridget Elkins
- Wolf Lake (2001) as Sophia Donner
- Passions (1999) as Jessica Bennett
- The Long Road Home (1999) as Annie Jacobs
- The View (1997) as Self
- Promised Land (1996) as Chloe
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Kristy Cordis (uncredited)