Holly Hunter

Biography

Holly Hunter is an American actress from Conyers, Georgia, who studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Early stage work in New York led to roles in Beth Henley plays, and she made her screen debut in the 1981 slasher film The Burning. After moving to Los Angeles, she appeared in Swing Shift and Blood Simple, then broke through in 1987 with a lead in Raising Arizona and an Oscar nomination for Broadcast News. She won two Primetime Emmys for Roe vs. Wade (1989) and The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993). Her mute Scottish heroine in The Piano (1993) brought the Best Actress Academy Award, while The Firm (1993) and Thirteen (2003) earned her further nominations. Later credits include O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), plus Saving Grace, Succession, and Mr. Mayor.

68years old

Turns 69 on March 20in 130 days

Born March 20, 1958Conyers
Star sign: PiscesLast day of the sign, on the Aries cusp
Also credited as Holly Patricia Hunter

Movie Career

Films: 39
Career span: 39 years1981 to 2020

Genres

Drama74%, 29 films
Comedy36%, 14 films
Romance31%, 12 films
Crime18%, 7 films
Adventure10%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Hunter met playwright Beth Henley by chance when the two were stuck alone in an elevator. That meeting got her cast in Henley's Crimes of the Heart, taking over from Mary Beth Hurt on Broadway, and Off-Broadway's The Miss Firecracker Contest.
A role that slipped away
Hunter was cast as the voice of Chicken Little in the 2005 film during early production, but the character's gender was changed and she was replaced by Zach Braff.
Behind the camera
Hunter served as an executive producer on Saving Grace, a drama on the TNT cable network that she helped develop as a starring vehicle for herself and that premiered in July 2007.

Holly Hunter movies on Netflix

My Darling Vivian2020IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Bergman: A Year in a Life2018IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
Incredibles 22018IMDb rating 7.5as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
Song to Song2017IMDb rating 5.6as Miranda
The Big Sick2017IMDb rating 7.5as Beth Gardner
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016IMDb rating 6.4as Senator Finch
Strange Weather2016IMDb rating 6.0as Darcy Baylor
Manglehorn2014IMDb rating 5.5as Dawn
Trespassing Bergman2013IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Won't Back Down2012IMDb rating 6.4as Evelyn Riske
Nine Lives2005IMDb rating 6.7as Sonia
The Big White2005IMDb rating 6.3as Margaret Barnell
Little Black Book2004IMDb rating 5.4as Barb
The Incredibles2004IMDb rating 8.0as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
Levity2003IMDb rating 6.3as Adele Easley
Thirteen2003IMDb rating 6.8as Melanie
Moonlight Mile2002IMDb rating 6.6as Mona Camp
When Billie Beat Bobby2001IMDb rating 6.1as Billie Jean King
Harlan County War2000IMDb rating 6.4as Ruby Kincaid
O Brother, Where Art Thou?2000IMDb rating 7.7as Penny
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her2000IMDb rating 6.4as Rebecca Waynon (segment "Fantasies About Rebecca")
Timecode2000IMDb rating 6.0as Renee Fishbine
Jesus' Son1999IMDb rating 6.9as Mira
Living Out Loud1998IMDb rating 6.5as Judith Moore
A Life Less Ordinary1997IMDb rating 6.3as O'Reilly
Crash1996IMDb rating 6.4as Helen Remington
Copycat1995IMDb rating 6.6as M.J. Monahan
Home for the Holidays1995IMDb rating 6.6as Claudia Larson
The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9as Tammy Hemphill
The Piano1993IMDb rating 7.5as Ada McGrath
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom1993IMDb rating 6.6as Wanda Holloway
Once Around1991IMDb rating 6.5as Renata Bella
Always1989IMDb rating 6.4as Dorinda Durston
Miss Firecracker1989IMDb rating 6.1as Carnelle Scott
Broadcast News1987IMDb rating 7.3as Jane Craig
Raising Arizona1987IMDb rating 7.3as Edwina 'Ed' McDunnough
Blood Simple1984IMDb rating 7.5as Helene Trend (voice)
Swing Shift1984IMDb rating 6.0as Jeannie Sherman
The Burning1981IMDb rating 6.2as Sophie

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Incredibles2004 Action, Adventure, Animationas Helen Parr / Elastigirlvoice
IMDb rating 8.0917K votes
Incredibles 22018 Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fias Helen Parr / Elastigirlvoice
IMDb rating 7.5378K votes
The Piano1993as Ada McGrath
IMDb rating 7.5103K votes
Raising Arizona1987as Edwina 'Ed' McDunnough
IMDb rating 7.3162K votes
O Brother, Where Art Thou?2000as Penny
IMDb rating 7.7356K votes
The Big Sick2017as Beth Gardner
IMDb rating 7.5152K votes
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016as Senator Finch
IMDb rating 6.4799K votes
Thirteen2003as Melanie
IMDb rating 6.8108K votes

Most often with

Ethan Coen and Joel Coen directed three of these films together. John Goodman appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

John Goodman

Samuel L. Jackson

Ed Harris

Stephen Tobolowsky

Richard Dreyfuss

David StrathairnEthan CoenDirector, 3 films

Joel CoenDirector, 3 films

Brad BirdDirector, 2 films

Films together

John Goodman3 films together, 1987 to 2000
John Goodman's page
- O Brother, Where Art Thou?2000IMDb rating 7.7Hunter as PennyGoodman as Big Dan Teague
- Always1989IMDb rating 6.4Hunter as Dorinda DurstonGoodman as Al Yackey
- Raising Arizona1987IMDb rating 7.3Hunter as Edwina 'Ed' McDunnoughGoodman as Gale Snoats
Samuel L. Jackson2 films together, 2004 to 2018
Samuel L. Jackson's page
- Incredibles 22018IMDb rating 7.5Hunter as Helen Parr / ElastigirlvoiceJackson as Lucius Best / Frozonevoice
- The Incredibles2004IMDb rating 8.0Hunter as Helen Parr / ElastigirlvoiceJackson as Lucius Best / Frozonevoice
Ed Harris2 films together, 1984 to 1993
Ed Harris's page
- The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9Hunter as Tammy HemphillHarris as Wayne Tarrance
- Swing Shift1984IMDb rating 6.0Hunter as Jeannie ShermanHarris as Jack Walsh
Stephen Tobolowsky2 films together, 1984 to 2004
Stephen Tobolowsky's page
- Little Black Book2004IMDb rating 5.4Hunter as BarbTobolowsky as Carl
- Swing Shift1984IMDb rating 6.0Hunter as Jeannie ShermanTobolowsky as French deMille
Richard Dreyfuss2 films together, 1989 to 1991
Richard Dreyfuss's page
- Once Around1991IMDb rating 6.5Hunter as Renata BellaDreyfuss as Sam Sharpe
- Always1989IMDb rating 6.4Hunter as Dorinda DurstonDreyfuss as Pete Sandich
David Strathairn2 films together, 1993 to 1995
David Strathairn's page
- Home for the Holidays1995IMDb rating 6.6Hunter as Claudia LarsonStrathairn as Russell Terziak
- The Firm1993IMDb rating 6.9Hunter as Tammy HemphillStrathairn as Ray McDeere
Ethan CoenDirector, 3 films, 1984 to 2000
All films by Ethan Coen
- O Brother, Where Art Thou?2000IMDb rating 7.7Hunter as Penny
- Raising Arizona1987IMDb rating 7.3Hunter as Edwina 'Ed' McDunnough
- Blood Simple1984IMDb rating 7.5Hunter as Helene Trendvoice
Joel CoenDirector, 3 films, 1984 to 2000
All films by Joel Coen
- O Brother, Where Art Thou?2000IMDb rating 7.7Hunter as Penny
- Raising Arizona1987IMDb rating 7.3Hunter as Edwina 'Ed' McDunnough
- Blood Simple1984IMDb rating 7.5Hunter as Helene Trendvoice
Brad BirdDirector, 2 films, 2004 to 2018
All films by Brad Bird
- Incredibles 22018IMDb rating 7.5Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirlvoice
- The Incredibles2004IMDb rating 8.0Hunter as Helen Parr / Elastigirlvoice
Also two films together25 more actors
- Charles DurningO Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and Home for the Holidays (1995)
- Michael ShannonBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Jesus' Son (1999)
- Glenn CloseNine Lives (2005) and Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
- Tim Blake NelsonThe Big White (2005) and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
- Will PattonJesus' Son (1999) and Copycat (1995)
- Dan HedayaA Life Less Ordinary (1997) and Blood Simple (1984)
- Kathy BakerNine Lives (2005) and Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
- Tim RobbinsMy Darling Vivian (2020) and Miss Firecracker (1989)
- Cameron DiazThings You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
- Elias KoteasLiving Out Loud (1998) and Crash (1996)
- Frances McDormandRaising Arizona (1987) and Blood Simple (1984)
- Glenne HeadlyStrange Weather (2016) and Timecode (2000)
- Albert BrooksMy Darling Vivian (2020) and Broadcast News (1987)
- Craig T. NelsonIncredibles 2 (2018) and The Incredibles (2004)
- Miguel SandovalNine Lives (2005) and Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
- Christine LahtiMiss Firecracker (1989) and Swing Shift (1984)
- Elpidia CarrilloNine Lives (2005) and Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
- Amy BrennemanNine Lives (2005) and Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
- Ned EisenbergWon't Back Down (2012) and The Burning (1981)
- Trey WilsonMiss Firecracker (1989) and Raising Arizona (1987)
- Brad BirdIncredibles 2 (2018) and The Incredibles (2004)
- Eli FucileIncredibles 2 (2018) and The Incredibles (2004)
- Michael BirdIncredibles 2 (2018) and The Incredibles (2004)
- Michael Steve JonesOnce Around (1991) and Always (1989)
- Sarah VowellIncredibles 2 (2018) and The Incredibles (2004)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Holly Hunter's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top

Combined worldwide box office

$3.5 billion

27 of the 39 films have a worldwide figure.

27Worldwide figure
4US gross only
3Never in cinemas
5Figure not found

Top grosser

Incredibles 22018Helen Parr / Elastigirl$1.2 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Incredibles 22018as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
$1.2B35.5% of the total
2
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016as Senator Finch
$874M25.0% of the total
3
The Incredibles2004as Helen Parr / Elastigirl (voice)
$631M18.0% of the total
4
The Firm1993as Tammy Hemphill
$270M7.7% of the total
5
Always1989as Dorinda Durston
$74M2.1% of the total
6
O Brother, Where Art Thou?2000as Penny
$72M2.1% of the total
7
Broadcast News1987as Jane Craig
$67M1.9% of the total
8
The Big Sick2017as Beth Gardner
$56M1.6% of the total

Home for the Holidays (1995), $22.1 million

A Life Less Ordinary (1997), $14.6 million

Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000), $1.4 million

$213 millionfrom the other 19 films with a worldwide figure, 6% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1989 to 2009, seven of them major.

Top

Holly Hunter's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1994	Best Actress	The Piano	Won
Golden Globes
1993	Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama	The Piano	Won
BAFTA
1994	Best Actress in a Leading Role	The Piano	Won
Emmy Awards
1993	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom	Won
1989	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie	Roe vs. Wade	Won
Cannes Film Festival
1993	Best Actress	The Piano	Won
Berlin Film Festival
	Silver Bear for Best Actress		Won
Other honors
2009	Lucy Award		Won
2004	International Cinephile Society Award for Best Supporting Actress	Thirteen	Won
2004	Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress	Thirteen	Won
1993	AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role	The Piano	Won
1993	London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year	The Piano	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top