Betsy Brandt
{{short description|American actress (born 1973)}}
{{distinguish|Betsy Brantley}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Betsy Brandt
| image = Betsy Brandt by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg
| caption = Brandt at the Rose City Comic Con in 2024
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|3|14}}
| birth_place = Bay City, Michigan, U.S.
| occupation = Actress
| years active = 1998–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Grady Olsen
|1998|2023|reason=separated}}{{cite web |title=Breaking Bad’s Betsy Brandt Files for Divorce From Husband After 25 Years of Marriage |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/breaking-bads-betsy-brandt-files-for-divorce-from-husband-grady-olsen/ |website=www.usmagazine.com}}
| children = 2
}}
Betsy Brandt (born March 14, 1973){{cite news |author= |agency=The Associated Press |date=2015-03-14 |title=Happy Birthday! |work=The Honolulu Star-Advertiser |page=2A |quote=Actress Betsy Brandt is 42.}} is an American actress. She is known for playing Marie Schrader on the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and Heather Hughes on the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces (2015–2019).
Early life
Brandt was born in Bay City, Michigan.{{cite news |last=Engel |first=Justin |date=2022-08-16 |title=Bay City actor reprised 'Breaking Bad' role in 'Better Call Saul' finale. Critics raved. |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2022/08/bay-city-actor-reprised-breaking-bad-role-in-better-call-saul-finale-critics-raved.html |website=MLive |quote=...Bay City-born actor Betsy Brandt... |access-date=2023-11-17}} She is of German descent. She graduated from Bay City Western High School in Auburn, Michigan, in 1991.{{Cite news |last=LaLonde |first=Pati |date=February 6, 2011 |title=Bay City's Brandt sinking her teeth into the role of Marie on AMC's 'Breaking Bad' |publisher=MLive.com |url=https://www.mlive.com/living/bay-city/2011/02/bay_city_native_betsy_brandt_i.html |access-date=March 31, 2022}} Brandt took an interest in theater from an early age, but unlike many of her peers, she was more interested in directing stage musicals than starring in them. After winning the lead in a high school production of Exit the Body, she shifted her focus to acting.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
Brandt received her BFA in acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1996.{{cite news|title=U of I alum and 'Breaking Bad' star Betsy Brandt|url=http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/u-of-i-alum-and-breaking-bad-star-betsy-brandt-on-juggling-husbands/|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=July 27, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804211631/http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/u-of-i-alum-and-breaking-bad-star-betsy-brandt-on-juggling-husbands/|archive-date=August 4, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Actress Betsy Brandt '96 FAA of Breaking Bad talks Hollywood with Illinois Alumni|url=http://illinois.edu/lb/imageList/238|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|date=June 28, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214061336/http://illinois.edu/lb/imageList/238/|archive-date=December 14, 2013}} She studied for her MFA at Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theater Training and studied abroad at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.{{cite web|url=http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/cast/marie-schrader/betsy-brandt|title=Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader|publisher=AMC|access-date=May 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103128/http://www.amctv.com/shows/breaking-bad/cast/marie-schrader/betsy-brandt|archive-date=September 27, 2011}} After graduation, Brandt moved to Seattle, Washington, where she worked in theater while appearing in several short films, beginning with Confidence in 1998. She eventually moved to Los Angeles.
Career
File:Betsy Brandt by Gage Skidmore.jpg in 2012|left|200x200px]]
In theater, Brandt has acted in performances of Much Ado About Nothing with the Arizona Theatre Company, with the San Jose Repertory Theatre, Beth Henley's Ridiculous Fraud, Julia Cho's The Language Archive with South Coast Repertory, and Next Fall with Geffen Playhouse. She has had guest roles on the television shows Without a Trace, Judging Amy, ER, Boston Legal, The Practice, and NCIS.
From 2008 to 2013, Brandt portrayed Marie Schrader in the AMC drama series Breaking Bad. She auditioned for three different roles before being offered the part of Marie.{{cite web|url=http://www.rosscarey.com/2011/08/10/episode-41-featuring-betsy-brandt|title=Conversations with Ross: Featuring Betsy Brandt|publisher=Ross Carey|year=2011}} She described her character as "an unpleasant bitch", but also stated that there was more to her than that. "I think we're seeing more of it now that she would be there for her family. But it's all about her."{{Cite web |date=2011-12-27 |title=Q&A;: Betsy Brandt (Marie Schrader) - Breaking Bad - AMC |url=http://blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad/2008/02/qa-betsy-brandt.php |access-date=2024-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227105129/http://blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad/2008/02/qa-betsy-brandt.php |archive-date=December 27, 2011 }} In 2012, she was cast as Sandy in Parenthood. Brandt was cast as Annie Henry on The Michael J. Fox Show, which premiered in September 2013. Her performance was met with positive reviews.{{cite web|title=The Michael J. Fox Show Season 1 Review|website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-michael-j-fox-show|access-date=December 29, 2013}} She reprised her role as Marie Schrader for the Better Call Saul series finale.
In 2014, Brandt was cast as one of the lead characters in the ABC series Members Only created by Susannah Grant, but the series did not go forward.{{cite web|last=Etkin|first=Jaimie|title=Shonda Rhimes Takes Over ABC's Thursday Nights|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jaimieetkin/abc-new-shows-2014-2015|work=BuzzFeed|access-date=14 May 2014|author2=Jarett Wieselman |date=May 9, 2014 }}[https://deadline.com/2014/03/betsy-brandt-to-co-star-in-abc-drama-series-the-club-703644/ "Betsy Brandt to co-star in The Club on ABC"] (March 2014); accessed April 21, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/abcs-members-not-moving-forward-751538/|title=ABC's 'Members Only' Not Moving Forward (Exclusive)|author=Lesley Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 23, 2014 |access-date=31 March 2022}}
From 2015 to 2019, she starred as Heather Short Hughes in the CBS comedy series Life in Pieces. The series was cancelled after four seasons. In 2020, Brandt was announced to be playing the role of Cleo in the pilot episode of the NBC sitcom Jefferies, which was created by Jim Jefferies and Suzanne Martin.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/betsy-brandt-jim-jefferies-nbc-comedy-pilot-jefferies-1202866949/|title=Betsy Brandt To Star In NBC Comedy Pilot 'Jefferies'|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=February 24, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 24, 2020}} To date, the pilot remains unaired.
Personal life
Brandt married fellow UIUC graduate Grady Olsen in 1998; they have two children.{{cite web | title = Betsy Brandt of Breaking Bad | url = http://www.uiaa.org/illinois/news/blog/index.asp?id=569 | work = Illinois Alumni Magazine | publisher = University of Illinois Alumni Association | date = June 14, 2013}} She gave birth to her second child in 2008 while the second season of Breaking Bad was in production. Brandt and her family reside in Los Angeles.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} Brandt and her husband separated in 2023.
On June 6, 2010, Brandt was honored as the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus at the Bay City Western High School commencement, and was a featured speaker.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Confidence | Natasha | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2001 | Memphis Bound...and Gagged
| The Director | ||
| The Red Boot Diaries | Rachel | Short film | |
| 2004 | Subhuman | Nikki Reynolds | Also known as Shelf Life |
| 2005 | All Features Great and Small | Jennifer | Short film |
| 2011 | Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life | Madame Zaleski | |
| 2012 | Magic Mike | Banker | |
| 2013 | The Professor | The Professor | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2016 | Between Us | Gigi | |
| Claire in Motion | Claire | ||
| 2018 | Anywhere with You | Jeanine | |
| 2019 | Straight Up | Topanga | |
| 2020 | Run Sweetheart Run | Judy | |
| 2022 | The Valet | Kathryn Royce |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Elizabeth Granson | Episode: "Imbroglio" |
| 2002 | JAG | Leslie Rosenbaum | Episode: "The Promised Land" |
| rowspan="3" | 2003 | ER | Franny Myers | Episode: "Death and Taxes" |
| Without a Trace | Libby Coulter | 2 episodes | |
| The Guardian | Sofia Trokey | Episode: "The Intersection" | |
| rowspan="3" | 2004 | NCIS | PO Barbara Swain | Episode: "The Good Wives Club" |
| The Practice | Lynda Hobbs | Episode: "Adjourned (AKA Cheers)" | |
| Back When We Were Grownups | Nono | Television film | |
| 2005 | Medical Investigation | Karen Banks | Episode: "Ice Station" |
| rowspan="2" | 2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dawn Hanson | Episode: "Burn Out" |
| Close to Home | Karen Randall | Episode: "Reasonable Doubts" | |
| rowspan="2" | 2007 | Boston Legal | Gwen Richards | Episode: "Hope and Gory" |
| Side Order of Life | Sara Rose | Episode: "Aliens" | |
| {{nowrap|2008–2013}} | Breaking Bad | Marie Schrader | Main role |
| rowspan="2" | 2010 | The Whole Truth | Sister Theresa Bendicta | Episode: "Thicker Than Water" |
| Miami Medical | Dana | Episode: "Medicine Man" | |
| 2011 | No Ordinary Family | Dr. Lena Hopkins | Episode: "No Ordinary Double Standard" |
| {{nowrap|2011–2012}} | Private Practice | Joanna Gibbs | 2 episodes |
| {{nowrap|2012–2015}} | Parenthood | Sandy | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Fairly Legal | Natalie Roberts | Episode: "Shattered" |
| 2013 | Body of Proof | Susan Hart | Episode: "Eye for an Eye" |
| {{nowrap|2013–2014}} | The Michael J. Fox Show | Annie Henry | Main role |
| rowspan="3" | 2014 | Masters of Sex | Barbara | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| Members Only | Leslie Holmes | Pilot | |
| Mothers of the Bride | Haley Snow | Television film | |
| {{nowrap|2015–2019}} | Life in Pieces | Heather Hughes | Main role |
| 2016 | American Dad! | Nurse Jocelyn | Voice role; episode: "Stan-Dan Deliver" |
| rowspan="2" | 2017 | FANatic | Tess Daniels | Television film |
| Flint | LeeAnne Walters | Television film | |
| 2019 | Pearson | Stephanie Novak | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| {{nowrap|2019–2021}} | The Unicorn | Caroline | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2020 | Soulmates | Caitlen | Recurring role |
| A Million Little Things | Colleen | Episode: "'Til Death Do Us Part" | |
| Jefferies | Cleo
|Unaired pilot | ||
| {{nowrap|2021–2022}} | Love, Victor | Dawn Westen | Recurring role |
| 2022 | Better Call Saul | Marie Schrader | Episode: "Saul Gone" |
| rowspan="2" | 2023 | Accused | Kara | Episode: "Jessie's Story" |
| Saint X | Mia Thomas | Main role{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=October 27, 2022 |title='Saint X': Michael Park, Betsy Brandt Join Hulu's Psychological Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/saint-x-betsy-brandt-michael-park-cast-hulu-1235155748/ |access-date=March 21, 2023 |work=Deadline Hollywood}} |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ {{sronly|Awards and nominations received by Betsy Brandt}} |
| scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year{{efn|Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.}} ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominated work ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Reference heading}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Critics' Choice Television Awards
| 2021 | Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3" ! scope="row"| Screen Actors Guild Awards
| 2012 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| 2013
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Breaking Bad | {{nom}} |
| 2014
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Breaking Bad | {{won}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Betsy Brandt}}
- {{IMDb name|1336827}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brandt, Betsy}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:American people of German descent
Category:Actresses from Michigan
Category:Alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Institute for Advanced Theater Training, Harvard University alumni
Category:People from Bay City, Michigan
Category:University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts alumni