Britt Lower
{{Short description|American actress (born 1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Britt Lower
| image = BrittLower.jpg
| caption = Lower in January 2023
| birthname = Brittney Leigh Lower
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|2}}
| birth_place = Bloomington, Illinois, U.S.
Heyworth, Illinois, U.S.
| alma_mater = Northwestern University (BSc)
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2010–present
}}
Brittney Leigh Lower ({{IPAc-en|l|aʊər}}; born August 2, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the crime drama series Unforgettable (2011–2014), the romantic comedy series Man Seeking Woman (2015–2017), and the sci-fi series Severance (2022–present).
Early life
Lower was born in Bloomington, Illinois,{{Cite web |date=13 August 1985 |title=New Names |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-brittney-leigh-lower/163453136/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |work=The Pantagraph |page=16 |publication-place=Bloomington, Illinois |quote=A Heyworth couple, Steve and Mickey Lower, are parents of Brittney Leigh Lower, born Aug. 2. The 7-pound, 5-ounce baby is a sister of Brugh[;] Mabel and H.C. Knight of Moweaqua and Duane and Nell Lower of rural Paxton are grandparents.}} the daughter of Mickey and Steve Lower. Lower lived in Heyworth, Illinois and graduated from Heyworth High School. Her mother was a home economics teacher at Clinton Junior High School in Clinton, Illinois. She now runs a face painting business, known throughout Central Illinois as "the Zoo Lady,"{{cite web |last1=Flick |first1=Bill |title=Heyworth to network TV … in only 8 years |url=https://pantagraph.com/blogs/flick/flick-heyworth-to-network-tv-in-only-8-years/article_6eedc978-5e6b-11e1-bc7f-001871e3ce6c.html |website=pantagraph.com |access-date=9 March 2025 |language=en |date=26 February 2012}}https://www.facepaintingzoolady.com/{{Cite web|url=http://bloomington-normal.macaronikid.com/article/68871/meet-mickey-lower-the-zoo-lady|title=Meet Mickey Lower: The Zoo Lady!|date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003055412/http://bloomington-normal.macaronikid.com/article/68871/meet-mickey-lower-the-zoo-lady |archive-date=October 3, 2016}} which Britt occasionally joined, and Britt later cited it as where she "first encountered circus performers and artists who live on the road and work on the road as a living [and] just became totally enamored by the tightrope walkers and jugglers".{{Cite web |url=https://circusflora.org/severance-star-britt-lower |title=Why 'Severance' star Britt Lower is joining the circus in St. Louis |last=Heuer |first=Alex |website=Circus Flora |date=2022-06-09 |language=en |access-date=2022-02-17}} She has an older brother named Brugh, who is a lawyer. After graduating as the valedictorian from Heyworth High School in 2004,{{cite news |date=May 28, 2004 |title=Graduation 1996, Heyworth High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-heyworth-high-school/163453286/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |work=The Pantagraph |page=A8 |via=Newspapers.com}} she earned a BSc in Communication from Northwestern University in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-britt-lower-sisters-man-seeking-woman-mov-0108-20160107-column.html|title=Man Seeking Woman's Britt Lower makes the most of her improv training|website=Chicago Tribune|date=7 January 2016}} She also worked with the Upright Citizens Brigade and ImprovOlympic.{{Cite web|url=https://magnettheater.com/people/Britt-Lower|title=Britt Lower - Magnet Theater People|website=Magnet Theater|access-date=2018-04-07}}
Career
Lower had a recurring role as technology expert Tanya Sitkowsky in the 2011 series Unforgettable.{{cite web|url=http://cliqueclack.com/tv/2012/03/20/britt-lower-interview/|title=Meet Unforgettable's awesomely quirky Britt Lower – Interview|date=20 March 2012}} In 2015, she had her breakout role as Liz Greenberg in the FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/03/eric-andre-britt-lower-maya-erskine-cast-in-fx-comedy-pilot-man-seeking-woman-702154/|title=Eric André, Britt Lower & Maya Erskine Cast In FX Comedy Pilot 'Man Seeking Woman'|date=20 March 2014|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=February 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209101240/https://deadline.com/2014/03/eric-andre-britt-lower-maya-erskine-cast-in-fx-comedy-pilot-man-seeking-woman-702154/|url-status=dead}} In 2016, she had a recurring role as Sarah Finn in the second season of the Hulu series Casual.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/britt-lower-joins-hulu-comedy-872248|title=Britt Lower Joins Hulu Comedy 'Casual' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2 March 2016}} She later appeared in the second season of American Horror Stories and portrayed the main character in the music video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song "Wolf".{{Cite web |date=2022-10-29 |title=Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Wolf" Video Stars Britt Lower From 'Severance': Watch |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2204451/watch-yeah-yeah-yeahs-wolf-video-starring-britt-lower-from-severance/news/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} She also starred in commercials for Verizon{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/IOM/britt-lower|title=Britt Lower TV Commercials|website=Ispot|language=en|access-date=2018-04-07}} and was a guest on The George Lucas Talk Show.
Lower has starred as Helly R. in the Apple TV+ sci-fi psychological thriller series Severance since 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/severance-britt-lower-cast-adam-scott-patricia-arquette-apple-tv-series-ben-stiller-1202826002/|title='Severance': Britt Lower To Star In Apple Drama Series|first1=Nellie|last1=Andreeva|first2=Denise|last2=Petski|date=January 20, 2020}} With an interest in the circus world stemming from her mother's face painting career and her own research for the 2020 short film Circus Person, which she wrote and directed, Lower spent a month playing a character in Circus Flora's Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask show in St. Louis during the three-year hiatus between the first and second seasons of Severance.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| Imogen | Natalie | Short film |
| rowspan="2"|2010
| Benny to Benny | May | Short film |
| Spark
| Suze | Short film |
| rowspan="4"|2012
| Mary Ann | |
| The Letter
| Kathleen | |
| The Worst
| Ryan | Short film |
| Roomie
| Sarah | Short film |
| rowspan="3"|2013
| Olivia | |
| Mutual Friends
| Trish | |
| One Trick Dieter
| Ellen | Short film |
| 2014
| Re: Jess | Jess | Short film |
| rowspan="4"|2015
| The Shells | Alex | |
| Those People
| Ursula | |
| Sisters
| Mrs. Geernt | |
| Don't Worry Baby
| Anna | |
| rowspan="4"|2016
| How To Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps | Rachael | Short film |
| Swell
| Ana | Short film |
| Domain
| Phoenix / Kimberley Miller | |
| The Shadow Hours
| Dorothy | Short film |
| 2017
| Celeste Jones | |
| rowspan="3"|2018
| Faith | Padma | Short film |
| Staycation
| Jill | Short film |
| A Civilized Life
| Jack | Short film |
| rowspan="2"|2020
| Circus Person | Ava | Also writer and director |
| Holly Slept Over
| Audra | |
| 2022
| Show Pony | Kate | Short film |
| 2023
| Until the Wedding | Naomi | |
| rowspan="2"|2024
| Suzie | Also executive producer |
| Darkest Miriam
| Miriam | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Big Lake | Meg | 7 episodes |
| 2011–2014
| Tanya Sitkowsky | 13 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2012
| Nina | Episode: "In Case of (Re)Birth" |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
| Jess Hardwick | Episode: "Strange Beauty" |
| 2015–2017
| Liz Greenberg | Series regular |
| rowspan="2"|2016
| Rayne | Episode: "The Seven Billionth Wheel" |
| Casual
| Sarah Finn | Recurring role |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| Wrecked | Margot Wallace | Episode: "Ransom" |
| Pillow Talk
| Emma | 4 episodes |
| 2017–2018
| Ghosted | Claire Jennifer | Recurring role |
| 2017–2019
| Jeri Elizabeth Lang | 5 episodes |
| 2018
| WASP | Desiree | Series regular |
| rowspan="2"|2019
| Lee | 4 episodes |
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
| Lisa | Episode: "The Gang Gets Romantic" |
| 2020–2024
| Herself | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2022
| Fay Mallow | Episode: "Facelift"{{Cite web |last=Etzel |first=Gabby |date=29 May 2022 |title=American Horror Stories: 10 Actors That Will Appear In Season 2 |url=https://screenrant.com/announced-cast-actors-american-horror-stories-season-2/ |access-date=11 June 2022 |website=Screen Rant}} |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
| No-One's Mother | Episode: "Kerry Washington / Joe Walsh" |
| 2022–present
| Main role |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Work ! scope="col" | Result |
| rowspan="2"| {{center|2022}}
|Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards |Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|Severance |{{won}} |
| Saturn Awards
|Best Actress in a Streaming Series |{{nom}} |
| {{center|2023}}
|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |{{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes person | britt_lower }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lower, Britt}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Northwestern University alumni
Category:People from McLean County, Illinois