Willa Fitzgerald
{{Short description|American actress (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Willa Fitzgerald
| image = 29th Critics Choice Awards - Willa Fitzgerald (cropped).png
| caption = Fitzgerald in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|17}}
| birth_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
| education = Yale University (BA)
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2008–present
}}
Willa Fitzgerald (born January 17, 1991) is an American actress. She is known for her starring role as Emma Duval in MTV's Scream. She has played cheer coach Colette French in the USA Network's television drama series Dare Me and officer Roscoe Conklin in the Amazon Prime Video television series Reacher. Her other notable roles include Amazon Studios' television series Alpha House, the USA Network's drama series Royal Pains, Netflix's horror miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher, and the lead role in the thriller film Strange Darling.
Early life and education
Willa Fitzgerald was born on January 17, 1991,{{cite web |author1= |title=UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2023/01/17/UPI-Almanac-for-Tuesday-Jan-17-2023/7401673921316/ |publisher=United Press International |access-date=February 1, 2023 |date=January 17, 2023}} in Nashville, Tennessee,{{cite journal|work=Sbjct|url=http://www.sbjctjournal.com/2020/02/05/willa-fitzgerald/|date=February 5, 2020|title=Where's Willa?|last=Walsh|first=Erin|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240827013206/http://www.sbjctjournal.com/2020/02/05/willa-fitzgerald/|archive-date=August 27, 2024}} the only child of musician parents{{cite web|url=https://vmagazine.com/article/v-girls-willa-fitzgerald/|work=V|issn=1539-185X|title=V Girls: Willa Fitzgerald|url-status=live|last=Anderson|first=Samuel|date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240827013433/https://vmagazine.com/article/v-girls-willa-fitzgerald/|archive-date=August 27, 2024}} who were in a band together for two decades prior to her birth.{{cite web|url=https://www.roseandivyjournal.com/stories/2022/3/29/introducing-april-starring-willa-fitzgerald|work=Rose & Ivy Journal|title=Introducing April Starring Willa Fitzgerald|date=March 29, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240827013732/https://www.roseandivyjournal.com/stories/2022/3/29/introducing-april-starring-willa-fitzgerald|url-status=live|quote=My parents were musicians when I was growing up—they were in a band for 20 years even before I was even a thought. They are both creative people and I think as a kid, it’s a natural thing to rebel against what your parents are like. So for a long time, I said I wasn’t going to be like that, and I went hard into just being a nerd, learning as much as I possibly could, and being good at school.}}
After first studying psychology for three years, Fitzgerald earned her bachelor's degree in theater studies from Yale University.{{cite web |last=Castillo |first=Bree |title=Q&A {{!}} Willa Fitzgerald |website=Flaunt Magazine |url=https://archive.flaunt.com/content/willa-fitzgerald |date=January 13, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201065428/https://archive.flaunt.com/content/willa-fitzgerald |url-status=dead }}
Career
File:Goldfinch 31 (48810096141) (cropped).jpg
Between 2013 and 2014, Fitzgerald played the role of Lola Laffer in the Amazon Studios political web television series Alpha House. The series lasted two seasons before being cancelled.{{cite web |title=Alpha House Cancelled By Amazon – No Season 3 |url=http://renewcanceltv.com/alpha-house-cancelled-amazon-no-season-3/ |work=RenewCancelTV.com |date=August 7, 2016 |access-date=September 21, 2016}} On April 23, 2014, it was reported that Fitzgerald obtained a recurring role in USA Network's drama series Royal Pains as Emma Miller.{{cite news |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/royal-pains-willa-fitzgerald-1080843/ |title=Exclusive: Royal Pains Adds Alpha House Alum for Mysterious Recurring Role |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=April 23, 2014 |work=TV Guide |access-date=December 28, 2017}} Between 2014 and 2015, she also obtained guest-starring roles in various television series such as Blue Bloods, The Following and Gotham.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/celebrity/willa-fitzgerald/#cast=scream |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612012622/http://www.mtv.com/celebrity/willa-fitzgerald/#cast=scream |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2015 |title=Scream Cast - Willa Fitzgerald |work=MTV.com |access-date=December 28, 2017}}
On August 5, 2014, she was cast in MTV's Scream.{{cite news |first=Whitney |last=Friedlander |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/mtv-orders-scream-tv-show-1201341402/ |title=MTV Orders 'Scream' TV Show to Series |magazine=Variety |date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}{{cite news |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mtvs-scream-adaptation-sets-cast-723337 |title=MTV's 'Scream' Adaptation Sets Cast, Director |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}{{cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Wagmeister |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/scream-mtv-television-series-watch-trailer-video-1201469035/ |title='Scream' Series to Debut June 30 on MTV - Watch First Trailer |magazine=Variety |date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=December 28, 2017}} On July 29, 2015, the series was renewed for a second season that premiered on May 30, 2016.{{cite web |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2016/03/10/mtv-and-dimension-tvs-scream-adds-new-cast-and-sets-premiere-date-87302/20160310mtv01/ |title=Breaking News - MTV and Dimension TV's "Scream" Adds New Cast and Sets Premiere Date |work=The Futon Critic |access-date=June 15, 2016 |archive-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160409075032/http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2016/03/10/mtv-and-dimension-tvs-scream-adds-new-cast-and-sets-premiere-date-87302/20160310mtv01/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Swift |url=https://tvline.com/2015/07/29/scream-renewed-season-2-mtv-2016/ |title='Scream' Renewed for Season 2 |website=TVLine |date=July 29, 2015 |access-date=August 3, 2018 |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804045942/https://tvline.com/2015/07/29/scream-renewed-season-2-mtv-2016/ |url-status=dead }} On April 26, 2017, MTV announced that Scream would undergo a reboot featuring a new cast.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/scream-tv-series-season-3-reboot-showrunner/ |title=Scream TV Series Reboot Confirmed; New Showrunner Announced |first=Tom |last=Chapman |date=April 26, 2017 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=April 27, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mtv-president-unveils-scripted-slate-explains-his-new-approach-1022369 |title=MTV President Unveils Scripted Slate and Explains His New Approach |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=July 19, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=October 20, 2017}}
Fitzgerald's credits in theater include works such as Couple in the Kitchen, The Private Sector, Cow Play and The Cat and the Canary.{{cite web |url=http://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/45694-the-private-sector-at-theater-for-the-new-city-cino-theater-june-25-july-3-2011 |title=The Private Sector |work=About The Artists |access-date=December 28, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nytheatre.com/Content/2011-cow-play |title=Cow Play |work=Indie Theater Now |date=August 13, 2011 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.curtainup.com/catandcanaryberk.html |title=A CurtainUp Berkshire Review: The Cat and the Canary |author=Elyse Sommer |work=CurtainUp.com |access-date=December 28, 2017}} In August 2016, she joined the cast of the film Misfortune,{{cite web |first=Justin |last=Kroll |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/scream-willa-fitzgerald-john-cusack-misfortune-1201841313/ |title='Scream' Star Willa Fitzgerald Joins John Cusack in Indie Drama 'Misfortune' |work=Variety |date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=November 19, 2017}} directed by Lucky McKee and released in October 2017 under the title Blood Money.{{cite news |first=Dennis |last=Harvey |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/blood-money-review-1202586741/ |title=Film Review: 'Blood Money' |work=Variety |date=October 11, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}
In January 2016, she was cast in the go90 web series Relationship Status. She portrayed the role of Beth in a two-episode arc.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/milo-ventimiglia-james-frey-debut-852829 |title=Milo Ventimiglia, James Frey to Debut New Series on Verizon's Go90 (Exclusive) |first=Natalie |last=Jarvey |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 7, 2016 |access-date=August 3, 2018}}
In March 2017, Fitzgerald was cast in a starring role in the Fox television pilot Behind Enemy Lines, playing Navy pilot Roxanne Daly,{{cite web |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scream-star-willa-fitzgerald-cast-foxs-behind-enemy-lines-reboot-986876 |title='Scream' Star Willa Fitzgerald Cast in Fox's 'Behind Enemy Lines' Reboot |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}} though Fox passed on the pilot in May 2017.{{cite web |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/fox-pilots-dead-linda-from-hr-type-a-thin-ice-behind-enemy-lines-university-1202100550/ |title=Fox Update: Network Passes On All Remaining Pilots |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 23, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}} In July 2017, Fitzgerald was cast to play Meg in the BBC miniseries Little Women based on Louisa May Alcott's novel of the same name. It premiered on Boxing Day, 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/cast-bbcs-new-version-little-10750611 |title=The cast of BBC's new version of Little Women will feature four rising stars alongside acting royalty |website=Daily Mirror |date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/little-women-first-look-meet-new-march-sisters-1047308 |first=Scott |last=Roxborough |title='Little Women' First Look: Meet the New March Sisters |date=October 10, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/12/little-women-trailer-first-look-at-masterpiece-bbc-one-adaptation-1202228141/ |first=Denise |last=Petski |title=Take A First Look At Masterpiece & BBC One's adaptation of 'Little Women' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 15, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}}
In November 2017, she was cast as the lead of E!{{'}}s pilot #Fashionvictim as Anya St. Clair.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/willa-fitzgerald-star-e-fashion-victim-pilot-heathers-writer-mean-girls-director-1202203418/amp/ |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |title=Willa Fitzgerald To Headline E!'s '#Fashionvictim' Pilot |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=November 8, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}} In March 2018, the pilot was not commissioned to go forward with E!.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/e-juicy-stories-pilot-michael-patrick-king-amy-harris-juicy-couture-founders-fashionvictim-dead-1202346440/ |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |title=E! Picks Up 'Juicy Stories' Dramedy From Michael Patrick King, Amy Harris & Juicy Couture Founders To Pilot, '#Fashionvictim's Dead |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 20, 2018 |access-date=August 3, 2018}} In December 2017, she was cast to play Kitsey Barbour in The Goldfinch based on Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name,{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/goldfinch-movie-willa-fitzgerald-1202642488/ |title='The Goldfinch' Movie Adaptation Casts Willa Fitzgerald (EXCLUSIVE) |first=Justin |last=Kroll |website=Variety |date=December 15, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}} which was released on September 13, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/warner-bros-release-date-changes-the-goldfinch-goes-earlier-in-fall-superintelligence-shifts-ben-affleck-drama-dated-1202580958/ |title=Warner Bros. Release Date Changes: 'The Goldfinch' Goes Earlier In Fall, 'Superintelligence' Shifts & Ben Affleck Drama Dated |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=March 22, 2019 |access-date=March 22, 2019}}
In July 2018, Fitzgerald was cast as one of the lead roles in the USA Network drama pilot Dare Me, which was picked up to series in January 2019. On April 30, 2020, the series was canceled after one season.{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2020/04/30/dare-me-cancelled-season-2-usa-network/ |title=Dare Me Cancelled After 1 Season |work=TVLine |first=Andy |last=Swift |date=April 30, 2020 |access-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523220021/https://tvline.com/2020/04/30/dare-me-cancelled-season-2-usa-network/ |archive-date=May 23, 2020 |url-status=live}} In December 2018, Fitzgerald was cast in an episode of the Netflix anthology drama series, Heartstrings.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/colin-odonoghue-willa-fitzgerald-among-five-cast-in-jj-sneed-episode-of-dolly-parton-netflix-anthology-1202522641/ |title=Colin O'Donoghue & Willa Fitzgerald Among Five Cast In 'JJ Sneed' Episode Of Dolly Parton Netflix Anthology |last=Petski |first=Denise |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=October 23, 2019}} The series premiered on November 22, 2019.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/dolly-parton-heartstrings-first-look-netflix/ |title=First look at the glitz and glamour of Dolly Parton's Heartstrings on Netflix |last=Sollosi |first=Mary |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 17, 2019 |access-date=October 23, 2019}} In April 2019, it was announced that Fitzgerald would guest star in the sixth season of the TV Land comedy-drama series Younger.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/younger-season-6-premiere-date-tv-land-1202591745/ |title='Younger' Gets Season 6 Premiere Date On TV Land |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 9, 2019 |access-date=July 28, 2019}}
In March 2021, she was cast as officer Roscoe Conklin in the first season of the Amazon Prime Video series Reacher,{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/reacher-malcolm-goodwin-willa-fitzgerald-chris-webster-cast-alan-ritchson-amazon-1234719393/ |title='Jack Reacher': Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald & Chris Webster Join Alan Ritchson In Amazon Serie |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 22, 2021 |access-date=March 23, 2021}} which premiered in February 2022. In June 2022, she was announced to star in Steven Brand's noir thriller Joe Baby.{{cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |title='Severance's Dichen Lachman, Willa Fitzgerald, Ron Perlman & Harvey Keitel To Topline Noir 'Joe Baby' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 27, 2022 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/dichen-lachman-willa-fitzgerald-ron-perlman-harvey-keitel-set-for-joe-baby-1235052908/ |access-date=September 23, 2022}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2013–2014
|Lola Laffer |Recurring role; 12 episodes (seasons 1–2) | style="text-align:center;"| |
| rowspan="5" |2014
|The Novice |Lucy Griego |Unsold television pilot | style="text-align:center;"| |
| Blue Bloods
|Lacey Sutherland |Episode: "The Bogeyman" | style="text-align:center;"| |
| {{sortname|The|Following}}
|Jenny |Episode: "Betrayal" | style="text-align:center;"| |
| Royal Pains
|Emma Miller |Recurring role; 13 episodes (season 6) | style="text-align:center;"| |
| Untitled Wall Street Project
|Tara Conklin |Unsold television pilot | style="text-align:center;"| |
| 2015
|Grace Fairchild |Episode: "Beasts of Prey" |style="text-align:center;"| |
| 2015–2016
|Emma Duval |Lead role; 23 episodes (seasons 1–2) | style="text-align:center;"| |
| rowspan="3" |2017
|Bull |Susan Bryant |Episode: "Teacher's Pet" |style="text-align:center;"| |
| Behind Enemy Lines
|Roxanne Daly |Unsold television pilot |style="text-align:center;"| |
| Little Women
|Meg March |Miniseries; 3 episodes | style="text-align:center;"| |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|#Fashionvictim |Anya St. Clair |Unsold television pilot |style="text-align:center;"| |
| House of Cards
|Twenty-Year-Old Claire |Episodes: "Chapter 72" and "Chapter 73" |style="text-align:center;"| |
| rowspan="3" |2019
|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |Ava Parcell |Episode: "Plastic" |style="text-align:center;"| |
| Younger
|Audrey Colbert |Episodes: "The Unusual Suspect" and "Merger, She Wrote" |style="text-align:center;"| |
| Heartstrings
|Maddie Hawkins |Episode: "J.J. Sneed" |
| 2019–2020
|Colette French |Main role; 10 episodes | style="text-align:center;"| |
| 2020
| Billions | Jill | Episode: "The Limitless Sh*t" |style="text-align:center;"| |
| 2022
| Reacher | Roscoe Conklin | Main role; 8 episodes (season 1) |
| 2023
| The Fall of the House of Usher | Young Madeline Usher | Miniseries; 8 episodes | style="text-align:center;"| |
| 2025–present
| Pulse | Dr. Danny Simms | Main role | style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Schwartz |url=https://tvline.com/news/pulse-cast-release-date-trailer-netflix-medical-drama-1235409773/ |title='The Next greys anatomy?'|website=Tvline |date=February 18, 2025 |access-date=February 18, 2025}} |
=Web series=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2016
| Relationship Status | Beth | Episodes: "The Friends" and "The Good Guy" |
| Scream: If I Die
| Emma Duval | Episode: "One Surprise Left"{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2882198/scream-last-words-if-i-die/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526030150/http://www.mtv.com/news/2882198/scream-last-words-if-i-die/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |title=Famous Last Words: Watch Each Scream Teen Say Goodbye...Just In Case They Die |website=MTV News |last=Debler |first=Lance |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=June 26, 2019}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2020
| Hamlet | Episode: "Hamlet" |
| Day by Day
| Narrator | Voice role; episode: "Closed Germ Loop" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2560618}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzgerald, Willa}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Nashville, Tennessee
Category:American stage actresses