Laura Leggett Linney was born on February 5, 1964, in New York City, to a family deeply rooted in the world of theatre. Her father, Romulus Linney, was a renowned playwright, and her great-grandfather, a congressman from North Carolina. Her mother, Miriam Anderson (Leggett),was a dedicated nurse. Despite her parents' divorce when she was just an infant, Linney's upbringing was significantly influenced by her father's profession, and she would often find herself surrounded by the world of theatre from a very young age.
Linney's academic pursuits took her to Brown University, where she graduated in 1986. She then went on to study acting at Juilliard and the Arts Theatre School in Moscow, before embarking on a career on the Broadway stage. Her early performances in plays such as "Hedda Gabler" and "Six Degrees of Separation" received widespread critical acclaim.
In the early 1990s, Linney began to make her mark in the film industry, with small roles in "Lorenzo's Oil" (1992) and "Dave" (1993). Her breakthrough role came in 1993, when she played Mary Anne Singleton in the PBS film adaptations of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" series. Her performances in "Tales of the City" (1993),"More Tales of the City" (1998),and "Further Tales of the City" (2001) solidified her position as a talented young actress.
Linney's first substantial big-screen role was in "Primal Fear" (1996),where she played the ex-girlfriend of Richard Gere's character. Her performance earned her praise and recognition, paving the way for future roles. She went on to work with Clint Eastwood in "Absolute Power" (1997) and Jim Carrey in "The Truman Show" (1998).
The year 2000 marked a significant turning point in Linney's career, as she delivered a widely-praised performance in "You Can Count on Me". Her portrayal of Sammy, a single mother struggling to balance her life, earned her a nomination for an Academy Award. Her salary for this role was a mere $10,000, but her performance was nothing short of flawless.
Following the success of "You Can Count on Me", Linney went on to deliver a string of critically-acclaimed performances, including her role as Bertha Dorset in "The House of Mirth" (2000). Her portrayal of this complex character was widely praised, and she has since become known for her ability to bring depth and nuance to her roles.
Linney's subsequent performances in films such as "Mystic River" (2003) and "Kinsey" (2004) further solidified her position as one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation. Her ability to take on challenging dramatic roles and deliver memorable performances has earned her numerous awards and nominations, including another Academy Award nomination for her work in "Kinsey".
