Elizabeth Reaser biography

Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born June 15, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films Stay, The Family Stone, Sweet Land, Against the Current, and The Twilight Saga and the TV series Saved, Grey's Anatomy and The Ex-List.

Early life and education

Reaser was born in Bloomfield, Michigan, an affluent Detroit suburb, the daughter of Karen Davidson (née Weidman) and John Reaser. Elizabeth was the middle of three sisters. Her stepfather was billionaire businessman William Davidson.
Reaser attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills. After high school, she attended Oakland University for one year, then attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division (1995-1999, Group 28) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1999.

Career

Reaser appeared in a London stage production with an audience of two people and prepared for her role on Saved by spending time in an emergency room, observing the behavior of medical staff.  In October 2004, Interview magazine hailed her as one of the "14 To Be" emerging creative women. Her work in the film Sweet Land earned the "Jury Award" at the Newport Beach Film Festival and a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award "Best Female Lead" award. Reaser earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring guest appearance throughout 2007 on the television series Grey's Anatomy.
Reaser played the role of Esme Cullen in the movie Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon in 2009 and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in 2010. and will reprise in The Twilght Saga: Breaking Dawn.
Reaser appeared on the CBS' legal drama, The Good Wife in October 2010.

Filmography

Film and television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal	Molly	TV series, episode: "Scrubs"
2000	The Sopranos	Stace	TV series, episode: "D-Girl"
2001	The Believer	Miriam
2001	Thirteen Conversations About One Thing	Young Woman in Class
2002	Emmett's Mark	Alison Holmes
2002	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Serena Whitfield	TV series, episode: "The Insider"
2004	Hack	Elaine Jones	TV series, episode: "Extreme Commerce"
2004	Mind the Gap	Malissa Zubach
2004	The Jury	Rachel Byrnes	TV series, episode: "Pilot"
2005	Stay	Athena
2005	Sweet Land	Young Inge
2005	The Family Stone	Susannah Stone Trousdale
2006	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Jillian Slaughter	TV series, episode: "Proud Flesh"
2006	Shut Up and Sing	Julep
2006	Puccini for Beginners	Allegra
2006	Saved	Alice Alden, M.D.	TV series, 13 episodes
2006	Standoff	Anya Reed	TV series, episode: "Heroine"
2007	Purple Violets	Bernadette
2007–2008	Grey's Anatomy	Jane Doe / Ava / Rebecca Pope	TV series, 17 episodes
2008	Wainy Days	Katharina / Annie	TV series, episode: "The Waindow"
2008	The Ex List	Bella Bloom	TV series, 12 episodes
2008	Twilight	Esme Cullen
2009	Against the Current	Liz Clarke
2009	The Twilight Saga: New Moon	Esme Cullen
2010	The Twilight Saga: Eclipse	Esme Cullen
2010	The Good Wife	Tammy Linnata	TV series, 7 episodes
2011	Young Adult	Beth Slade
2011	The Art of Getting By	Charlotte Howe
2011	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1	Esme Cullen
2012	Liberal Arts	Ana
2012	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2	Esme Cullen	Post-Production

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Venue
1999	Sweet Bird of Youth	Heavenly	La Jolla Playhouse
2000	The Hologram Theory	Mimi	Blue Lights Theatre Company
2001	Blackbird	Froggy	Bush Theatre (London)
2001	Closer	Alice	Portland Center Stage
2002	Stone Cold Dead Serious	Shaylee Ledbetter / Sharice	American Repertory Theatre
2003	The Winter's Tale	Perdita	Classic Stage Company
2005	Top Girls	Patient Griselda / Nell / Jeanine	Williamstown Theatre Festival
2012	How I Learned To Drive	Li'l Bit	Second Stage Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Title of work	Result
2006	Newport Beach Film Festival	Jury Award–Best Actress (Feature Film)	Sweet Land	Won
2007	Independent Spirit Award	Best female Lead	Sweet Land	Nominated
2007	Primetime Emmy	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series	Grey’s Anatomy	Nominated
2008	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	Grey’s Anatomy	Nominated
2009	Prism Award	Best Performance in a Drama Multi-Episode Storyline	Grey’s Anatomy	Nominated

Fun Facts

Is listed as a vegetarian by PETA.

Once appeared in a play in London for only two audience members.

In preparation for her role on the television drama "Saved", she hung out in an emergency room, researching the behavior of medical staff.

Step-daughter of Bill Davidson.

Stepdaughter of Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson.

Quotes

I feel so blessed that I've been able to achieve what I have without a lot of pain and struggle. There are so many actors out there who are immensely talented and some I know are pretty close to starving.

When you know the audiences not only like what you're doing, but that they're also responding, it's as good as it can get for an actor.

I always wanted to be an actor, ever since I can remember. I grew up subjecting my family to really bad shows in the living room. It's what I love to do.

Within any drama in anyone's life, there's always a way to find the humor in it. Without humor no one cares about whatever drama is going on.