Background:

Kate Jennings Grant is an American stage, film and television actress. She is known for her roles in films such as “When a Stranger Calls” (2006), “United 93” (2006), “Frost/Nixon” (2008), “The Rebound” (2009) and “Love and Other Drugs” (2010) and won the BendFilm Festival Jury Prize for her performance in “Forgiven” (2006). Her TV credits include guest spots in series like “Sex and the City,” “JAG,” “Law & Order,” “Supernatural” and “Cold Case.” Grant appeared on Broadway in productions like “Proof” and “An American Daughter.”


Katherine Grant

Childhood and Family:

Kate Jennings Grant was born Katherine Grant on March 23, 1970, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 1992, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Music Composition Theory. She pursued  her graduate studies at the reputable Juilliard School of Drama in Manhattan.


Frost/Nixon

Career:

Kate Jennings Grant made her feature film acting debut as Kennedy in the drama/romance “The Object of My Affection,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. The same year, she also made guest appearances in television series “Sex and the City” and “Trinity.” The alum of Juilliard School, however, gave a especially strong emphasis on stage work since she completed her studies. Grant performed on Broadway productions like “Proof” and “An American Daughter,” while her Off-Broadway credits included “The Marriage of Bette and Boo,” “The Beard of Avon” and “Radiant Baby.” She gradually shifted focus to filmed work in the early 2000s.

Following guest spots in “JAG” (2001, as Sgt. Joan Steele) and “Law & Order” (2001, as Kate Pierce), Grant returned to the big screen with a small turn as Marjorie Hartford on the Academy Award nominated biopic “Kinsey” (2004), which was directed and written by Bill Condon and starring Liam Neeson in the title role. The same year, she co-starred in the CBS made for TV film “The Dead Will Tell,” alongside Anne Heche, Kathleen Quinlan and Chris Sarandon. She next landed a featured role on “Trust the Man” (2005), a comedy/drama film directed and written by Bart Freundlich and starring David Duchovny, Julianne Moore and Billy Crudup, and portrayed Reporter Samantha in three episodes of the ABC political drama series “Commander in Chief” (2005).

Grant shot a TV series pilot called “Filthy Gorgeous” (2006), with Isabella Rossellini, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Eva Simon, co-starred with Ashley Williams, Tom Berenger and Matt Bomer in the FOX TV film “Amy Coyne” (2006) and made guest appearances in  “Supernatural” and “ 3 lbs.” (both also 2006). Meanwhile, on the wide screen, the actress was cast in the main role of Jamie Doyle in “Forgiven” (2006), opposite Russell Hornsby and Paul Fitzgerald, who also directed and written the film. The role brought her Jury Prize for Best Supporting Actor – Female at the BendFilm Festival. She also portrayed Kelly Mandrakis on the popular remake “When a Stranger Calls” (2006), directed by Simon West, and had the role of Lauren Grandcolas, one of the real life passengers on board in the film  “United 93” (2006), chronicling events aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks.

In 2008, Grant played the role of young Diane Sawyer in “Frost/Nixon,” a historical film adapted from the 2006 play of the same name written by Peter Morgan, who also wrote the screenplay. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, the film earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director, but was not a big success at the box office. The year also found her appearing in the crime/mystery movie “Blackout,”  starring Amber Tamblyn, Aidan Gillen and Armie Hammer, and in an episode of “Cold Case” called “Sabotage.”

Grant delivered fine turns as Daphne in Bart Freundlich's comedy/romance film,“The Rebound” (2009), starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justin Bartha and Andrew Cherry, and as Gina in “Love and Other Drugs” (2010), a drama/romance film directed by Edward Zwick and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and Judy Greer. On stage, she portrayed Sarah Brown in “Guys and Dolls” musical by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on story and characters of Damon Runyon. She maintained her TV presence with guest appearances in such television shows as “Damages” (2009, as Cynthia), “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (2010, as Cynthia Novak), “Rescue Me” (2010, as Memory Jean), “White Collar” (2010, as Catherine Mcmillan), “Parenthood” (2010, 2 episodes, as Jennifer), “Body of Proof” (2011, as Jill Paige), “Royal Pains” (2011, as Dr. Sylvander) and “Pan Am” (2011, 2 episodes, as Judith Cameron).

In 2012, Grant appeared as Maya in the episode “Sextipated” of the MTV new series “I Just Want My Pants Back.”     


Awards:

BendFilm Festival: Jury Prize, Best Supporting Actor – Female, “Forgiven,” 2006
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