Connie Britton

Connie Britton
Britton at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards
Born	Constance Elaine Womack (1967-03-06) March 6, 1967 (age 57) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actress, producer, singer
Years active	1995–present
Spouse	John Britton (1991–1995; divorced)
Children	1 (adopted)

Constance Elaine "Connie" Britton (née Womack; born March 6, 1967) is an American actress, singer and producer.

She is most well-known for her roles as Nikki Faber on the ABC sitcom Spin City (1996–2000); as Tami Taylor on the NBC/DirecTV sports drama Friday Night Lights (2006–2011), for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress;^[1] and as Vivien Harmon in the FX horror-drama series American Horror Story (2011), for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.^[2] Her most notable films are Friday Night Lights and A Nightmare on Elm Street. She plays the leading role of Rayna Jaymes in the ABC musical drama series Nashville, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2012.^[3]

Britton was born Constance Elaine Womack in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Linda Jane (née Cochran) and Edgar Allen Womack, Jr., who was a physicist.^[4][5][6] When she was seven years old, she moved with her parents and her fraternal twin sister Cynthia^[7] to Lynchburg, Virginia where she attended E.C. Glass High School. She majored in Asian studies at Dartmouth College. After graduating in 1989, she moved to New York City, where she spent two years at the Neighborhood Playhouse studying with Sanford Meisner.

While studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Britton (then Womack) made her New York theatrical debut in Caroline Kava's The Early Girl at The Courtyard Playhouse. Britton played seasoned prostitute Laurel opposite Cooper Lawrence, who played Joan. Britton's performance, while well received, nearly got her ousted from the Neighborhood Playhouse program, which prohibited students from taking professional employment during their course of study. After graduating, Britton spent two more years working in off-Broadway theatre productions. She moved to Los Angeles after the success of The Brothers McMullen.

Britton had a regular role in Spin City as Nikki Faber from 1996 to 2000.^[8] Her character was written out of the show when Charlie Sheen replaced Michael J. Fox as the main character. She had a recurring role on 24 during its fifth season as Diane Huxley, the landlady and girlfriend of protagonist Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). She co-starred in the indie-thriller The Last Winter in 2006.

Britton received critical acclaim for her starring turn in the television drama Friday Night Lights. She had a role in the original Friday Night Lights movie, also as the head coach's wife.^[9]

Britton also was on a few episodes of The West Wing. She appeared in the episodes "Manchester Part I and Part II" and "Gone Quiet" season three, as part of Bruno Gianelli's team. She appeared in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, portraying Dr. Gwendoline "Gwen" Holbrook.^[10] She was also featured on This American Life's 429th episode, "Will They Know Me at Home?", in which she performed monologues from David Finkel's nonfiction book The Good Soldiers.^[11]

In 2011 Britton starred in the horror/drama American Horror Story on FX as Vivien Harmon, a woman who recently relocated with her family to California after a series of tragic marital and family issues.^[12] Unfortunately for The Harmons, the new house they purchase quickly reveals itself to be haunted.

Britton had stated when she wrapped American Horror Story she would be taking a couple of months off to be with her new son, but that she would then begin to re-focus on developing her FX drama collaboration with David O. Russell. The project is currently in "development hell".^[13]

On March 6, 2012, Britton signed on for the lead role of the ABC musical drama pilot Nashville. The show centers on Rayna Jaymes (Britton), a renowned 40-year-old country music singer whose star is beginning to fade.^[14][15][16] Britton's portrayal of the character received critical praise,^[17][18][19] and she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for this role.^[3]

Britton uses her married name as her stage name. She met John Britton at Alpha Delta House at Dartmouth College. They moved to New York City together in 1989, married in 1991, and divorced in 1995.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2011, Britton adopted a son named Eyob "Yoby" Britton from Ethiopia.^[20]

Britton studied Chinese in college. In a 2012 interview on NPR she said of the experience: "I always wanted to be an actor. But when I went to college, I had to fulfill a language requirement and so I thought it would be really cool to do it speaking Chinese. My Chinese these days is real, real shaky. Let's put it this way: These days, my singing is better than my Chinese."^[21]

• ^ADid not enter the Hot 100 but charted on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Connie Britton.

• Connie Britton at IMDb
• Connie Britton at AllMovie
• Template:Ymovies name
• Connie Britton at Emmys.com

Template:Persondata