Taylor Schilling
Schilling at PaleyFest 2014, representing Orange Is the New Black
Born
Taylor Jane Schilling

(1984-07-27) July 27, 1984 (age 39)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materFordham University (BA)
New York University
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present

Taylor Jane Schilling (born July 27, 1984) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Piper Chapman on the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Drama. She made her film debut in the 2007 drama Dark Matter. She also starred as Nurse Veronica Flanagan Callahan in the short-lived NBC medical drama Mercy (2009–2010). Her other films include Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011), the romantic drama The Lucky One (2012), the comedy Take Me (2017), and the science-fiction thriller The Titan (2018).

Early life and education

Schilling was born July 27, 1984, in Boston, Massachusetts,[1] the daughter of Patricia (née Miller), an MIT administrator, and Robert J. Schilling, a former prosecutor.[2] She grew up in West Roxbury and Wayland, dividing her time between her divorced parents.[3] A fan of the NBC medical drama ER in her youth, she began acting at a young age. She became active in her middle school's theatre program when she appeared in their production of Fiddler on the Roof.[2][4]

After graduating from Wayland High School in 2002,[5] Schilling attended Fordham University's campus at Lincoln Center, where she continued to take part in stage productions while earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2006. She entered the graduate acting program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts to continue her acting studies, but left after her second year.[3][6] While attempting to break into acting, she supported herself by working as a nanny for a Manhattan-based family.[7]

Career

2007—2012: Beginnings

Schilling won the Emerson College Playwright's Festival Outstanding Performance Award.[6] She made her feature-film debut with a supporting role in the independent film Dark Matter (2007). In 2009, she starred in the NBC medical drama series, Mercy as a former military nurse returning home after a tour in Iraq. When she read for the part via videotape from New York City, she impressed the show's creator and executive producer, Liz Heldens, who flew her to Los Angeles to audition. Mercy ran for one season, from September 2009 to May 2010.[8] The following year, Schilling portrayed the leading role of Dagny Taggart in the political science fiction drama film, Atlas Shrugged: Part I, an adaptation of part of the philosopher Ayn Rand's 1957 novel of the same name, the film is the first in a trilogy encompassing the entire book.[9] The film received negative reviews from critics.[10]

In 2012, Schilling starred alongside Zac Efron in the romantic drama film, The Lucky One based on Nicholas Sparks’ 2008 novel of the same name. The movie received negative reviews but grossed over $99.4 million worldwide.[11][12] At the 2012 Teen Choice Awards, Schilling received nomination for Choice Movie Actress: Romance.[13] In 2013 she had supporting role in Argo directed by Ben Affleck, but most of her scenes were cut.[14]

Schilling at the premiere of The Public at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival

2013–2019: Orange Is the New Black

In 2013, Schilling began starring as Piper Chapman in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black based on Piper Kerman, author of the non-fiction book Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison.[15] For her work on the show, Schilling was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama[16] and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014.[17] She won three Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy: in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and three Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The series ended in 2019. During her time in Orange Is the New Black, Schilling starred in a number of movies. She played the lead in the 2013 Canadian romantic drama film, Stay directed by Wiebke von Carolsfeld. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics.[18] In 2015 she starred alongside Adam Scott in the sex comedy The Overnight. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews.[19] Also in 2015, Schilling made her off-Broadway debut starring in play A Month in the Country.[20] She made guest starring appearance in an episode of Drunk History in 2016.

In 2017, Schilling starred in the comedy film Take Me directed by Pat Healy, and appeared in the comedy-drama Phil by Greg Kinnear. She starred alongside Emilio Estevez in the drama film, The Public. It premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.[21] She starred alongside Sam Worthington in the science fiction thriller film, The Titan, and played the leading role in the comedy film, Family, both released in 2018.[21][22] In 2019, Schilling starred in the horror film, The Prodigy.[23]

2020—present

In 2020, Schilling starred in an episode of the horror-anthology series, Monsterland.[24] The following year she starred alongside Audra McDonald in the satirical science fiction horror series, The Bite created by Robert King and Michelle King.[25] She was featured as Erica Boyer in the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy which premiered February 2, 2022.[26] In 2023 she played the leading role in the Apple TV+ drama series, Dear Edward.[27][28] She also starred in the horror-thriller film, Queen of Bones directed by Robert Budreau.[29]

In 2024, Schilling made her stage return playing the leading role in Second Stage Theater production of The Apiary.[30][31]

Personal life

In 2020, Schilling revealed in an Instagram post that she is dating Emily Ritz, a musical and visual artist.[32] Schilling practices Transcendental Meditation.[33]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Dark Matter Jackie
2011 Atlas Shrugged: Part I Dagny Taggart
2012 The Lucky One Beth Green
Argo Christine Mendez
2013 Stay Abbey
2015 The Overnight Emily
2017 Take Me Anna St. Blair
Phil Samantha Ford
2018 The Public Angela
The Titan Dr. Abigail Janssen
Family[34] Kate Stone
2019 The Prodigy Sarah Blume
2023 Queen of Bones Ida May

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2009–2010 Mercy Veronica Flanagan Callahan 22 episodes
2013–2019 Orange Is the New Black Piper Chapman 90 episodes
2016 Drunk History Emily Warren Roebling Episode: "Landmarks"
2020 Monsterland Kate Feldman Episode: “Plainfield, Illinois”
2021 The Bite Lily Leithauser 6 episodes
2022 Pam & Tommy Erica Gauthier Miniseries
2022 Pantheon Renee (voice) 8 episodes
2023 Dear Edward Aunt Lacey Main role
2023 American Horror Story: Delicate Herself Uncredited

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Liplock (with Zac Efron) The Lucky One Nominated
Choice Movie Actress: Romance Nominated
Hollywood Film Festival Best Cast Argo Won
2013 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Orange Is the New Black Won
Best Cast – Television Series Won
Webby Awards Best Actress Won
2014 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Drama Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
2015 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
2016 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Premium Series Actress Nominated [35]
Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Won [36]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
2018 Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ Messer, Lesley (July 28, 2014). "Inside 'Orange Is the New Black' Star Taylor Schilling's Birthday Party". ABC News. Retrieved July 13, 2015 – via Good Morning America.
  2. ^ a b Voss, Gretchen (April 25, 2014). "Taylor Schilling on Life Before 'Orange is the New Black'". Boston Common. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Curt Brown (May 6, 2009). "Mercy! Daughter of New Bedford lawyer lands lead role in NBC drama". SouthCoastToday.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  4. ^ "Taylor Schilling Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "A Taylor-made career for Wayland 'Lucky One' star". The MetroWest Daily News. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Mercy: Cast Bios: Taylor Schilling". NBC. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  7. ^ "Taylor Schilling on Chelsea Lately: I Don't Know If I'm "Ready to Have Kids"". E!. January 14, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  8. ^ "Taylor Schilling and Liz Heldens Talk Mercy". Movie Web. September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
  9. ^ McNary, Dave (June 14, 2010). "Cameras roll on 'Atlas'". Variety. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  10. ^ "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. April 22, 2011.
  11. ^ "The Lucky One | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. April 20, 2012.
  12. ^ "The Lucky One". Box Office Mojo.
  13. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2012: Complete Winners List". MTV.
  14. ^ "Jennifer Hudson feels sorry for lookalike | Young Hollywood". younghollywood.com.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 30, 2012). "Taylor Schilling To Star In Jenji Kohan's Netflix Series 'Orange Is The New Black'". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  16. ^ "Taylor Schilling 1 Nomination". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  17. ^ "66th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners". Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  18. ^ "Stay | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. March 21, 2014.
  19. ^ "The Overnight | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. June 19, 2015.
  20. ^ Soloski, Alexis (January 30, 2015). "A Month in the Country review: Taylor Schilling stars in pleasant but anemic play" – via The Guardian.
  21. ^ a b "The Public | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. April 5, 2019.
  22. ^ "Family | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. April 19, 2019.
  23. ^ "The Prodigy | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. February 8, 2019.
  24. ^ Shaffer, Claire (October 12, 2020). "'The First Time' With Taylor Schilling".
  25. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (May 20, 2021). "Spectrum's 'The Bite': TV Review".
  26. ^ "Pam & Tommy". imdb. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Taylor Schilling Unpacks 'Dear Edward,' Its Raw Emotions, and Overcoming Hardship". Shondaland. February 2, 2023.
  28. ^ "Taylor Schilling Gets Candid on Powerful New Role in 'Dear Edward'". www.out.com.
  29. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 30, 2022). "Julia Butters, Jacob Tremblay, Martin Freeman & Taylor Schilling Set For Horror 'Queen Of Bones'; Robert Budreau Directing For Appian Way, Lumanity Productions And Productivity Media".
  30. ^ Russo, Gillian (November 14, 2023). "Taylor Schilling to star in 'The Apiary' off Broadway; complete cast set". New York Theatre Guide.
  31. ^ "The Apiary, Featuring Taylor Schilling, Extends Off-Broadway". Broadway.com.
  32. ^ Merrett, Robyn (June 29, 2020). "OITNB Star Taylor Schilling Confirms She Is Dating Artist Emily Ritz". People magazine. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  33. ^ Greener, Emily (May 13, 2016). ""Awkward Giraffe with Glasses": That's How Taylor Schilling Describes Herself Growing Up". InStyle. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  34. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 9, 2018). "Taylor Schilling In 'Family': When Your Teen Niece Isn't Hooked On Drugs, But Juggalos – SXSW".
  35. ^ "People's Choice Awards 2017: Full List Of Nominees". People's Choice. November 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  36. ^ Kilday, Gregg (November 29, 2016). "Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2016.

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