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Maura Tierney
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The best of Maura Tierney's movies and TV shows highlight an amazing career from a character actor who has been steadily working in the business for decades. Tierney's professional acting career began in the late 1980s, but it was in the early '90s when she started getting more substantial roles and having her talents recognized on a bigger scale. From that point on, Tierney became a fixture in high-profile roles, ranging from broad comedies to intense dramas to the occasional blockbuster.
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Tierney's movie career is one that isn't filled with huge starring roles, but she has worked with some incredible directors, like Christopher Nolan, while starring alongside actors like Jim Carrey, Adam Driver, and Glen Powell. However, Tierney is also one of those actors who transitions back and forth between movies and television effortlessly, starring in several acclaimed series over her career. Looking back over her years in the business, it is not surprising that Tierney is still a sought-after character actor as her talents always shine through.
10 American Rust (2021–2024)
As Grace Poe
American Rust
TV-MA
Drama
Set in a small Rust Belt town in Pennsylvania, "American Rust" is a gritty drama series that delves into the lives of the town's inhabitants as they grapple with poverty, drug addiction, and the remnants of the American dream. Jeff Daniels stars as the town's compromised chief of police, who finds himself torn between his duty and his loyalty to those he loves when a murder case emerges, threatening to unveil the community's dark secrets.
- Cast
- Jeff Daniels , Maura Tierney , Bill Camp , David Alvarez , Alex Neustaedter , Mark Pellegrino
- Release Date
- September 12, 2021
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator(s)
- Dan Futterman
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Maura Tierney starred opposite another acclaimed character actor, Jeff Daniels, in the gritty crime drama, American Rust. The series is set in the American Rust Belt in a small community ravaged by poverty and drug addiction. Tierney plays Grace Poe, a local woman whose son dies. His death is investigated by the town sheriff (Daniels), with whom Grace shares a passionate history. However, the case soon threatens to expose the dark secrets of the town and force people to choose between duty and love.
Tierney shines in the complex role of a woman trapped in a poisonous town and struggling to survive. However, she also brings a darkness to Grace that differs from her typical warm and maternal roles she has excelled at. American Rust might not be on the safe level as some of Tierney's other classic shows, but it remains a gripping series elevated by excellent performances.
9 Beautiful Boy (2018)
As Karen
Beautiful Boy
R
Biography
Drama
Beautiful Boy, directed by Felix Van Groeningen, is a drama film depicting the harrowing journey of a father, played by Steve Carell, as he contends with his son's drug addiction. Timothée Chalamet stars as the son, struggling with addiction while his family grapples with uncertainty and despair. The film is based on the memoirs of David Sheff and Nic Sheff, offering an intimate look at addiction and its impact on familial relationships.
- Director
- Felix Van Groeningen
- Release Date
- October 12, 2018
- Cast
- Timothée Chalamet , Kaitlyn Dever , Steve Carell , Amy Ryan , Maura Tierney
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Maura Tierney joined some acclaimed actors in a harrowing drama based on a true story. Beautiful Boy is based on the memoirs of Nic and David Sheff, which detailed Nic's ongoing struggles with drug addiction as a young man and David’s efforts to help him. Timothée Chalamet stars as Nic while Steve Carell plays his father, David, who copes with the various instances of addiction, recovery, and relapses Nic goes through.
Tierney joins the cast as Karen, Nic’s stepmother. It is a strong supporting role in the movie as Nic and David's relationship grows increasingly more tumultuous, and as Nic's addiction worsens, Karen is the rock at the center that holds everyone together in many ways. The movie is a brutally honest look at the devastating effects of addiction and the ramifications it can have on loving relationships within a family.
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8 Twisters (2024)
As Cathy Carter
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6.7/10
Twisters
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Thriller
A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton.
- Director
- Lee Isaac Chung
- Release Date
- July 19, 2024
- Cast
- Daisy Edgar-Jones , Glen Powell , Anthony Ramos , Brandon Perea , Daryl McCormack
- Runtime
- 117 Minutes
It is rare to see Maura Tierney in a blockbuster, but fans got an unexpected treat when she had a memorable supporting role in this summer's Twisters. Twisters is the standalone sequel the classic tornado movie Twister (1996) starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt. This updated version stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as a former storm chaser who is pulled back into the dangerous business following a traumatizing incident when a new method of reducing the impact of the storms is discovered. She then partners with a wild yet intelligent fellow chaser (Glen Powell) to tackle the storm season.
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Tierney pops up in the second half of the movie as Cathy Carter, the mother of Edgar-Jones' character, Kate. In her smaller supporting role, Tierney shows the audience where Kate's toughness comes from while also bringing a dose of humor and heart. It is especially sweet seeing how proud Cathy is of Kate's accomplishments. The movie itself is a worthy sequel to Twister, making for a fun throwback popcorn movie for the summer crowd.
7 The Report (2019)
As Bernadette
The Report
R
Drama
The Report is a political drama directed by Scott Z. Burns. Adam Driver stars as Daniel J. Jones, a Senate staffer tasked with investigating the CIA's use of torture after 9/11. Annette Bening co-stars as Senator Dianne Feinstein, who oversees Jones's work.
- Director
- Scott Z. Burns
- Cast
- Corey Stoll , Alexander Chaplin , Jon Hamm , Linda Powell , Tim Blake Nelson , Guy Boyd , Ted Levine , Adam Driver , Maura Tierney , Victor Slezak , Michael C. Hall , Annette Bening , John Rothman
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Release Date
- November 15, 2019
Maura Tierney often plays kind and nurturing characters in her various projects, but the political thriller The Report uses that reputation to make her a chilling yet reserved figure. The Report is based on the true story of the compiling of a report that exposed the CIA’s use of torture tactics on detainees during the War on Terror. Adam Driver stars as Daniel Jones, who led the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation.
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Though Tierney is one of the few fictional characters in the movie, her composite character Bernadette is essential to the story. She represents a CIA agent who not only uses the torture tactics in interrogations and helps develop the most effective methods, but she also continues to defend them as a necessity when the truth is exposed. The movie is a gripping and thoughtful look at a shocking political scandal of modern times that changed the perception of America around the world.
6 NewsRadio (1995–1999)
As Lisa Miller
NewsRadio
TV-PG
Comedy
NewsRadio is a sitcom set in a fictional New York City AM news radio station, WNYX. Premiering in 1995, the series stars Dave Foley as the station's news director and features a diverse cast including Phil Hartman, Stephen Root, and Maura Tierney. The show humorously explores the dynamics among the eclectic team of news anchors, producers, and office staff, blending workplace comedy with character-driven humor.
- Cast
- Dave Foley , Maura Tierney , Stephen Root , Andy Dick , Vicki Lewis
- Release Date
- March 21, 1995
- Seasons
- 5
- Creator(s)
- Paul Simms
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While Maura Tierney's later television projects would be more intense dramas, her first big starring TV role was in the sitcom NewsRadio. The show followed the colorful cast of characters who made up the staff of a news radio station in New York City. Dave Foley led the ensemble as the intelligent and capable news director, Dave, while Tierney plays his love interest, the ambitious reporter Lisa.
Foley and Tierney make for the grounded center of the show with their charming romance. However, NewsRadio works so well because of the strong ensemble surrounding them, with the likes of Stephen Root as the billionaire owner of the station, Joe Rogan as the station's simple handyman, and Phil Hartman as the pompous star reporter. While it is sometimes overshadowed by some of the more popular shows of the 1990s, NewsRadio remains one of the best sitcoms of all time.
5 Insomnia (2002)
As Rachel Clement
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Insomnia
R
Crime
Mystery
Thriller
Insomnia, directed by Christopher Nolan, follows two Los Angeles homicide detectives sent to a northern town where the sun never sets to investigate the meticulous murder of a local teenager. The incessant daylight plays a critical role in the unraveling of the case and the psychological dynamics between the characters.
- Director
- Christopher Nolan
- Release Date
- May 24, 2002
- Cast
- Al Pacino , Robin Williams , Hilary Swank , Oliver Zemen , Martin Donovan , Paul Dooley
Maura Tierney had the opportunity to work with one of the biggest directors in Hollywood just as his career in Hollywood was getting started. Following the success of Memento, Christopher Nolan's first studio movie was the thriller Insomnia, based on the 1997 Swedish movie of the same name. Insomnia stars Al Pacino as a troubled Los Angeles detective who, while on leave from his job, flies to a remote Alaskan community to help investigate a murder. Suffering from guilt and affected by the unending stretch of daylight in the town, he begins to lose himself.
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Tierney has a strong supporting role in the movie as Rachel Clement, the kind but reserved owner of the hotel where Pacino's Will Dormer is staying. While she has brief moments of connection with Dormer over the course of the movie, Tierney shines in one pivotal scene in which she opens up to the detective and helps ground him back into reality. Though a smaller-scale movie than Nolan fans are used to, Insomnia is a gripping thriller that is further made memorable by an amazing villainous turn by Robin Williams as the killer who taunts Dormer.
4 The Iron Claw (2023)
As Doris Von Erich
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8/10
The Iron Claw
R
Biography
Sports
Drama
The Iron Claw portrays the rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty in professional wrestling. Directed by Sean Durkin, the film explores the family members' personal struggles and tragic fates and the lasting impact they left on the sport.
- Director
- Sean Durkin
- Release Date
- December 22, 2023
- Cast
- Zac Efron , Jeremy Allen White , Harris Dickinson , Holt McCallany , Maura Tierney , Stanley Simons , Lily James , Maxwell Friedman , Brady Pierce , Aaron Dean Eisenberg , Kevin Anton , Cazzey Louis Cereghino , Chavo Guerrero Jr. , Ryan Nemeth , Scott Innes
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
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Maura Tierney has played the loving and supportive mother role many times in her career, but The Iron Claw is another movie that warps that reputation and makes for a more interesting character. The Iron Claw is based on the tragic true story of the Von Erich brothers, a group of talented young men who continued the legacy started by their overbearing father to form a dynasty in the world of professional wrestling.
Tierney stars in the movie as Doris Von Erich, the matriarch of the family. As the only female in the household, Doris stays out of the family business and turns a blind eye to her husband's harsh treatment and the high expectations he places on their sons. However, when tragedy continues to befall the family, it is harder for Doris to ignore the issues. The Iron Claw is a raw and emotional sports story that fans might not know about, featuring incredible performances from Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Holt McCallany.
3 Liar Liar (1997)
As Audrey Reede
Liar Liar (1997)
PG-13
Comedy
Fletcher Reede, a slick and successful lawyer, finds his life turned upside down when his son Max makes a birthday wish that Fletcher cannot lie for an entire day. Miraculously, the wish is granted, and Fletcher is compelled to speak the truth in every situation. As he navigates the challenges of an important legal battle and tries to win back the trust of his son and ex-wife, Audrey, Fletcher's unfiltered honesty leads to a series of comedic and revealing encounters.
- Director
- Tom Shadyac
- Release Date
- March 21, 1997
- Cast
- Jim Carrey , Maura Tierney , Justin Cooper , Cary Elwes , Anne Haney , Jennifer Tilly , Amanda Donohoe , Jason Bernard , Swoosie Kurtz , Mitchell Ryan , Chip Mayer , Eric Pierpoint , Randall 'Tex' Cobb , Cheri Oteri
- Runtime
- 86 Minutes
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While Maura Tierney's career is not filled with comedic roles, she did hold her own against one of the greatest comedy stars of all time. Jim Carrey stars in Liar Liar as Fletcher Reede, a career-focused lawyer who keeps breaking his promises to his young son. Fed up with it, Fletcher's son uses his birthday wish to ask that his father be unable to tell a lie for a single day. When the wish comes true, Fletcher finds himself in a difficult situation with a job that requires constant lying.
Tierney is charming as Audrey, Fletcher's ex-wife who is torn between her affection for him and her disappointment in seeing him let down their son. She is the grounded center of the movie, but there is no denying the highlight of Liar Liar is Carrey's hilarious performance. The premise allows him to fully embrace his manic energy, with Fletcher's antics getting more outrageous as the truth unwillingly spills out of him.
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2 The Affair (2014-2019)
As Helen Solloway
The Affair
Drama
When happily married Noah and struggling mother Alison meet at a diner where Alison works, an affair begins between them. Each episode depicts the events from both Noah and Alison's perspectives, exploring the emotional effects of their affair.
- Cast
- Dominic West , Ruth Wilson , Maura Tierney , Joshua Jackson , Julia Goldani Telles , Josh Stamberg , Catalina Sandino Moreno , Omar Metwally , Irène Jacob , Sanaa Lathan , Anna Paquin
- Release Date
- October 12, 2014
- Seasons
- 5
Maura Tierney returned to television for another starring role in the gripping mystery drama The Affair. The show stars Dominic West and Ruth Wilson as Noah and Alison, two married strangers who happen to meet and form a fast connection. Their flirtation quickly turns into more as they begin an extramarital affair. However, their relationship has lasting consequences that none of them could have foreseen. The series takes an interesting approach in viewing the relationship from various perspectives and showing how the truth can be blurred.
Tierney won a Golden Globe for her performance in The Affair in 2016.
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Tierney plays Helen Solloway, Noah's wife with whom he shares four kids. Their marriage is torn apart over the course of the series, with Tierney playing the anger, heartbreaking, and acceptance of the situation expertly. As the series went on, Helen became an even more central character, being upgraded to a leading role in the final season.
1 ER (1999-2009)
As Dr. Abby Lockhart
ER - Season 6
- Season Number
- 6
- Series
- ER
ER is one of the best medical dramas in television history and a show that helped change the way series were made. It also featured an incredible ensemble of actors over the years, with Maura Tierney standing out in the ever-changing ensemble. The series followed the various medical professionals at the fictional Cook County General Hospital in Chicago as they dealt with life-or-death cases while also struggling with their own personal issues.
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Tierney was introduced in ER season 6 as Dr. Abby Lockhart, who quickly became one of the central characters in the series. Abby was a complex character, starting out as a nurse who strived to be a doctor but struggled financially through medical school. She also had a number of personal storylines that gave layers to the character, such as her mother with bipolar disorder and her own battle with alcoholism. Abby left ER before its series finale, but she remained a key part of the gripping show's long legacy.
Maura Tierney
Discover the latest news and filmography for Maura Tierney, known for ER and The Affair.
- Birthdate
- February 3, 1965
- Birthplace
- Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Height
- 5 feet 3 inches
- Notable Projects
- Liar Liar , Beautiful Boy , Insomnia
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- Movies
- Maura Tierney
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