{{Short description|British actress (born 1976)}} {{For|other people with the same name|Alison Wright (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Alison Wright | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing brackets --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = <!-- use only if different from name --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|7|12}} | birth_place = Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England | education = Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2007–present }} '''Alison Wright''' (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series ''The Americans'' (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. She has also acted in the Ryan Murphy limited series ''Feud: Bette and Joan'' (2017) and ''Hollywood'' (2020).
Wright's other notable roles were as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series ''Sneaky Pete'' (2015–2019) and as Ruth Wardell in the TNT dystopian thriller series ''Snowpiercer'' (2020–2024). She has also appeared in various films, including ''The Nanny Diaries'' (2007), ''The Accountant'' (2016), ''Ask for Jane'' (2018), and ''Predator: Badlands'' (2025), voicing MU / TH / UR, the A.I. leader of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
==Early life== Wright was born on 12 July 1976, in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, where she was raised by her adoptive parents.<ref name="NPR">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/03/25/521289363/we-are-all-martha-alison-wright-on-how-her-americans-character-became-a-hit|title=We Are All Martha: Alison Wright On How Her 'Americans' Character Became A Hit|website=NPR.org|access-date=2017-03-28}}</ref> She began dancing and acting at a young age. She studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and The Barrow Group in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/what-s-on/cinema-tv/sunderland-actress-hides-mackem-accent-to-land-role-in-us-tv-spy-drama-the-americans-1-5826626|title=Sunderland actress hides Mackem accent to land role in US TV spy drama The Americans|publisher=Sunderland Echo|date=5 July 2013|accessdate=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420050245/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/what-s-on/cinema-tv/sunderland-actress-hides-mackem-accent-to-land-role-in-us-tv-spy-drama-the-americans-1-5826626|archive-date=20 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> She worked as a waitress while auditioning for roles.<ref name="backstage">{{cite web|last=Lindsay |first=Benjamin |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/americans-star-alison-wright-orchestrating-late-career-breakout-5015/ |title='The Americans' Star Alison Wright On Orchestrating a Late-Career Breakout |publisher=Backstage |date=15 March 2017 |accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Wright made her acting debut in the comedy-drama film ''The Nanny Diaries'', released in 2007. This was followed by appearances in various short films.<ref name="backstage"/> She made her stage debut as Molly Bhatt in the comedy play ''Rafta, Rafta...'' (2008), followed by a role in the play ''Marie and Bruce'' (2011), both at the Acorn Theatre.<ref name="theatercredits">{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Alison-Wright/ |title=Alison Wright Broadway and Theatre Credits |website=BroadwayWorld|access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref>
In 2013, Wright made her television debut in the FX period spy drama series ''The Americans''. Her performance as Martha Hanson, a lonely FBI secretary who is manipulated into spying for the Russians, earned high critical praise.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Matthew|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2016/05/09/the-americans-martha-dear/BEif56poj6vD1vbhqEgsjK/story.html |title=You may be missing one of the best TV performances this year |publisher=Boston Globe |date=10 May 2016|accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> She was promoted to a series regular for the second season, which premiered in January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Webb Mitovich|first=Matt|url=http://tvline.com/2013/05/07/the-americans-season-2-regulars-alison-wright-annet-mahendru|title='The Americans' Season 2 Spoilers — Nina and Martha Returning|publisher=TVLine|date=7 May 2013|accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/actress-americans-sued-agent-article-1.1414099|title='The Americans' actress Alison Wright sued by former agent|publisher=NY Daily News|date=31 July 2013|accessdate=23 February 2015}}</ref> In 2017, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her guest appearance in ''The Americans'' fifth season.<ref name="emmynoms">{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/alison-wright |title=Alison Wright Emmy Awards, Nominations and Wins |accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> The series ended after six seasons in 2018.
From 2015 to 2019, Wright starred as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series ''Sneaky Pete'', receiving positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goodman|first=Tim|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sneaky-pete-review-1093440 |title='Sneaky Pete' Season 2: TV Review |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=9 March 2018 |accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref>
In 2016, she starred as Justine in the action thriller film ''The Accountant'' and as Virginia Thomas in the HBO political thriller film ''Confirmation''.
In 2017, she starred as Pauline Jameson, the assistant to Robert Aldrich, in the FX docudrama series ''Feud: Bette and Joan,'' which chronicles the rivalry between Hollywood actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during and after the production of the 1962 film ''What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/alison-wright-series-regular-ryan-murphy-fx-anthology-series-feud-1201851829|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110153132/http://deadline.com/2016/11/alison-wright-series-regular-ryan-murphy-fx-anthology-series-feud-1201851829/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2016|title=Alison Wright Joins Ryan Murphy's FX Anthology Series ''Feud''|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=9 November 2016|accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> She also made her Broadway debut as Jessie in the play ''Sweat'' at Studio 54.<ref name="theatercredits"/>
In 2018, she had a starring role as Ada in the historical drama film ''Ask for Jane'' and as Emilia in a stage production of the Shakespearean tragedy play ''Othello'' at Delacorte Theater.<ref name="theatercredits"/> In 2019, she had a recurring role in the second season of psychological horror anthology series ''Castle Rock''. She starred as Valerie, a "kind-hearted local who explores the town’s evil history".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/castle-rock-robin-weigert-sarah-gadon-alison-wright-greg-grunberg-guest-star-season-2-1202638412/ |title='Castle Rock': Robin Weigert, Sarah Gadon, Alison Wright & Greg Grunberg To Guest Star On Season 2 |website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=27 June 2019|accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref>
In 2020, Wright began a starring role in the TNT post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller series ''Snowpiercer'' (2020–2022), based on the 2013 film of the same name by Bong Joon-ho. She played Ruth Wardell, a hospitality worker aboard the train who helps look after First Class passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/snowpiercer-casts-alison-wright-benjamin-haigh-vincent-piazza-the-passage-1202113681/|title='Snowpiercer' Casts Alison Wright & Benjamin Haigh; Vincent Piazza Enters 'The Passage'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=15 June 2017|accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> Also that year, she made a guest appearance as Ms. Roswell, the gatekeeper to Ace Studios, in the Netflix period drama miniseries ''Hollywood''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2020/05/9773731/netflix-hollywood-full-season-recap-summary |title=Ryan Murphy's Hollywood Limited Series Binge Club: Episodes 1-7 |website=Refinery29|first=Jean|last=Bentley|date=4 May 2020|accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref>
==Acting credits== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 2007 | ''The Nanny Diaries'' | Bridget | |- | 2009 | ''Nights'' | Bartender | Short film |- | 2011 | ''Braaains!'' | Monique Gold | Short film |- | 2015 | ''Good Ol' Boy'' | Mrs. Reynolds | |- | 2016 | ''The Accountant'' | Justine | |- | 2017 | ''Active Adults'' | Therapist | |- | 2018 | ''Ask for Jane'' | Ada | |- | 2019 | ''Georgica'' | Sophie | Short film |- | 2021 | ''Biscuit'' | {{n/a}} | Short film; post-production |- |2025 |''The Accountant 2'' |Justine |Voice-only |- |2025 |''Predator: Badlands'' |MU/TH/UR |Voice-only |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 2013–2017 | ''The Americans'' | Martha Hanson | 37 episodes |- | 2013 | ''Blue Bloods'' | Brijita Holden | Episode: "Lost and Found" |- | 2015–2019 | ''Sneaky Pete'' | Marjorie | 14 episodes |- | 2016 | ''Confirmation'' | Virginia Thomas | Television film |- | 2017 | ''Feud: Bette and Joan'' | Pauline Jameson | 7 episodes |- | 2019 | ''Castle Rock'' | Valerie | 6 episodes |- | 2020–2024 | ''Snowpiercer'' | Ruth Wardell | 40 episodes |- | 2020 | ''Hollywood'' | Ms. Roswell | Episode: "Hooray for Hollywood" |- | 2022 | ''Physical'' | Luanne | Episode: "Don't You Want to Get Better" |- | rowspan=2 | 2024 | ''Feud: Capote vs. The Swans'' | Pamela Harriman | Episode: "Masquerade 1966" |- | ''The Madness'' | Julia Jayne | 4 episodes |}
===Theater=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue ! class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|reference}} |- | 2008 | ''Rafta, Rafta...'' | Molly Bhatt | rowspan="2"|Acorn Theatre | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="theatercredits"/> |- | 2011 | ''Marie and Bruce'' | Performer |- | 2017 | ''Sweat'' | Jessie | Studio 54 |- | 2018 | ''Othello'' | Emilia | Delacorte Theater |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|reference}} |- | 2016 | OFTA Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | rowspan="4"|''The Americans'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/20th-annual-tv-awards-2015-16/ |title=20th Annual TV Awards (2015-16) |accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 2017 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2016-satellite-awards-nominees-listed-includes-moonlight-la-la-land-950935|title=Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed|last=Kilday|first=Gregg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=29 November 2016|accessdate=17 March 2017}}</ref> |- | 2017 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref name="emmynoms"/> |- | 2017 | OFTA Television Awards | Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/21st-annual-tv-awards-2016-17/ |title=21st Annual TV Awards (2016-17) |accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | ''Othello'' | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/tootsie-hadestown-and-the-ferryman-lead-2019-drama-desk-award-winners |title=Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners |last=Fierberg|first=Ruthie|work=Playbill|date=2 June 2019|accessdate=12 July 2020}}</ref> |- | 2021 | rowspan=2|Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in an Action Series | rowspan=2|''Snowpiercer'' | {{nom}} | style=text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |last1=Hammond |first1=Pete |title='Palm Springs', 'Lovecraft Country' Top Movie And Series Nominations For Inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards; Netflix Lands 35 Nods |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/palm-springs-lovecraft-country-lead-critcs-choice-super-awards-nominations-1234618498/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=5 January 2021 |date=19 November 2020}}</ref> |- | 2022 | Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series | {{nom}} | style=text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Nominations Announced for the 2nd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards |url=http://criticschoice.com/2022/02/nominations-announced-for-the-2nd-annual-critics-choice-super-awards/ |website=criticschoice.com |access-date=22 February 2022 |archive-date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223033652/http://www.criticschoice.com/2022/02/nominations-announced-for-the-2nd-annual-critics-choice-super-awards/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|2226071}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Alison}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Sunderland Category:English adoptees Category:English film actresses Category:English stage actresses Category:English television actresses Category:Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni Category:21st-century English actresses