Biography: Christine Baranski

Christine Jane Baranski (born May 2, 1952) is an Emmy-, SAG-, Tony- and Drama Desk award-winning American stage and screen actress.

Personal life

Baranski was born in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Virginia (née Mazerowski) and Lucien Baranski, who edited a Polish-language newspaper. ^{She is of Polish descent and her grandparents were actors in the Polish theater. Baranski attended Villa Maria Academy, after which she studied at Juilliard. She has been married to actor Matthew Cowles since 1983. They have two daughters.}

Career

Stage

Baranski made her Off-Broadway debut in Coming Attractions at Playwrights Horizon in 1980, and has appeared in several off-Broadway productions at the Manhattan Theatre Club, starting with Sally and Marsha in 1982.

Baranski made her Broadway debut in Hide and Seek in 1980. For her next Broadway performance, in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, she won the 1984 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play. Other Broadway credits include: Hurlyburly, The House of Blue Leaves, Rumors, Regrets Only, Nick & Nora, and the Encores! concert staging of Follies.

In her first Broadway production since 1991, she is featured as the maid "Berthe" in the 2008 revival of Boeing Boeing opposite Bradley Whitford.

At the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Baranski starred as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd in 2002 ^{and as Mame in Mame in 2006.}

She has won both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards twice.

Baranski is currently starring as Berthe in the Broadway comedy Boeing-Boeing opposite Mark Rylance, Greg Germann, Paige Davis, Missi Pyle and Rebecca Gayheart.

She will appear with Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson, among others, in a one night only performance of A Little Night Music for Roundabout Theatre Company's Gala evening on January 12, 2009.

Television work

Baranski was featured as Cybill Shepherd's hard-drinking friend Maryanne Thorpe in the CBS sitcom Cybill, which ran from 1995 until 1998, during which time she hosted Saturday Night Live. She had an uncredited role in the series Now and Again as the voice of Roger's overbearing wife Ruth, who was never seen by viewers. She later appeared in the 2000-2001 sitcom Welcome to New York and, with John Larroquette, in the 2003-2004 NBC sitcom Happy Family. She also appeared in the classic sitcom the Brady Bunch playing Paula a friend of Marcia's at the slumber party, who gets Marcia into trouble. She co-starred with Bernadette Peters in a pilot for an ABC sitcom, Adopted, in 2005, which was not picked up, she also played Faith Clancy, the mother of Melinda's husband Jim in Ghost Whisperer.

Film work

Her film credits include Addams Family Values, Chicago, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Guru, Bulworth, Bowfinger, The Birdcage, Cruel Intentions, Falling for Grace, and Mamma Mia!.

Awards/nominations

Television

• American Comedy Awards
  • Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series, "Frasier," 2000, Nominated
  • Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series, "Cybill," 1996, Won
• Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
  • Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," 2001, Nominated
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
  • Best Acting Ensemble, "Chicago," 2003, Won (shared)
• Emmy Awards
  • Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, "Frasier," 1999, Nominated
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1998, Nominated
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1997, Nominated
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1996, Nominated
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1995, Won
• Golden Globes
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV, "Cybill," 1997, Nominated
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV, "Cybill," 1996, Nominated
• Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
  • Best Acting Ensemble, "Chicago," 2003, Nominated (shared)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards
  • Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, "Chicago," 2003, Won (shared)
  • Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, "The Birdcage," 1997, Won (shared)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1997, Nominated
  • Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1996, Won
• Viewers for Quality Television Awards/Q Award
  • Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series, "Cybill," 1996, Won

Broadway

• Drama Desk Awards
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," 1992, Won
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, "The Real Thing," 1984, Won
• Tony Awards
  • Best Featured Actress in a Play, "Rumors," 1989, Won
  • Best Featured Actress in a Play, "The Real Thing," 1984, Won

References

1. Christine Baranski - Family and Companions - Yahoo!7 Movies
2. Christine Baranski Biography (1952-)
3. Western New York Public Broadcasting Association
4. THEATER; Being Irish And Being Married - New York Times
5. For Baranski, A Most Meaty Opportunity; In 'Sweeney Todd,' Actress Sinks Her Teeth Into a Singing Role | Article from The Washington Post | HighBeam Research
6. Simonson, Robert."PLAYBILL.COM'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER With Christine Baranski", playbill.com, May 7, 2008
7. Brantlry, Ben."Adding Love To the Pies' Time-Tested Recipe", New York Times, May 15, 2002
8. Gans, Andrew."DIVA TALK: Chatting with Mame's Christine Baranski Plus Wicked News", playbill.com June 16, 2006
9. A Little Night Music: A Concert Reading http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/alnm09/index.htm