Merritt Wever, born and raised in Manhattan, has always had a passion for acting that started at an early age. From the beginning, Merritt Wever showed a clear dedication to her craft, even before formally studying acting at Sarah Lawrence College. In fact, Merritt Wever began building her resume as a teenager, making her debut at just 14 years old in the TV movie Blue River (1995). That early start paved the way for her first notable role in All I Wanna Do (1998), starring Kirsten Dunst—a moment that helped put Merritt Wever on the map.
While pursuing her training in New York City, Merritt Wever initially leaned into theater, honing her skills in live performance. Still, she managed to land roles in some high-profile projects during the early 2000s, including M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (2002) and the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire (2002–2008). These appearances showcased Merritt Wever’s range and quiet intensity, qualities that would become her trademarks.
By her late twenties, Merritt Wever was stepping into more prominent film roles. She appeared in powerful dramas like Michael Clayton (2007), Sean Penn’s Into the Wild (2007), and Lena Dunham’s breakout indie Tiny Furniture (2010). Around this time, her television career also gained serious momentum. She joined the cast of Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC, 2006–2007), and though the show was short-lived, it signaled that Merritt Wever was one to watch.
Then came Nurse Jackie (Showtime, 2009–2015), where Merritt Wever delivered a standout performance as Zoey Barkow. Her nuanced portrayal earned her widespread acclaim and, ultimately, an Emmy Award—proving that Merritt Wever wasn’t just a supporting player but a force in her own right. As Nurse Jackie drew to a close, Merritt Wever didn’t slow down. She made memorable guest appearances on popular series like New Girl (Fox, 2011–2018) and The Walking Dead (AMC, 2010– ), further expanding her reach across genres.
A small but impactful role in the Oscar-winning Birdman (2014) introduced Merritt Wever to a broader film audience, solidifying her status beyond the small screen. Yet television continued to be a strong suit—especially with her compelling performance in the Netflix miniseries Godless (2017), which brought her yet another well-deserved Emmy. Following that success, Merritt Wever co-starred alongside Steve Carell in Robert Zemeckis’s visually inventive Welcome to Marwen (2018), demonstrating once again her ability to adapt and thrive in diverse storytelling formats.
Throughout her career, Merritt Wever has maintained a steady, thoughtful presence in both film and television—always authentic, often understated, but never forgettable.
So, when it comes to Merritt Wever’s filmography, there are definitely some standout moments—and a few that didn’t quite hit the mark. If we’re talking about the peak of her work, Merritt Wever really shined in Marriage Story (2019), which stands out as her highest-rated movie by a fair margin. The performance showcased Merritt Wever’s range and contributed significantly to the film’s emotional depth. On the other end of the spectrum, Merritt Wever was also part of A Hole in One (2004), which, unfortunately, received much more lukewarm responses and ended up being her lowest-rated film to date. It just goes to show that even talented actors like Merritt Wever have their ups and downs across different projects.