Greta Gerwig

Greta Celeste Gerwig (born August 4, 1983) is an American actress and filmmaker. Gerwig first came to prominence through her association with the mumblecore film movement. She has collaborated with directors Joe Swanberg and Noah Baumbach on several projects, including the film Nights and Weekends, which she and Swanberg co-wrote, co-directed and in which they co-starred. Notable work with Baumbach includes Greenberg in 2010, Frances Ha in 2012, and Mistress America in 2015. Gerwig made her mainstream debut in 2011, in No Strings Attached. She also co-starred alongside Russell Brand in the remake of Arthur.

Early life

A native of Sacramento, California, Gerwig is the daughter of Christine (née Sauer), a nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, a financial consultant and computer programmer. She has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Gerwig was raised as a Unitarian Universalist, but also attended an all-girls Catholic school. She has described herself as "an intense child". With an early interest in dance, she intended to do a degree in musical theatre in New York. She graduated from Barnard College, where she studied English and philosophy instead.