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Barbara Hershey

Barbara Hershey

Actor · Born February 5, 1948 (78) · Hollywood, California, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Golden Globe winner · Oscar nominee · 3 other major award bodies

Barbara Hershey (born Barbara Lynn Herzstein; February 5, 1948) is an American actress. In a career spanning more than 50 years, she has played a variety of roles on television and in cinema in several genres, including westerns and comedies. She began acting at age 17 in 1965 but did not achieve much critical acclaim until the latter half of the 1980s. By that time, the Chicago Tribune referred to her as "one of America's finest actresses". Hershey won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries/TV Film for her role in A Killing in a Small Town (1990). She received Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mary Magdalene in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and for her role in The Portrait of a Lady (1996). For the latter film, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has won two Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival for her roles in Shy People (1987) and A World Apart (1988). She was featured in Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), for which she was nominated for the British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and Garry Marshall's melodrama Beaches (1988), and she earned a second British Academy Film Award nomination for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010). Description above from the Wikipedia article Barbara Hershey, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 5, 1948 (78)
From
Hollywood, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 113 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Barbara Hershey's films like?

Across their 64 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama24 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Horror5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
23%
Self
21%
Bonds
19%
Survival
17%
Society
9%
Power
8%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity14 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 62 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 16 · Serious 17 · Dark 29

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 35 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 11

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 11 · Charged 26 · Intense 25

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 24 · Shifting 29 · Whiplash 9

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 40 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 27 · Even-paced 34 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 17 · Engaged 34 · Full focus 11

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 21 · Heavy 29

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 36 · Open-ended 19 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

42 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 14 of 42 analyzed roles.

Ally
14 of 42
Hero
12 of 42
Shapeshifter
6 of 42
Threshold guardian
3 of 42
Shadow
3 of 42
Herald
2 of 42
Mentor
2 of 42
Show the 42 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
44
Melancholic
27
Dread
16
Contemplative
14
Hopeful
13
Other
55

How their films linger

Bittersweet23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 13 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet34
  • Tragic7
  • Ambiguous11

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Barbara Hershey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 40 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Hershey's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

113 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 18 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Krung Thep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as The Woman

  • Woodstockers(2026)

    as Rebecca

  • Strange Darling(2023)

    as Genevieve

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Beacon 23(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sophie

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • 9 Bullets(2022)

    as Lacey

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Manor(2021)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Paradise Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Byrd Forsythe

  • Insidious: The Last Key(2018)

    as Lorraine Lambert

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The 9th Life of Louis Drax(2016)

    as Violet Drax

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Damien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ann Rutledge

  • Childless(2008)

    as Natalie

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • My Sister(2014)

    as Connie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time in Wonderland(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Cora Mills

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Insidious: Chapter 2(2013)

    as Lorraine Lambert

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Left to Die(2012)

    as Sandra Chase

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time(2011)

    Show 14 episodes · as Cora / Queen of Hearts

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Answers to Nothing(2011)

    as Marilyn

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Insidious(2010)

    as Lorraine Lambert

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Black Swan(2010)

    as Erica Sayers / The Queen

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Albert Schweitzer - Anatomie eines Heiligen(2010)

    as Helene Schweitzer

  • Albert Schweitzer(2009)

    as Helene Schweitzer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning(2008)

    as Older Anne Shirley

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Bird Can't Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Melody

  • Uncross the Stars(2008)

    as Hilda

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Love Comes Lately (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Rosalie

  • Riding the Bullet(2004)

    as Jean Parker

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 13 episodes · as Gennie Carver

  • 11:14(2003)

    as Norma

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Elizabeth Paradise

  • Experiments in Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • The Stranger Beside Me(2003)

    as Ann Rule

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Hunger Point(2003)

    as Marsha Hunter

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Daniel Deronda(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Contessa Maria Alcharisi

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Lantana(2001)

    as Valerie Somers

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Sinister Saga of Making The Stunt Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Drowning on Dry Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Kate

  • Outer Space(1999)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Rose Grainger

  • Breakfast of Champions(1999)

    as Celia Hoover

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries(1998)

    as Marcella Willis

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Frogs for Snakes(1998)

    as Eva Santana

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mother Madalyn

  • The Portrait of a Lady(1996)

    as Madame Serena Merle

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Pallbearer(1996)

    as Ruth Abernathy

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Last of the Dogmen(1995)

    as Prof. Lillian Diane Sloan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 22 episodes · as Francesca Alberghetti

  • Abraham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sara

  • Abraham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sarah

  • Return to Lonesome Dove(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Clara Allen

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • A Dangerous Woman(1993)

    as Frances

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Erika Price

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Splitting Heirs(1993)

    as Duchess Lucinda

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Swing Kids(1993)

    as Frau Müller

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Falling Down(1993)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Public Eye(1992)

    as Kay Levitz

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Stay the Night(1992)

    as Jimmie Sue Finger

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Defenseless(1991)

    as Thelma 'T.K.' Knudsen Katwuller

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Paris Trout(1991)

    as Hanna Trout

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Tune in Tomorrow...(1990)

    as Aunt Julia

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • A Killing in a Small Town(1990)

    as Candy Morrison

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Caroline Hubbard

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Beaches(1988)

    as Hillary Whitney Essex

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • A World Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Diana Roth

  • The Last Temptation of Christ(1988)

    as Mary Magdalene

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Shy People(1987)

    as Ruth

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Tin Men(1987)

    as Nora Tilley

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Passion Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Julia Gaitland

  • Hoosiers(1986)

    as Myra Fleener

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hannah and Her Sisters(1986)

    as Lee

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Anne of Green Gables(1985)

    Show as Older Anne Shirley

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Jessie Dean

  • My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn(1985)

    as Lili Damita

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Natural(1984)

    as Harriet Bird

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Right Stuff(1983)

    as Glennis Yeager

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as The Maid

  • The Entity(1982)

    as Carla Moran

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as The Maid

  • Working (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Call Girl

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Call Girl · as Lenore

  • Americana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Jess's Daughter

  • Take This Job and Shove It(1981)

    as Jane Margaret ("J.M.") Halstead

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Stunt Man(1980)

    as Nina Franklin

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Angel on My Shoulder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Julie

  • From Here to Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 12 episodes · as Karen Holmes

  • A Man Called Intrepid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Madelaine

  • Sunshine Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Cody Blanks

  • Just a Little Inconvenience(1977)

    as Nikki Klausing

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Flood(1976)

    as Mary Cutler

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • In the Glitter Palace(1977)

    as Ellen Lange

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Last Hard Men(1976)

    as Susan Burgade

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Dirty Knight's Work(1976)

    as Marion Evans

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Sally

  • You and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Waitress

  • The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Zanni (as Barbara Seagull)

  • Angela – Love Comes Quietly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Angela

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nan Chi

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Boxcar Bertha(1972)

    as Boxcar Bertha

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Dealing: Or The Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues(1972)

    as Susan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Pursuit of Happiness(1971)

    as Jane Kauffman

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Baby Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Tish Gray

  • The Liberation of L.B. Jones(1970)

    as Nella Mundine

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Last Summer(1969)

    as Sandy

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Heaven with a Gun(1969)

    as Leloopa

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • With Six You Get Eggroll(1968)

    as Stacy Iverson

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The High Chaparral (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Moonfire

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth Ferguson

  • CBS Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Gray

  • The Monroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 26 episodes · as Kathy Monroe

  • Gidget(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Saro-Jane

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Dinah Hubbard

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Last Seder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 113 titles, 112 of them dated from 1963 to 2026; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

Black Swan (2010)

$330M worldwide

Highest rated

Black Swan (2010)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19632026

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 20 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 2 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting113 of 113: 113 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1960s11 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s25 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s13 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 19% of 42 roles
687388939808

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe and 2 other major awards from 11 major nominations, 1987–2011.

WinNomination
  1. 2011
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  2. 1997
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  3. 1991
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  4. 1990
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
  5. 1989
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
  6. 1988
    • Cannes award, won
  7. 1987
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Cannes award, won

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Barbara Hershey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of the 61 of 63 with a score; across their 61 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 61

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 61

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 61

Midcredits score across 71 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

31 of their 71 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser31
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · actor

Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008)

82nd percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The X-Files (1993)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 57 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Barbara Hershey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 26 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore17 titles23–85 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity26 titles10–69 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles28–71 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles19–54 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense16 titles18–91 · median 66 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Barbara Hershey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Hershey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stephen Gyllenhaal shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles