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Maura Tierney

Maura Tierney

Actor, also producer · Born February 3, 1965 (61) · Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Golden Globe winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Maura Lynn Tierney (born February 3, 1965) is an American film and television actress, who is best known for her roles on NewsRadio and ER as well as The Affair, for which she won the Golden Globe Award in 2016.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 3, 1965 (61)
From
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
41 on MovieCove · 56 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 9% in 30 days

What are Maura Tierney's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Bonds
30%
Self
20%
Morality
18%
Survival
14%
Power
11%
Society
4%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 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 11 · Serious 5 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 14 · Intense 6

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 4

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 8

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 2

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

A split, not a type: Casual 12 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

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 5 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 9 of 14 analyzed roles.

Ally
9 of 14
Hero
2 of 14
Shadow
1 of 14
Threshold guardian
1 of 14
Mentor
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
11
Warm
9
Hopeful
8
Joyful
5
Other
28

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1

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 Maura Tierney's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 41 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Maura Tierney'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

56 credits, 41 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Twisters(2024)

    as Cathy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Iron Claw(2023)

    as Doris Von Erich

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • American Rust(2021)

    Show 19 episodes · as Grace Poe

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Your Honor(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Fiona McKee

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Report(2019)

    as Bernadette

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Boy(2018)

    as Karen Barbour

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Anything(2017)

    as Laurette Sachman

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Electric Dreams(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Irene Lee

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • I Know Jake Gyllenhaal Is Going to Fuck My Girlfriend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Executive Producer

  • The Affair(2014)

    Show 53 episodes · as Helen Solloway

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Ruth & Erica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 10 episodes · as Erica

  • Nature Calls(2012)

    as Janine

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Whole Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 13 episodes · as Kathryn Peale

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 7 episodes · as Maddie Hayward

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Finding Amanda(2008)

    as Lorraine Mendon

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Baby Mama(2008)

    as Caroline

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Semi-Pro(2008)

    as Lynn

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Diggers(2006)

    as Gina

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Go-Getter(2007)

    as Pets

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Office(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. California

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Rescue Me(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kelly McPhee

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Welcome to Mooseport(2004)

    as Sally Mannis

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Melvin Goes to Dinner(2003)

    as Leslie

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Rooftop Kisses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Denise

  • Insomnia(2002)

    as Rachel Clement

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Scotland, Pa.(2001)

    Producer · as Pat McBeth

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Mexico City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Pam on Phone (voice)

  • Sammy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kathy Kelly (voice)

  • Secret Agent Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Oxygen(1999)

    as Det. Madeline Foster

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jessica Brady

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Instinct(1999)

    as Lynn Powell

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Forces of Nature(1999)

    as Bridget

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Thin Pink Line(1998)

    as Suzanne

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Primary Colors(1998)

    as Daisy Green

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Liar Liar(1997)

    as Audrey Reede

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Tanya (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Primal Fear(1996)

    as Naomi

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Simonet

  • NewsRadio(1995)

    Show 97 episodes · as Lisa Miller

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 208 episodes · as Abby Lockhart

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • 704 Hauser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 6 episodes · as Cherlyn Markowitz

  • Out of Darkness(1994)

    as Meg

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Temp(1993)

    as Sharon Derns

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Fly By Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Denise

  • White Sands(1992)

    as Noreen

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Linguini Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Cecelia

  • Dead Women in Lingerie(1991)

    as Molly Field

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 43 episodes · as Jessica Brady · as Patricia 'Patti' Blaine

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Flying Blind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Donna

  • Booker(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Donna Cofax

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Van Dyke Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 10 episodes · as Jillian Ryan

  • Crossing the Mob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Michelle

  • Student Exchange(1987)

    as Kathy Maltby

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Darlene

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles from 1982 to 2024; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

Twisters (2024)

$372M worldwide

Highest rated

The Iron Claw (2023)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

ER (1994)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19822024

Peak 1998 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 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.

  • 1990Screen debut· Law & Order
  • 1991First film· The Linguini Incident
  • 1994Primetime Emmy nomination· ER
  • 1997Breakout· Liar Liar
  • 1999First top-billed film· Oxygen
  • 2014Golden Globe win· The Affair

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 56: 53 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thDirecting1 of 56: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleProducing2 of 56: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s5 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s16 · 15 acting · 2 crew2010s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 4% of 23 roles
910111

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 Golden Globe from 4 major nominations, 2001–2016.

WinNomination
  1. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
  2. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

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 Maura Tierney's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 27; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 41 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 41 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The Thin Pink Line (1998)

93rd percentile spread · 59% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Iron Claw (2023)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 43. 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 Maura Tierney's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles32–65 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles19–58 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles39–78 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles20–72 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles9–72 · median 61 · 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 Maura Tierney work with?

People who share at least 2 of Maura Tierney's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Debra Neil-Fisher shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers