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Alex Borstein

Alex Borstein

Actor and writer, also producer · Born February 15, 1971 (55) · Highland, Illinois, USA

3 Primetime Emmys · 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards · Golden Globe nominee · 1 other major award body

Alexandrea "Alex" Borstein (born February 15, 1971) is an American actress, singer, voice actress, writer and comedian. She is best known for her long-running role as Lois Griffin on the animated television series Family Guy, and as a cast member on the sketch comedy series MADtv. A native of Highland Park, Illinois, Borstein is a graduate of San Francisco State University, where she studied rhetoric. She was trained in improvisational comedy at the ACME Comedy Theatre, near Hollywood, California, and was selected to join MADtv after being scouted by talent agents who noticed her work at the theatre. She was a writer and voice actor for several television shows, including Casper, Pinky and the Brain and Power Rangers: Zeo, before joining the cast of MADtv as a featured player, and later as a repertory player in 1997. As an actress, she has made appearances in such films as The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Catwoman and Dinner for Schmucks.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 15, 1971 (55)
From
Highland, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor and writer, also producer
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 74 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 26

What are Alex Borstein's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Animation9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Documentary 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
27%
Self
21%
Morality
17%
Society
16%
Power
8%
Ideas
6%
Survival
4%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 8 · Wry 2 · Earnest 6

Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 3 · Dark 0

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 13

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 7

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles
Hero
1 of 5
Threshold guardian
1 of 5
Trickster
1 of 5
Ally
1 of 5
Shadow
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
14
Joyful
12
Warm
8
Tense
3
Thrilling
3
Other
14

How their films linger

Fun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical3

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 Alex Borstein's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Alex Borstein'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

74 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Bad Guys 2(2025)

    as Commissioner Misty Luggins (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits(2023)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Bad Guys in Maraschino Ruby(2022)

    as Police Chief Misty Luggins (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Bad Guys(2022)

    as Police Chief Misty Luggins (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Extinct(2021)

    as Mali (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Resident Alien(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Carlyn

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bombardier Blood(2019)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilma (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Las que faltaban (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Invitada

  • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(2017)

    Show 43 episodes · as Susie Myerson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Drella · as Miss Celine

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Man Rots from the Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Gladys

  • The Angry Birds Movie(2016)

    as Sophie Bird / Peggy Bird (voice)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Bordertown(2016)

    Show 13 episodes · as Becky Buckwald · as Janice Buckwald

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Love the Coopers(2015)

    as Angie Cooper

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 3: Magical Friendship(2015)

    as Wonder Woman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Life in Pieces(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Linette

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Delirium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Lois Griffin (archive footage)

  • A Million Ways to Die in the West(2014)

    as Millie

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken DC Comics Special II: Villains in Paradise(2014)

    as Wonder Woman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Getting On(2013)

    Show 18 episodes · as Dawn Forchette

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Masters of Sex(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Loretta

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special(2012)

    as Wonder Woman / Giganta / Woman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • ParaNorman(2012)

    as Mrs. Henscher (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Ted(2012)

    as John's Mom

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Bunk(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • For Christ's Sake(2010)

    as Mrs. Marcus

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Workaholics(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Colleen Walker

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer · as Lou Deckner

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy Presents: It's a Trap! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Lois Griffin as Princess Leia / Sy Snootles / Asian Woman / ET Announcer / Hot Girl's Mother (voice)

  • Dinner for Schmucks(2010)

    as Red Hair Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Hot in Cleveland(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Preshi

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Killers(2010)

    as Mrs. Baily

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Family Guy Presents: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Lois Griffin as Princess Leia / OnStar Voiceover / Empire Member's Wife / Robot Wife (voice)

  • Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show(2009)

    Producer · Writer · as Self / Various (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Cleveland Show(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · as Hadassah Lowenstein (voice)

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Family Guy Presents: Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Supervising Producer · as Lois Griffin (voice)

  • Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 50 episodes · as Various Characters (voice)

  • The Thick of It(2007)

    as Hope Mueller

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Supervising Producer · as Lois Griffin as Princess Leia / Barbara Pewterschmidt as Aunt Beru (voice)

  • The Lookout(2007)

    as Mrs. Lange

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Slacker Cats(2007)

    Show as Latoyah

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Drop Dead Gorgeous (In a Down-to-Earth Bombshell Sort of Way) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Writer · Actor

  • Talkshow with Spike Feresten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Little Man(2006)

    as Janet

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Good Night, and Good Luck.(2005)

    as Natalie

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Too Late with Adam Carolla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story(2005)

    Producer · Writer · as Lois Griffin / Various Characters (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Kicking & Screaming(2005)

    as Obnoxious Hummer Lady (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Billy's Dad Is a Fudge-Packer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Betty Henderson

  • Drawn Together(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as AIDS Walk Coordinator / Lois Griffin (voice) · as Jelly Donuts Leader (voice)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Catwoman(2004)

    as Sally

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Celebrity Blackjack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 19 episodes · Actor

  • Seeing Other People(2004)

    as Tracy

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Bad Santa(2003)

    as Milwaukee Mom with Photo

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Lizzie McGuire Movie(2003)

    as Miss Ungermeyer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Showtime(2002)

    as Casting Director

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Dawg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Darcy Smits

  • A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Lois Griffin / Female Hipster / Julie / Grandma (voice)

  • Gary & Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Maya (voice)

  • Gilmore Girls(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Drella · as Miss Celine

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Nicky

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 456 episodes · Writer · as Lois Griffin / Tricia Takanawa / Loretta Brown / Barbara Pewterschmidt (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Pinky, Elmyra & The Brain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • BeetleBorgs(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Cataclaws (voice)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Power Rangers Zeo: Zeo Quest(1996)

    as Queen Machina (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 13 episodes · Writer

  • Mad TV(1995)

    Show 101 episodes · as Ms Swan / Karen · as Ms. Swan, Mama Brightling · as Various

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Friends(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Bitter Woman on Stage

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers(1993)

    Show 50 episodes · as Queen Machina (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • The Bad Guys 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Commisioner Misty Luggins (voice)

  • Turn the Lights Back On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · as Emma

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 73 titles, 71 of them dated from 1993 to 2025; peak year 2004.

Biggest box office

The Bad Guys (2022)

$250M worldwide

Highest rated

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Family Guy (1999)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19932025

Peak 2004 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting68 of 73: 61 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thWriting8 of 73: 4 only writing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score77thProducing4 of 73: 1 only producing, 3 with another role

73 titles, 7 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1990s9 · 7 acting · 3 crew2000s29 · 28 acting · 5 crew2010s25 · 25 acting · 1 crew2020s8 · 6 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 27 roles
010611

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

3 Primetime Emmys, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 2 other major awards from 22 major nominations, 2006–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  2. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  3. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  4. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  5. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  6. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  7. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Voice-Over Performance
  8. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More)
Show 1 earlier year
  1. 2006
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

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 Alex Borstein's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 73rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 53 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · producer

Bombardier Blood (2019)

98th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Thick of It (2007)

Midcredits 99th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 32. 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 Alex Borstein's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles25–80 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles21–76 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles21–88 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles16–79 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles9–52 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all 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 Alex Borstein work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alex Borstein's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Seth Green shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles