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Patricia Clarkson

Patricia Clarkson

Actor, also producer · Born December 29, 1959 (66) · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

3 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe winner · Oscar nominee · 4 other major award bodies

Patricia Davies Clarkson (born December 29, 1959) is an American actress. After studying drama on the East Coast, Clarkson launched her acting career in 1985, and has worked steadily in both film and television. She twice won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in Six Feet Under. Film roles included The Green Mile, Far From Heaven, The Station Agent and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Pieces of April (2003). Description above from the Wikipedia article Patricia Clarkson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 29, 1959 (66)
From
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
91 on MovieCove · 109 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 29% in 30 days

What are Patricia Clarkson's films like?

Across their 74 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama27 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th 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
Bonds
26%
Self
22%
Morality
19%
Survival
12%
Society
10%
Power
7%
Ideas
5%
Family bonds17 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth14 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 67 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 18 · Serious 19 · Dark 30

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 39 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 17 · Charged 31 · Intense 19

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

A split, not a type: Steady 35 · Shifting 29 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 43 · Some laughs 18 · Funny 6

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 37 · Even-paced 27 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 25 · Engaged 31 · 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 18 · Affecting 24 · Heavy 25

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 39 · Open-ended 19 · Ambiguous 9

Roles they play

39 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 8 of 39 analyzed roles.

Shadow
8 of 39
Hero
8 of 39
Mentor
6 of 39
Ally
6 of 39
Herald
5 of 39
Shapeshifter
3 of 39
Threshold guardian
2 of 39
Trickster
1 of 39
Show the 39 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
39
Melancholic
43
Contemplative
24
Dread
13
Hopeful
17
Other
61

How their films linger

Bittersweet31 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet41
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous12
  • Cyclical2

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 Patricia Clarkson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 66 of their 91 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (27).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Patricia Clarkson'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

109 credits, 91 with a MovieCove page; 18 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Lilly(2024)

    as Lilly Ledbetter

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Ransom Canyon(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Claire

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Gray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Cornelia Gray

  • Monica(2022)

    as Eugenia

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • She Said(2022)

    as Rebecca Corbett

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Causeway(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Hemingway(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Hemingway (voice) · as Pauline Pfeiffer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Vote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Green Eggs and Ham(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Pam-I-Am (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Almost Love(2019)

    as Ravella Brewer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • State of the Union(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ellen

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Out of Blue(2018)

    as Det. Mike Hoolihan

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Jonathan(2018)

    as Dr. Mina Nariman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Sharp Objects(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · as Adora Crellin

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Delirium(2018)

    as Brody

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Maze Runner: The Death Cure(2018)

    as Ava Paige

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Bookshop(2017)

    as Violet Gamart

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Party(2017)

    as April

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Super Hummingbirds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials(2015)

    as Ava Paige

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Annie(2014)

    as Focus Group Woman

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • October Gale(2014)

    as Helen Matthews

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Maze Runner(2014)

    as Ava Paige

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Last Weekend(2014)

    as Celia Green

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Learning to Drive(2014)

    as Wendy

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Regarding Susan Sontag(2014)

    as Susan Sontag (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Broad City(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Timothy's mother

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Roosevelts: An Intimate History(2014)

    Show as Daisy Suckley

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The East(2013)

    as Sharon

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • House of Cards(2013)

    Show 21 episodes · as Jane Davis

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Dust Bowl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hazel Lucas Shaw

  • It's Getting Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Lou

  • Five(2011)

    as Mia

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Prohibition(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Reader / Carrie Nation (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Friends with Benefits(2011)

    as Lorna

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • One Day(2011)

    as Alison Mayhew

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Rise(2011)

    as Maribel Vinson Owen

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Main Street(2010)

    as Willa Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Easy A(2010)

    as Rosemary

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Legendary(2010)

    as Sharon

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Shutter Island(2010)

    as Rachel 2

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Beyond All Boundaries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Marguerite Higgins

  • Cairo Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Juliette Grant

  • Whatever Works(2009)

    as Marietta

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • 2081 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator

  • Parks and Recreation(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tammy One

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism(2009)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Blind Date(2007)

    as Janna

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Vicky Cristina Barcelona(2008)

    as Judy Nash

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Elegy(2008)

    as Carolyn

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Married Life(2007)

    as Pat Allen

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Phoebe in Wonderland(2008)

    as Miss Dodger

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Lars and the Real Girl(2007)

    as Dagmar

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • No Reservations(2007)

    as Paula

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Planet(2007)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • All the King's Men(2006)

    as Sadie Burke

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Woods(2006)

    as Mrs. Traverse

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Good Night, and Good Luck.(2005)

    as Shirley Wershba

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Meredith Fields (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Dying Gaul(2005)

    as Elaine Tishop

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Miracle(2004)

    as Patty Brooks

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Station Agent(2003)

    as Olivia Harris

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Pieces of April(2003)

    as Joy Burns

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Dogville(2003)

    as Vera

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • All the Real Girls(2003)

    as Elvira

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Heartbreak Hospital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Lottie Ohrwasher

  • Far from Heaven(2002)

    as Eleanor Fine

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Carrie(2002)

    as Margaret White

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Safety of Objects(2001)

    as Annette Jennings

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Collinwood(2002)

    as Rosalind

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Baroness and the Pig(2002)

    as The Baroness

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Wendigo(2001)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Falling Like This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Caroline Lockhart

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sarah O'Connor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Pledge(2001)

    as Margaret Larsen

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Tammy Banger

  • Joe Gould's Secret(2000)

    as Vivian Marquie

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Green Mile(1999)

    as Melinda Moores

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Wayward Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Wesley

  • Simply Irresistible(1999)

    as Lois McNally

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Playing by Heart(1998)

    as Allison

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • High Art(1998)

    as Greta

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • London Suite(1996)

    as Diana Nichols

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Jumanji(1995)

    as Carol Parrish

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Murder One(1995)

    Show 23 episodes · as Annie Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Pharaoh's Army(1995)

    as Sarah Anders

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • She Led Two Lives(1994)

    as Desiree Parnell

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Claire French

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Caught in the Act(1993)

    as Meg

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Queen(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lizzie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Four Eyes and Six-Guns(1992)

    as Lucy Laughton

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • An American Story(1992)

    as Barbara Meade

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Legacy of Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Pat Rafael

  • Blind Man's Bluff(1992)

    as Dr. Virginia Hertz

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Davis Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 13 episodes · as Cosmo Yeargin

  • Tune in Tomorrow...(1990)

    as Aunt Olga

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Winthrop

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Old Man and the Sea(1990)

    as Mary Pruitt

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Suzy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Everybody's All-American(1988)

    as Leslie Stone

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Rocket Gibraltar(1988)

    as Rose Black

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Dead Pool(1988)

    as Samantha Walker

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Untouchables(1987)

    as Catherine Ness

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Deborah Wade

  • Nature(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show Actor

  • Light on Broken Glass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Melody Harper

  • What Happens at Night (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 107 titles, 105 of them dated from 1951 to 2025; peak year 2010.

Biggest box office

The Maze Runner (2014)

$348M worldwide

Highest rated

Shutter Island (2010)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19512025

Peak 2010 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 25 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 3 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting107 of 107: 107 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s36 · acting2010s32 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 14% of 57 roles
879202071217

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, a Golden Globe and 2 other major awards from 18 major nominations, 1999–2022.

WinNomination
  1. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
  2. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series
  3. 2006
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  4. 2004
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Female
  5. 2003
    • Sundance award, won · Dramatic
  6. 2002
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  7. 2000
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture
  8. 1999
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Female

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 Patricia Clarkson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 71; across their 67 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 67

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 67

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 67

Midcredits score across 91 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up35
  • 50th to 74th29
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

51 of their 91 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser51
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Rise (2011)

80th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Shutter Island (2010)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 62 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 50. 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 Patricia Clarkson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 37 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore25 titles10–82 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity37 titles9–65 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity27 titles33–66 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs27 titles13–63 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense26 titles15–74 · median 56 · moderateheavier 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 Patricia Clarkson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Patricia Clarkson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ken Burns shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles