Skip to content
MovieCove
Merritt Wever

Merritt Wever

Actor · Born August 11, 1980 (46) · New York, New York, USA

3 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe nominee · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Merritt Carmen Wever (born August 11, 1980) is an American actress. She is known for starring as a perennially upbeat young nurse in Nurse Jackie (2009–2015), an intrepid widow in the Netflix period miniseries Godless (2017), and a detective investigating a serial rapist in the Netflix crime mini-series Unbelievable (2019). For Nurse Jackie, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2013, for Godless, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie in 2018 and for the mini-series Unbelievable, she was nominated the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film in 2020. Wever has also had supporting roles in other television series, including Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007), New Girl (2013), and The Walking Dead (2015–2016). She has also played supporting roles in such films as Michael Clayton (2007), Birdman (2014), and Marriage Story (2019), all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, with Birdman winning.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 11, 1980 (46)
From
New York, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 52 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 42% in 30 days

What are Merritt Wever's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: 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
Self
30%
Survival
22%
Bonds
15%
Society
14%
Morality
10%
Power
7%
Ideas
2%
Identity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 5 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 9 · Intense 8

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 2

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 10

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 9 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 10
Hero
3 of 10
Trickster
1 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
19
Contemplative
10
Dread
6
Absurd
6
Other
19

How their films linger

Thought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous8

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 Merritt Wever's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 36 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Merritt Wever'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

52 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Great Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Primetime(2026)

    as Andie Bender

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Christy(2025)

    as Joyce Salters

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Bombing of Pan Am 103(2025)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kathryn Turman

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Memory(2023)

    as Olivia

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Tiny Beautiful Things(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Frankie Pierce

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Midday Black Midnight Blue(2022)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Roar(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Elisa

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • Severance(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gretchen George · as Gretchen George (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Gilded Age(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · as Monica O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Run(2020)

    Show 7 episodes · as Ruby Richardson

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Marriage Story(2019)

    as Cassie

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Unbelievable(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Detective Karen Duvall

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Charlie Says(2018)

    as Karlene Faith

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to Marwen(2018)

    as Roberta

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Irreplaceable You(2018)

    as Mindy

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Godless(2017)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mary Agnes

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Face(2016)

    as Marlee

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Meadowland(2015)

    as Kelly

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)(2014)

    as Annie

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Remember Sunday(2013)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Boys On Film: Bad Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Girl (segment "The Strange Ones")

  • New Girl(2011)

    Show 7 episodes · as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Strange Ones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Girl

  • Tiny Furniture(2010)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Walking Dead(2010)

    Show 9 episodes · as Denise Cloyd

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Greenberg(2010)

    as Gina

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Messenger(2009)

    as Lara

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Aubrey Gardner

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Nurse Jackie(2009)

    Show 80 episodes · as Zoey Barkow

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Missing Person(2009)

    as Mabel Page

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Righteous Kill(2008)

    as Rape Victim

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Michael Clayton(2007)

    as Anna

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Into the Wild(2007)

    as Lori

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip(2006)

    Show 12 episodes · as Suzanne

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • 12 and Holding(2005)

    as Debbie Poole

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Conviction(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Bridget Kellner

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • 1/4life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Robot Chicken(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Mandy / Susan the Tauntaun (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Something the Lord Made(2004)

    as Mrs. Saxon

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • A Hole in One(2004)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Wendy Smith

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Season of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Signs(2002)

    as Tracey Abernathy

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Wire(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Prissy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah Price

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Series 7: The Contenders(2001)

    as Lindsay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Sebastian Cole(1998)

    as Susan

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • All I Wanna Do!(1998)

    as Maureen 'Momo' Haines

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Arresting Gena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Tammy

  • Blue River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lottie

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer Taylor · as Myra · as Sunshine Porter

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles, 51 of them dated from 1990 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Signs (2002)

$408M worldwide

Highest rated

Something the Lord Made (2004)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Nurse Jackie (2009)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19902026

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 5 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
Acting52 of 52: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score76th

By decade

1990s5 · acting2000s20 · acting2010s16 · acting2020s10 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 21 roles
980818

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 and 1 other major award from 10 major nominations, 2012–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  2. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  3. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
  4. 2020
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
      • Independent Spirit Award, won
  5. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
  6. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  7. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy 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 Merritt Wever's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 19 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 19

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Midday Black Midnight Blue (2022)

94th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Something the Lord Made (2004)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 53. 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 Merritt Wever's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore13 titles32–82 · median 52 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles29–70 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles36–89 · median 77 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles38–82 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles38–80 · median 63 · 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 Merritt Wever work with?

People who share at least 2 of Merritt Wever's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Noah Baumbach shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles