Jamie Brewer
Brewer at the 2015 Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards, February 2015
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active2011–present

Jamie Brewer is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles in the FX horror anthology television series American Horror Story. In its first season, Murder House, she portrayed Adelaide "Addie" Langdon; in the third season, Coven, she portrayed Nan, an enigmatic and clairvoyant witch; in the fourth season Freak Show, she portrayed Chester Creb's vision of his doll, Marjorie; in the seventh season Cult, she portrayed Hedda, a member of the 'SCUM' crew, led by feminist Valerie Solanas; and she also returned to her role as Nan in the eighth season, Apocalypse.

Life and career

Brewer grew up loving all forms of the arts, especially movies and theater productions. She started by taking theater classes in 1999 at a College for Kids class during her middle school years. She performed in dramas, musicals, comedies, and many improvisations during her theater training at Dionysus Theater.[citation needed] Brewer appeared and spoke in PSAs for the Super Bowl of Caring Houston Food Drive in Houston, Texas for two consecutive years which aired on NBC, ABC, and CBS. Brewer continues her stage training through The Groundlings Theater and School.

In 2011, Brewer made her television debut as Adelaide "Addie" Langdon in American Horror Story: Murder House.[1] "I first got word of the audition for the show from a friend of mine." She said. "They were looking for a young lady with Down syndrome who could act. My headshot and resume were submitted and I was called for an audition and, to my surprise I got the part. I was so excited."[2] About her role, Brewer stated: "Adelaide is a complex character, but the most difficult part of playing Adelaide is learning how to portray someone who isn't always viewed acceptable to her mother and society. This is a new challenge for me."[3]

After the show's first season ended, she appeared on Southland in an episode titled "Heat", which aired on February 20, 2013. Also in 2013, she returned to American Horror Story for the third season, subtitled Coven, playing the supporting role of Nan, a young witch who is clairvoyant.

Brewer at PaleyFest 2014 for American Horror Story: Coven

It was announced at the 2014 PaleyFest that Brewer would return to the series for the fourth season, subtitled American Horror Story: Freak Show.[4] Although, at a later date, show creator Ryan Murphy indicated Brewer may not appear during the season. Brewer was later confirmed after appearing in a promo for the final two episodes.[5][6] She both voiced and played Marjorie, the ventriloquist's dummy of another character.

In February 2015, Brewer became the first woman with Down syndrome to walk the red carpet at New York Fashion Week, which she did for designer Carrie Hammer.[7][8][9] Talking about the experience, Brewer said, "It's amazing that the fashion industry are including individuals with disabilities," she said. "It's an amazing opportunity for women, women that are disabled."[10] Another time she also said, "Young girls and even young women [see me] and say 'hey, if she can do it so can I'. It's a true inspiration being a role model for any young women to [encourage them] in being who they are and showing who they are."[citation needed]

In July 2015, she appeared as a character named Jamie in three episodes of the web series Raymond & Lane,[11][12] while In September, Brewer appeared on Switched at Birth in an episode titled "Between hope and fear".[13] The next month she claimed her title as a recipient of the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.[14] The same month, during an interview, Brewer was asked if she would make an appearance in American Horror Story’s upcoming fifth season, subtitled Hotel. She responded with; "Possibly. I don't fully know, it depends. I really want to be." However, she did not appear in the season.[14]

In May 2017, Brewer starred in the comedy short Whitney's Wedding, in which she played a bride who gets 'cold-feet' when she starts thinking her fiancé is not "normal".[15] In October, American singer Miley Cyrus asked Brewer to introduce her at the Variety Power of Women event, where Cyrus received an award for The Happy Hippie Foundation. Cyrus’ non-profit foundation focuses on youth homelessness (particularly among LGBTQ youth), the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable populations. "We’ve never met in person before today, but I'm a huge fan of Jamie's,” Cyrus said during her acceptance speech. “I thought she would beautifully encompass the Happy Hippie Foundation and all we represent.”[16] Brewer also returned to American Horror Story on its seventh season Cult. In the seventh episode of the season she portrayed Hedda, a member of the original 'SCUM' crew, led by feminist Valerie Solanas.[17] Around the same time, Brewer had a role in Bridget Everett’s Love You More, a pilot filmed for Amazon Video that was later not picked up.[18]

In February 2018, Brewer made her off-Broadway debut in Amy and the Orphans, a play by Lindsey Ferrentino about three siblings, one of whom has Down Syndrome, in the wake of their father's death. She was the first woman with Down syndrome to star in an Off-Broadway play.[19] In April, Brewer was nominated for an Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play by the Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance in Amy and the Orphans. In June of the same year, she won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her performance. Soon afterwards, she was cast, as Gina, in the independent drama film Turnover.[20][non-primary source needed]

During October, Brewer briefly appeared on American Horror Story once again, on its eighth season subtitled Apocalypse, where she reprised the role she played in Coven. Brewer's return as Nan received positive reviews from hardcore fans. Katie Louise-Smith from PopBuzz called Brewer "brilliant" and stated the return was "short but sweet".[21] Ron Hogan of Den of Geek reacted to Brewer's return positively, noting her return was "handled well".[22] However, Kat Rosenfield from Entertainment Weekly criticized the scene featuring Nan, commenting that it "serves mostly as fan service".[23] Brewer also briefly appeared in the tenth and final episode of the season.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Whitney's Wedding Whitney Short film
2017 Kill Off Sonja Short film
2019 Turnover Gina
2019 Second Date Maura Short film
2019 The Wagon Claire Short film, post-production
2019 The Hoarding Mary Short film, post-production
2021 Cherry Shelly
TBA Snow Moon Awakening Aurora pre-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011 American Horror Story: Murder House Adelaide Langdon Recurring role; 6 episodes
2013 Southland Amanda Episode: "Heat"
2013–14 American Horror Story: Coven Nan Recurring role; 9 episodes
2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Marjorie Episodes: "Magical Thinking" and "Show Stoppers"
2015 Switched at Birth Teacher's Aide Episode: "Between Hope and Fear"
2017 American Horror Story: Cult Hedda Episode: "Valerie Solanas Died for Your Sins: Scumbag"
2017 Love You More Maggie Television film
2018 American Horror Story: Apocalypse Nan Episodes: "Traitor" and "Apocalypse Then"
2020 Station 19 Rose Episode: "Ice Ice Baby"
2021 American Horror Stories Adelaide Langdon Episode: "Game Over"

Theater

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Amy and the Orphans Amy
2022 Corsicana Ginny

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Raymond & Lane Jamie Guest role; 3 episodes

References

  1. ^ Adam Lawton (November 21, 2011). "Interview with Jamie Brewer". Media Mikes. Jamie Brewer plays the role of Adelaide on the hit FX series American Horror Story. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Jamie recently to discuss the show.
  2. ^ Adam Lawton (November 21, 2011). "Interview with Jamie Brewer". Media Mikes. Jamie Brewer plays the role of Adelaide on the hit FX series American Horror Story. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Jamie recently to discuss the show.
  3. ^ Adam Lawton (November 21, 2011). "Interview with Jamie Brewer2". Media Mikes. Jamie Brewer plays the role of Adelaide on the hit FX series American Horror Story. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Jamie recently to discuss the show.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 29, 2014). "'American Horror Story' Enlists Michael Chiklis for 'Freak Show'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  5. ^ Stack, Tim (October 9, 2014). "'American Horror Story: Freak Show' premiere: Ryan Murphy talks sex, scary clowns, and season 5clues". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Whitney, Erin (December 18, 2014). "Here's Your First Look At Neil Patrick Harris In 'American Horror Story'". HuffPost. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  7. ^ Probus, Jessica; McNeal, Stephanie (February 12, 2015). "Meet The First Woman With Down Syndrome To Walk At Fashion Week". BuzzFeed.
  8. ^ Lori Grisham, USA TODAY Network (February 12, 2015). "First model with Down syndrome in New York Fashion Week". USA Today.
  9. ^ "Why Down's Syndrome model Jamie Brewer has changed the game". The Independent. February 13, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  10. ^ Sarah Flanigan (February 18, 2015). "'AHS' Star Jamie Brewer Talks About Being First Model With Down Syndrome at NYFW". EOline. It's amazing that the fashion industry are including individuals with disabilities," she said. "It's an amazing opportunity for women, women that are disabled.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Raymond & Lane: The Theater Series with American Horror Story's Jamie Brewer". Anon Magazine. July 16, 2015. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "Jamie Brewer, from American Horror Story, guest stars in the Season Two finale!". Raymond and Lane. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "Jamie Brewer". Listal.com. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "AHS Star Jamie Brewer Knows She's Badass and Won't Apologize for it". VH1. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  15. ^ "Whitney s Wedding". The Audience Awards. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  16. ^ "American Success Story". Global Down Syndrome Foundation. May 2, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  17. ^ "Valerie Solanas Died for Your Sins: Scumbag". American Horror Story. Season 7. Episode 7. October 17, 2017. FX.
  18. ^ "Love You More: Bridget Everett, Karen Pittman, Loni Anderson, Brett Tucker, Brooks Ashmanskas, Casey Powell, Felicia Patti, Jamie Brewer, John Tucker, Joshua Eber, Kevin Ewing, Luke Zimmerman, Margaret Muller, Randy Donaldson, Rey Gallego, Bobcat Goldthwait, Michael Patrick King, John Melfi". Amazon.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  19. ^ "Jamie Brewer of 'American Horror Story' Is First Woman With Down Syndrome to Star in Off-Broadway Play". Inside Edition. March 14, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  20. ^ "Turnover.the movie" – via Facebook.
  21. ^ "American Horror Story brought back Nan from 'Coven' and it was so unexpected". Pop Buzz. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  22. ^ Hogan, Ron (October 25, 2018). "American Horror Story Season 8 Episode 7 Review: Traitor". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 25, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Rosenfield, Kat (October 25, 2018). "American Horror Story: Apocalypse recap: Who's your voodoo daddy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2018.

External links