Krysten Ritter
Ritter in 2016
Born (1981-12-16) December 16, 1981 (age 42)
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
PartnerAdam Granduciel (2014–present)
Children1

Krysten Alyce Ritter (born December 16, 1981) is an American actress. She came to prominence starring as Jane Margolis in the AMC drama series Breaking Bad (2009–2010), a role she reprised in the spinoff film El Camino (2019). She gained further recognition for her lead roles in the ABC sitcom Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013) and as the title character in the Netflix superhero series Jessica Jones (2015–2019) and the Netflix miniseries The Defenders (2017), both set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In film, Ritter appeared in the romantic comedies 27 Dresses (2007), What Happens in Vegas (2008), Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009), and She's Out of My League (2010). She wrote, co-produced, and starred in the comedy Life Happens (2011), which was followed by roles in the horror comedy Vamps (2012), the comedy drama Listen Up Philip (2014), the biographical drama Big Eyes (2014), the comedy drama The Hero (2017), and the dark fantasy Nightbooks (2021).

Ritter also had roles in the UPN noir mystery series Veronica Mars (2005–2006) and its 2014 film continuation, the CW comedy drama series Gilmore Girls (2006–2007), and the HBO limited series Love & Death (2023).

Early life

Ritter was born on December 16, 1981,[2] in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania,[3] the daughter of Garry Ritter and Kathi Taylor.[4] She was raised in rural Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, where her mother, stepfather, and sister live; her father lives in nearby Benton.[5] She is of German, Scottish, and English descent.[6] She graduated from Northwest Area High School in 2000.[citation needed]

Career

Modeling

Ritter was scouted by a modeling agent at the age of 15 at her local shopping center, the Wyoming Valley Mall, during a modeling event. In a Philadelphia Style magazine interview, Ritter said she was "tall, gawky, awkward, and really, really skinny." While in high school, she traveled to New York City and Philadelphia to model, and signed with the Elite Model Management agency and Wilhelmina Models.[5] Ritter moved to New York and established an international modeling career, appearing in print ads and on television. She did magazine, catalog, and runway work in Tokyo, New York City, Paris, and Milan.[7]

Acting

An audition Wilhelmina had placed her in for a Wendy's television commercial helped Ritter transition into acting. Her "outgoing and bubbly and funny" performance personality had entertained the casting people, she told Philadelphia Style.[5] She won bit parts in films starting in 2001, and played a 1950s art history student in Mona Lisa Smile in 2003. In 2006, she appeared in All This Intimacy, a two-act, Off-Broadway play by Rajiv Joseph, at the Second Stage Theatre.[8] (Ritter later starred in the 2011 premiere of Zach Braff's play All New People, also at Second Stage, co-starring Anna Camp, David Wilson Barnes and Justin Bartha and directed by Peter DuBois.)[9]

Ritter's early guest starring and recurring roles on television included Gia Goodman, the daughter of Mayor Woody Goodman (Steve Guttenberg) on the second season of Veronica Mars; Rory Gilmore's friend, Lucy, on Gilmore Girls for eight episodes in 2006-07; and the first iteration of Allison Stark on the Fox sitcom 'Til Death (a role eventually played by four different actresses through the show's run).

Ritter at the premiere of 27 Dresses in 2008

She was cast as a young Carol Rhodes in an episode of The CW's teen drama series Gossip Girl, titled "Valley Girls," broadcast May 11, 2009. The episode was a backdoor pilot for a proposed spin-off series, set in 1980s Los Angeles; intended to chronicle the teenage years of character Lily van der Woodsen.[10] Ritter described Carol, Lily's sister, as "the outcast" and "an '80s Sunset Strip rocker" to Access Hollywood.[11] The series was not picked up by the network for the 2009–10 season,[12] by which time Ritter appeared as Jane Margolis in the second season of Breaking Bad.[10]

Ritter continued working in film, often cast in romantic comedies as the lead character's best friend. After supporting roles in What Happens in Vegas and 27 Dresses (both 2008), she co-starred with Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic. For She's Out of My League, shot over three months in Pittsburgh in 2008, she played Patty, the cynical best friend of Alice Eve's character, Molly.[7] Ritter also starred in How to Make Love to a Woman, based on the book by adult film star Jenna Jameson; and co-starred (with Jason Behr) in the 2009 independent film The Last International Playboy, as Ozzy, a drug addict.[13]

Also in 2009, Ritter sold a television pilot she wrote based on her experiences as a model, titled Model Camp;[14] and appeared in and directed the comedy web series Woke Up Dead, also featuring Jon Heder.[15]

Ritter starred in 2010 as the sharp and quirky Lily in the Starz television series Gravity, alongside Ivan Sergei, Ving Rhames and Rachel Hunter.[16] The comedy-drama centers on a group of outpatient suicide survivors.[17] She also played the manager of an Irish band[16] in the 2011 comedy Killing Bono, a film directed by Nick Hamm and based on the book Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppleganger, about the early days of U2.[18] Beginning in January 2010, the film shoot lasted for six weeks in locations from Belfast to London.[19]

Ritter starred in and co-wrote (with director Kat Coiro) the 2011 independent comedy Life Happens, with Kate Bosworth and Rachel Bilson. The film is about two best friends dealing with the pregnancy and subsequent motherhood of Ritter's character.

That same year, Ritter appeared alongside Alicia Silverstone and Sigourney Weaver in the comedy horror film Vamps, written and directed by Amy Heckerling. She plays a Manhattan socialite turned into a vampire.

Ritter at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con

In February 2011, Ritter landed the lead role in the ABC situation comedy Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. She starred as Chloe, a New York City party girl and con artist who attempts to rip off her new roommates after they move in, but befriends and mentors one of the applicants.[20][21] The series was canceled on January 22, 2013, after two seasons.[22]

Ritter went on to star in two NBC television comedy pilots in 2013 and 2014 that were not picked up as network series. She played Nora in the pilot for Assistance, based on the play by Leslye Headland.[23][24] Her casting as aerospace engineer Dr. Mary Kendricks in the astronaut-themed comedy Mission Control was announced by the network in February 2014;[25][26] but on October 15, NBC said it was not moving forward with the show.[27]

A July 9, 2013, press release stated Ritter would star in Jake Hoffman's directorial debut, Asthma, about the indie rock scene in New York City.[28]

On December 5, 2014, Ritter was cast to star in the Marvel Television series Jessica Jones in the title role, as a former superhero turned private investigator. About her casting, executive producer and show-runner Melissa Rosenberg stated that Ritter "brings both the hard edge and the vulnerability the role demands".[29] Ritter revealed she read the comic book to prepare for the role and expressed her delight on working with women.[30] All 13 episodes of the first season premiered on Netflix on November 20, 2015.[31] Ritter later reprised the role on The Defenders alongside Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil, Mike Colter as Luke Cage and Finn Jones as Danny Rand / Iron Fist, and returned for the second season of Jessica Jones in 2018.[32] She directed an episode in the third season of Jessica Jones, marking her directorial debut.[33]

Other ventures

Ritter and her childhood friend William Thomas Burnett formed the indie rock duo Ex Vivian, for which Ritter sings and plays guitar.[34] Their self-titled debut album was released in 2012 on Burnett's WT Records.[35] Ritter's debut novel, a psychological thriller titled Bonfire, was released on November 7, 2017, by Crown Archetype.[36]

Personal life

Ritter moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 2007.[37] She promotes animal rights, posing for PETA ad campaigns, including a campaign warning pet owners of the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles during the summer, and another against SeaWorld keeping orcas in captivity.[38][39][40] She is an avid knitter,[41] and has appeared on the cover of Vogue Knitting.[42]

Ritter is currently in a relationship with musician Adam Granduciel.[43][44] Their son was born on July 29, 2019.[45]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Someone Like You Model Uncredited
2002 Freshening Up Girl on couch Short film
2002 Garmento Poncho model
2003 The Look Mara
2003 Mona Lisa Smile Art History student
2005 Slingshot Beth
2007 Heavy Petting Innocent bystander
2008 The Last International Playboy Ozzy
2008 27 Dresses Gina the goth
2008 What Happens in Vegas Kelly
2009 Glock Beretta Short film
2009 Confessions of a Shopaholic Suze Cleath-Stuart
2010 She's Out of My League Patty
2010 How to Make Love to a Woman Lauren
2011 Killing Bono Gloria
2011 Life Happens Kim Also writer and co-producer
2011 Margaret Shopgirl
2012 BuzzKill Nicole
2012 Vamps Stacy Daimer
2012 Refuge Amy
2014 Listen Up Philip Melanie
2014 Veronica Mars Gia Goodman
2014 Asthma Ruby
2014 Search Party Christy
2014 Big Eyes DeAnn
2017 The Hero Lucy Hayden
2019 El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Jane Margolis
2021 Nightbooks Natacha
2024 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Whoopi Brynn Episode: "The Squatters"
2004 One Life to Live Kay 4 episodes
2004 Law & Order Tracy Warren Episode: "Everybody Loves Raimondo's"
2004 Tanner on Tanner Saleswoman 2 episodes
2005 Jonny Zero Quinn Episode: "Pilot"
2005–2006 Veronica Mars Gia Goodman 8 episodes
2006 The Bedford Diaries Erin Kavenaugh 2 episodes
2006–2007 Gilmore Girls Lucy 8 episodes
2006–2007 'Til Death Allison Stark 5 episodes
2006 Justice Eva Episode: "Christmas Party"
2007 Big Day Ellen Episode: "The Ceremony"
2009–2010 Breaking Bad Jane Margolis 9 episodes
2009 Gossip Girl Young Carol Rhodes Episode: "Valley Girls"
2010 Gravity Lily Champagne Main role
2011 Love Bites Cassie Episode: "Firsts"
2012–2013 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Chloe Main role
2013 Robot Chicken Dana Polk (voice) Episode: "Immortal"
2013 The Cleveland Show Gina (voice) Episode: "California Dreamin' (All the Cleves Are Brown)"
2013 The Eric Andre Show Herself Episode: "Krysten Ritter; Dominic Monaghan"
2014 The Blacklist Rowan/Nora Mills Episode: "Lord Baltimore"
2015–2019 Jessica Jones Jessica Jones Main role
2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Krysten Ritter Wears a Turtleneck and Black Boots"
2017 The Defenders Jessica Jones Main role
2022 The Simpsons Sheila Redfield (voice) Episode: "Meat Is Murder"
2023 Love & Death Sherry Cleckler Main role
2023 Orphan Black: Echoes Lucy Main role

As director

Year Title Notes
2019 Jessica Jones Episode: "A.K.A. You're Welcome"
2021 The Girl in the Woods 4 episodes

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Woke Up Dead Cassie 22 episodes

Audio

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 Modern Love Herself Episode: "R We D8ting?" [46]
2021 The Coldest Case Patti Harney Audible Original [47]
2023 Hunting Game Esme "Es" Compran Audible Original [48]

Music videos

Year Title Artist Role
1999 "Waffle" Sevendust Extra
2000 "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" Whitney Houston Extra
2017 "Holding On" The War on Drugs Concept

Discography

  • Ex-Vivian (2012)

Bibliography

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV: Villain Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Nominated [49]
2015 TVLine's Performer of the Week Jessica Jones
Episode: "AKA You're a Winner!" 		Won [50]
2016 6th Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Jessica Jones Nominated [51]
Dorian Awards TV Performance of the Year – Actress Nominated [52]
Webby Awards Special Achievement: Best Actress Won [53]
42nd Saturn Awards Best Actress on Television Nominated [54]
2018 44th Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress on Television Marvel's The Defenders Nominated [55]
2019 45th Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Presentation Jessica Jones Nominated [56]

References

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External links