Alison Wright

Alison Wright (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series The Americans (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. She has also acted in the Ryan Murphy limited series Feud: Bette and Joan and Hollywood (2020).

Wright's other notable roles were as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series Sneaky Pete (2015–2019) and as Ruth Wardell in the TNT dystopian thriller series Snowpiercer (2020–2024). She has also appeared in various films, including The Nanny Diaries (2007), The Accountant (2016), Ask for Jane (2018), and Predator: Badlands (2025), voicing MU / TH / UR, the A.I. leader of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

Early life Wright was born on 12 July 1976, in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, where she was raised by her adoptive parents. She began dancing and acting at a young age. She studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and The Barrow Group in New York City. She worked as a waitress while auditioning for roles.

Career Wright made her acting debut in the comedy-drama film The Nanny Diaries, released in 2007. This was followed by appearances in various short films.

In 2013, Wright made her television debut in the FX period spy drama series The Americans. Her performance as Martha Hanson, a lonely FBI secretary who is manipulated into spying for the Russians, earned high critical praise. She was promoted to a series regular for the second season, which premiered in January 2014. In 2017, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her guest appearance in The Americans fifth season. The series ended after six seasons in 2018.

From 2015 to 2019, Wright starred as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series Sneaky Pete, receiving positive reviews.

In 2016, she starred as Justine in the action thriller film The Accountant and as Virginia Thomas in the HBO political thriller film Confirmation.

In 2017, she starred as Pauline Jameson, the assistant to Robert Aldrich, in the FX docudrama series Feud: Bette and Joan, which chronicles the rivalry between Hollywood actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during and after the production of the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. She also made her Broadway debut as Jessie in the play Sweat at Studio 54.

In 2020, Wright began a starring role in the TNT post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller series Snowpiercer (2020–2022), based on the 2013 film of the same name by Bong Joon-ho. She played Ruth Wardell, a hospitality worker aboard the train who helps look after First Class passengers. Also that year, she made a guest appearance as Ms. Roswell, the gatekeeper to Ace Studios, in the Netflix period drama miniseries Hollywood.

Acting credits Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2013–2017 The Americans Martha Hanson 37 episodes 2013 Blue Bloods Brijita Holden Episode: "Lost and Found" 2015–2019 Sneaky Pete Marjorie 14 episodes 2016 Confirmation Virginia Thomas Television film 2017 Feud: Bette and Joan Pauline Jameson 7 episodes 2019 Castle Rock Valerie 6 episodes 2020–2024 Snowpiercer Ruth Wardell 40 episodes 2020 Hollywood Ms. Roswell Episode: "Hooray for Hollywood" 2022 Physical Luanne Episode: "Don't You Want to Get Better" 2024 Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Pamela Harriman Episode: "Masquerade 1966" The Madness Julia Jayne 4 episodes

Theater Year Title Role Venue 2008 Rafta, Rafta... Molly BhattAcorn Theatre 2017 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series 2019 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Othello 2021Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in an Action SeriesSnowpiercer 2022 Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series