Angela Bettis

Angela Marie Bettis (born January 9, 1973) is an American actress, film producer, and director.

Following her breakthrough role as Janet Webber in the drama film Girl, Interrupted (1999), she earned acclaim for her portrayals of Carrie White in the television film Carrie (2002) and the titular character in the psychological horror film May (2002). For May, she won the Brussels International Festival Award for Best Actress, the Catalan International Film Festival Award for Best Actress and the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress. She went on to play Belle Cleek in the horror film The Woman (2011) and Mandy in the black comedy film 12 Hour Shift (2020). For 12 Hour Shift, she earned a nomination for the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Horror Movie.

In addition to her work in film, Bettis also starred in two Broadway productions: The Father in 1996 with Frank Langella and as Abigail Williams in a 2002 revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible alongside Liam Neeson and Laura Linney.

Early life Bettis was born in Austin, Texas where she attended Westlake High School. Daughter of Richard Joseph Bettis and wife Mary Lynn Guthrie, she has a twin brother, Joseph Edward "Joe" Bettis.

She married in April 2001 and divorced director, cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Kevin Gerard Ford, with whom she founded film producer Productions in 2001.

Career

Her debut role was a lead in the romantic tragedy, Sparrow, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, at the age of 18. She later went on to star in a film called The Last Best Sunday, before landing supporting roles opposite Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted and Kim Basinger in Bless the Child.

In 2002, she starred as Abigail Williams in a production of The Crucible on Broadway alongside Laura Linney and Liam Neeson. Bettis is most famous for her work in independent horror films, and especially her professional relationship with writer and director Lucky McKee. Her title role in McKee's 2002 film May earned her a cult following. Since then, she has appeared in McKee's Masters of Horror episode "Sick Girl" and provided a voice-over for his film The Woods. In 2006, their May roles reversed, when McKee acted for Bettis in her directorial debut, Roman, based on a McKee script. In 2011, she played a major role in McKee's adaptation of Jack Ketchum's The Woman.

Bettis starred as Carrietta White in Carrie, a made-for-television adaptation of the 1974 novel of the same name written by Stephen King, in which her performance was singled out for praise. Linda Stasi of the New York Post was positively surprised by her performance and stated that Bettis should win an Emmy. Ron Wertheimer, who wrote for The New York Times, said that Bettis expressed the character's emotions well, and lamented that the film "affords Ms. Bettis few opportunities for such genuine acting".

She starred in Tobe Hooper's Toolbox Murders, an in-name-only remake of an obscure 1970s horror film. She also starred in the crime thriller Scar. She had a guest role on the TV show Dexter's fifth season as Emily Birch, the first victim of Jordan Chase.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Sparrow Maria Original title: Storia di una capinera 1999 The Last Best Sunday Lolly Ann Summers 1999 Girl, Interrupted Janet Webber 2000 Bless the Child Jenna O'Connor 2001 Perfume Wilemina 2001 Vallen Caitlin 2002 People Are Dead Angela the Broadway actress Also producer 2002 May May Dove Canady 2002 Coastlines Effie Bender 2003 Hollywould Holly Short film, also producer 2004 Toolbox Murders Nell Barrows 2004 Love Rome Mary 2005 The Circle Jay 2005 Last Days of America America the Woman Short film, also producer 2006 The Woods Voice in the Woods Voice 2006 Roman Elixer Bluff Acting Troup Voice, also director 2007 When Is Tomorrow Rachel Also producer 2007 Scar Joan Burrows 2008 Wicked Lake The Mother 2008 Blue Like You Red Short film 2010 Drones Amy 2010 All My Friends Are Funeral Singers Zel 2010 My Alien Mother Mother Also producer 2011 The Woman Belle Cleek 2011 Legs Jen Also producer 2012 Sinister Fran Scenes deleted 2017 Our Little Secret Toni 2020 12 Hour Shift Mandy 2021 Ghosts of the Ozarks Lucille 2021 The Weird Kidz Duana

Television

As producer + Producer Year Title Notes 2001 Lovindapocalypse Video documentary 2002 People Are Dead Also actress 2002 Lovindapocalypse 2 Video documentary 2003 Hollywould Short film, also actress 2003 Lovindapocalypse 3 Video documentary 2005 Last Days of America Short film, also actress 2007 When Is Tomorrow Also actress 2011 Legs Also actress

As director Year Title Notes 2006 Roman Also actress 2012 The ABCs of Death Segment: "E Is for Exterminate"

Awards and nominations