Jayne Atkinson

Jayne Atkinson (born 18 February 1959) is a British-American actress. She is best known for the role of Karen Hayes on 24, as well as her Tony Award–nominated roles in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April. She has also appeared in Criminal Minds as BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss, Madam Secretary as United States Vice President Teresa Hurst, and House of Cards as U.S. Secretary of State Catherine Durant. In films, Atkinson notably played foster mother Annie Greenwood in the Free Willy franchise.

Early life Atkinson was born on 18 February 1959 in Bournemouth, England. Her family moved to the United States in 1968 when she was 9 years old. She grew up in North Miami Beach, Florida, and graduated from Pine Crest School, where she was elected Homecoming Queen in 1977. She attended Northwestern University (BS Communications, 1981), where she was initiated as a member of Alpha Chi Omega and a sorority sister of Laura Innes; and graduated with an MFA from the Yale Drama School in 1985. She is married to actor Michel Gill, with whom she has one son. Atkinson and Gill met when they appeared together in a 1989 production of The Heiress at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut. They both appeared in House of Cards, though not as a couple: Gill played President Garrett Walker and Atkinson played Secretary of State Catherine Durant.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1992 In the Best Interest of the Children Wanda Birney Television movie 1993 Free Willy Annie Greenwood 1994 Blank Check Sandra Waters 1995 Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home Annie Greenwood 2003 Our Town Mrs. Gibbs Television movieNominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 2004 The Village Tabitha Walker 2005 Syriana Division Chief 2006 12 and Holding Ashley Carges 2008 Recount Theresa LePore Television movie 2009 Handsome Harry Kelly's wife 2010 The GetawayMyrtle Sommers Short film 2012 Revenge for Jolly! Receptionist 2016 The Congressman Casey Winship 2022 Baby Ruby Doris

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986–1988 A Year in the Life Lindley Gardner Eisenberg 25 episodes 1989 Moonlighting Robin Fuller Episode: "Shirts and Skins" 1990–1991 Parenthood Karen Buckman 12 episodes 1995 The X-Files Willa Ambrose Episode: "Fearful Symmetry" 1997 The Practice Ruth Gibson Episode: "Part 1" 2001–2002 The Education of Max Bickford Lyla Ortiz 7 episodes 2002 Law & Order Dr. Claire Snyder Episode: "Dazzled" 2004 Joan of Arcadia Fran Montgomery Episode: "Friday Night" 2006–2007 24 Karen Hayes 30 episodesNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2007–2014, 2020 Criminal Minds Erin Strauss 24 episodes 2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Marion Springer Episode: "Savant" 2008 Law & Order Senator Melanie Carver Episode: "Political Animal" 2010 Gossip Girl Dean Reuther 4 episodes 2011 White Collar Helen Anderson Episode: "Deadline" 2012 Blue Bloods Sharon Harris Episode: "Reagan V. Reagan" 2012 Perception Helen Paulson 2 episodes 2013 The Following Jacob's mother 2 episodes 2013–2018 House of Cards Secretary of State Catherine Durant 35 episodesNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2015 Zoo Amelia Sage 2 episodes 2016 The Good Wife Nora Valentine Episode: "Landing" 2016 Chicago Med Laura Clay Episode: "Disorder" Ann Richards Arena Stage, Washington D.C.