Molly Gordon

Molly Gordon (born December 6, 1994) is an American actress and filmmaker. She started her career in supporting roles in the studio comedy films Life of the Party, and Good Boys (2019) followed by roles in independent comedy films such as Booksmart (2019), Shiva Baby (2020) and Am I OK? (2022). Gordon co-directed, co-wrote and starred in the musical comedy film Theater Camp (2023), and co-wrote and starred in Oh, Hi! (2025). On television, she portrayed Claire Dunlap in the FX on Hulu series The Bear (2023–2026), and has had recurring roles in Animal Kingdom (2016–2018) and the dramedy series Ramy (2022–2023).

Early life Gordon was born and raised in Los Angeles, to Jewish parents. She is the daughter of director Bryan Gordon and writer–director Jessie Nelson. She performed on the LA stage from a young age, and grew up with actor Ben Platt, with whom she starred in productions of Fiddler on the Roof at age four and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at age five. She portrayed Dot in her high school's performance of Sunday in the Park with George when she was 17.

Career Gordon's first film appearance was in Nelson's 2001 drama film I Am Sam as Callie, followed by her portrayal of a trick-or-treater in Nora Ephron's 2005 film Bewitched. The pilot was picked up with a 10-episode order in December 2015, and the series debuted on June 14, 2016, with Gordon as a series regular, leaving in season 3 out of 6.

Gordon began rehearsals to portray Alice Spencer in the Off-Broadway production of Alice by Heart in December 2018. The musical was directed and co-written by her mother, Jessie Nelson, and Steven Sater, and opened at the MCC Theater on February 26, 2019. The show's run concluded in May 2019. Gordon portrayed Annabelle, or "Triple A," in the 2019 comedy film Booksmart, directed by Olivia Wilde. The film attracted Gordon due to its "kooky" characters that she found to "have such a grounded realism in them." inspired by the 2020 short film of the same name cowritten with Noah Galvin, Ben Platt, and Nick Lieberman. In the film, Gordon portrays Rebecca-Diane, the musical director at AdirondACTS, a children's summer camp. While editing the film, Gordon was offered the role of Claire Dunlap, an emergency-room physician and Carmy Berzatto's love interest, in the second season of The Bear, which premiered in June 2023. She starred in and co-wrote the story for Oh, Hi!, directed and written by Sophie Brooks, premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. In 2026, Gordon played Rebecca Hampstead, the daughter of Hugh Jackman's character in the comedy film The Sheep Detectives, adapted from the 2005 book Three Bags Full.

Acting credits Film

Television Year Title Role Notes2015 Sin City Saints Megan Episode: "Because Vegas" Orange Is the New Black Stacy Episode: "Don't Make Me Come Back There" 2016–2018 Animal Kingdom Nicky Belmont Main role, 30 episodes 2018 Our Cartoon President Sarah Huckabee Sanders (voice) Recurring role, 9 episodes 2019–2022 Ramy Sarah Recurring role, 3 episodes 2022–2023 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Linda Zafrani Main role, 17 episodes 2023–2026 The Bear Claire Dunlap Recurring role, 16 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Venue Notes2014 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Ensemble Avery Fisher Hall ConcertAlice by HeartAlice Spencer Wheeler Opera HouseWorkshop 2015 MCC Theater 2018 Vogelstein Center 2019 MCC Theater Off-Broadway

Podcasts Year Title Role 2022 The Big Lie Young Woman

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Project Result Ref. 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Music Themed Film or Musical Theater Camp Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards Breakout Filmmaker of the Year Locarno Film Festival Prix du public UBS (Audience Award) Seattle International Film Festival Best Film Best Futurewave Feature Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) Jury Award 2024 Astra Film Awards Best Song "Camp Isn't Home" Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series The Bear Independent Spirit Awards Best First Screenplay Theater Camp