Taylor Schilling

Taylor Schilling (born July 27, 1984) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Piper Chapman on the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Drama. She made her film debut in the 2007 drama Dark Matter. She also starred as Nurse Veronica Flanagan Callahan in the short-lived NBC medical drama Mercy (2009–2010). Her other films include Atlas Shrugged: Part I, the romantic drama The Lucky One (2012), the comedy Take Me (2017), and the science-fiction thriller The Titan (2018).

Early life and education Schilling was born July 27, 1984, the daughter of Patricia , an MIT administrator, and Robert Schilling, a former prosecutor. She grew up in West Roxbury and Wayland, dividing her time between her divorced parents. A fan of the NBC medical drama ER in her youth, she began acting at a young age. She became active in her middle school's theatre program when she appeared in their production of Fiddler on the Roof.

After graduating from Wayland High School in 2002, Schilling attended Fordham University's campus at Lincoln Center, where she continued to take part in stage productions while earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2006. She entered the graduate acting program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts to continue her acting studies, but left after her second year. While attempting to break into acting, she supported herself by working as a nanny for a Manhattan-based family.

Career 2007–2012: Beginnings Schilling won the Emerson College Playwright's Festival Outstanding Performance Award.

The following year, Schilling portrayed the leading role of Dagny Taggart in the political science fiction drama film, Atlas Shrugged: Part I, an adaptation of part of the philosopher Ayn Rand's 1957 novel of the same name, the film is the first in a trilogy encompassing the entire book. The film received negative reviews from critics.

In 2012, Schilling starred alongside Zac Efron in the romantic drama film The Lucky One, based on Nicholas Sparks' 2008 novel of the same name. The movie received negative reviews but grossed over $99.4 million worldwide. At the 2012 Teen Choice Awards, Schilling received nomination for Choice Movie Actress: Romance. In 2013 she had a supporting role in Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, but most of her scenes were cut.

2013–2019: Orange Is the New Black In 2013, Schilling began starring as Piper Chapman in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black based on Piper Kerman, author of the non-fiction book Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison. For her work on the show, Schilling was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014. She won three Satellite Awards for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy: in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and three Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The series ended in 2019. During her time in Orange Is the New Black, Schilling starred in a number of movies. She played the lead in the 2013 Canadian romantic drama film, Stay directed by Wiebke von Carolsfeld. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics. In 2015 she starred alongside Adam Scott in the sex comedy The Overnight. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews. Also in 2015, Schilling made her off-Broadway debut starring in play A Month in the Country. She made a guest starring appearance in an episode of Drunk History in 2016.

In 2017, Schilling starred in the comedy film Take Me directed by Pat Healy, and appeared in the comedy-drama Phil by Greg Kinnear. She starred alongside Emilio Estevez in the drama film, The Public, which premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. She starred alongside Sam Worthington in the science fiction thriller film The Titan, and played the leading role in the comedy film Family, both released in 2018. In 2019, Schilling starred in the horror film The Prodigy.

2020–present In 2020, Schilling starred in an episode of the horror-anthology series, Monsterland. The following year she starred alongside Audra McDonald in the satirical science fiction horror series, The Bite created by Robert King and Michelle King. She was featured as Erica Boyer in the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy which premiered February 2, 2022. In 2023 she played the leading role in the Apple TV+ drama series, Dear Edward. She also starred in the horror-thriller film, Queen of Bones directed by Robert Budreau.

In 2024, Schilling made her stage return playing the leading role in Second Stage Theater production of The Apiary.

Personal life Schilling has refused to define her sexuality. "I've had very serious relationships with lots of people, and I'm a very expansive human," she said in a 2017 interview with The Standard. "There's no part of me that can be put under a label. I really don't fit into a box — that's too reductive... But I've had wonderful relationships. I've had a lot of love, and I don't have any qualms about where it comes from."

In 2020, Schilling revealed in an Instagram post that she was dating Emily Ritz, a musical and visual artist. In 2023, Schilling confirmed in a podcast, Expanders with Jess Rona, that she and Ritz had broken up two years previously.

Schilling practices Transcendental Meditation.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Dark Matter Jackie 2011 Atlas Shrugged: Part I Dagny Taggart 2012 The Lucky One Elizabeth "Beth" Green Argo Christine Mendez 2013 Stay Abbey 2015 The Overnight Emily 2017 Take Me Anna St. Blair Phil Samantha Ford 2018 The Public Angela The Titan Dr. Abigail Janssen Family Kate Stone 2019 The Prodigy Sarah Blume 2023Queen of Bones Ida May

Television Year Title Role Notes 2009–2010 Mercy Veronica Agnes Flanagan Callahan Lead role; 22 episodes 2013–2019 Orange Is the New Black Piper Chapman Lead role; 90 episodes 2016 Drunk History Emily Warren Roebling Episode: "Landmarks" 2020 Monsterland Kate Feldman Episode: "Plainfield, Illinois" 2021 The Bite Lily Leithauser Main role; 6 episodes 2022 Pam & Tommy Erica Gauthier Miniseries; 4 episodes 2022–2023 Pantheon Renee Voice role; 16 episodes 2023 Dear Edward Lacey Curtis Lead role; 10 episodes American Horror Story: Delicate Herself Episode: "Preech" (Uncredited) 2024 Accused April Harris Episode: "April's Story" 2025Poker FaceAgent Annie Milligan Episodes: "The Day of the Iguana" & "The End of the Road" TBA What the Dead Know Ava Ledger In development

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2015 A Month in the Country Natalya Petrovna Off-Broadway; January 29, 2015-February 28, 2015 2024 The Apiary Gwen Off-Broadway; January 31, 2024-February 25, 2024

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result 2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Liplock (with Zac Efron) The Lucky One Choice Movie Actress: Romance Hollywood Film Festival Best Cast Argo 2013 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Orange Is the New Black Best Cast – Television Series Webby Awards Best Actress 2014 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Drama Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 2015 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2016 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Premium Series Actress Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2018