Catherine Keener (born March 26, 1960) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress.

Early life

Keener was born in Miami, Florida, where she attended Catholic schools. She went to Wheaton College and studied English and history.

Career

Keener broke into films with one line in About Last Night (1986). She guest-starred as an artist on an episode of Seinfeld called "The Letter". She played Jerry's girlfriend, an artist who painted the infamous portrait of Kramer.

Keener was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000 for her role in Being John Malkovich but the award was given to Angelina Jolie. She also starred in the 2005 political thriller The Interpreter, and was the woman to whom Andy (Steve Carell) lost his virginity in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

Keener gave a memorable performance as Harper Lee in Capote (2005), and in January 2006 was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role.

Private life

She has been married to actor Dermot Mulroney for 15 years, although the couple separated in September 2005. They have a son named Clyde.

Partial filmography

• About Last Night... (1986)
• Johnny Suede (1991)
• Living in Oblivion (1995)
• Out of Sight (1998)
• Your Friends & Neighbors (1998)
• 8mm (1999) - Amy Welles
• Being John Malkovich (1999) - Maxine Lund
• Lovely & Amazing (2001)
• Adaptation. (2002)
• Death to Smoochy (2002) - Nora Wells
• S1m0ne (2002) - Elaine Christian
• The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
• The Interpreter (2005)
• The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) - Trish Piedmont
• Capote (2005) - Nelle Harper Lee