Sissy Spacek

Sissy Spacek

ActingBorn Dec 25, 1949

Quitman, Texas, USA

Mary Elizabeth 'Sissy' Spacek (born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for four British Academy Film Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. Spacek was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. Born and raised in Texas, she initially aspired to a career as a recording artist. In 1968, at age 18, she recorded a single, "John, You Went Too Far This Time," under the name Rainbo. She began her professional acting career in the early 1970s, making her debut as an extra in Andy Warhol's Women in Revolt (1971). Her breakout role came with Terrence Malick's influential crime film Badlands (1973), which earned her a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Carrie White in Brian De Palma's horror film Carrie (1976), for which she received her first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. After appearing in the acclaimed films Welcome to L.A. (1976) and Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977), she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in the biographical musical film Coal Miner's Daughter (1980). Her other Oscar-nominated roles include Missing (1982), The River (1984), Crimes of the Heart (1986), and In the Bedroom (2001). Her other prominent films include Raggedy Man (1981), JFK (1991), Affliction (1997), The Straight Story (1999), Tuck Everlasting (2002), Nine Lives (2005), North Country (2005), Four Christmases (2008), Get Low (2010), The Help (2011), and The Old Man & the Gun (2018). She received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the television films The Good Old Boys (1995) and Last Call (2002), and for her guest role on the HBO drama series Big Love (2011). She portrayed matriarch Sally Rayburn on the Netflix drama thriller series Bloodline (2015–2017), Ruth Deaver on the Hulu psychological horror series Castle Rock (2018), and Ellen Bergman on the Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller series Homecoming (2018). She has also ventured into music, and recorded vocals for the soundtrack album of Coal Miner's Daughter, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and garnered her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. She released a studio album, Hangin' Up My Heart (1983), which was critically well-received and peaked at number 17 on Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Known For

Filmography

2026Love Letter to Texasas Narratormovie2025Die My Loveas Pammovie2025Dying for Sexas Gailtv2025Henry Fonda for Presidentas Self (archive footage)movie2022Sam & Kateas Tinamovie2022Night Skyas Irene Yorktv2021Without Getting Killed or Caughtas Narrator / Voice of Susanna Clark (voice)movie2018Homecomingas Ellen Bergmantv2018The Old Man & the Gunas Jewelmovie2018Castle Rockas Ruth Deavertv2018GQ Presents: Iconic Charactersas Selftv2016HyperNormalisationas Self (archive footage)movie2016River of Goldas Narratormovie2016Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girlas Self / Loretta Lynnmovie2015Bloodlineas Sally Rayburntv2014Off Camera with Sam Jonesas Selftv2013Making Badlandsas Selfmovie2012Deadfallas Junemovie2011The Helpas Missus Waltersmovie2010Get Lowas Mattie Darrowmovie2009Appalachia: A History of Mountains and Peopletv2008Four Christmasesas Paulamovie2008Lake Cityas Maggiemovie2007Pictures of Hollis Woodsas Josie Cahillmovie2007Hot Rodas Marie Powellmovie2007Gray Mattersas Dr. Sydneymovie2006Big Loveas Marilyn Denshamtv2005Nine Livesas Ruthmovie2005An American Hauntingas Lucy Bellmovie2005The Ring Twoas Evelynmovie2005North Countryas Alice Aimesmovie2004A Home at the End of the Worldas Alice Glovermovie2003Absence of Malickas Selfmovie2003A Decade Under the Influenceas Selfmovie2002Tuck Everlastingas Mae Tuckmovie2002Rosy-Fingered Dawn: A Film on Terrence Malickas Selfmovie2002Last Callas Zelda Fitzgeraldmovie2001In the Bedroomas Ruth Fowlermovie2001Acting 'Carrie'as Selfmovie2001Visualizing 'Carrie'as Self (archive footage)movie2001Midwivesas Sibyl Danforthmovie2000Songs In Ordinary Timeas Marie Fermoylemovie1999The Straight Storyas Rosemovie1999The Rage: Carrie 2as Carrie White (archive footage) (uncredited)movie1999Blast from the Pastas Helenmovie1998Afflictionas Margie Foggmovie1997Eye of Godas Thanksmovie1997The Viewas Selftv1996The Grass Harpas Verena Talbomovie1996If These Walls Could Talkas Barbara Barrowsmovie1996Beyond the Callas Pam O'Brienmovie1996The Rosie O'Donnell Showas Self - Guesttv1995Streets of Laredoas Lorenatv1995Thomas Jefferson: A View from the Mountainas Martha Jefferson Randolph (voice)tv1995The Good Old Boysas Spring Renfromovie1994Inside the Actors Studioas Selftv1994A Place for Annieas Susan Lansingmovie1994Trading Momas Mommy / Mama / Mom / Natashamovie1993Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracyas Selfmovie1992A Private Matteras Sherri Finkbinemovie1992Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Storiesas Narrator (voice)tv1992Hard Promisesas Christine Ann Coaltermovie1992Fonda on Fondaas Self - The 53rd Annual Academy Awards (archive footage)movie1991JFKas Liz Garrisonmovie1991The Talking Eggsas Narrator (voice)movie1991Voices That Careas Self - Choir Membermovie1990The Long Walk Homeas Miriam Thompsonmovie1987Seitenblickeas selftv1986Crimes of the Heartas Babe Magrathmovie1986'night, Motheras Jessie Catesmovie1986Violets Are Blueas Augusta "Gussie" Sawyermovie1985Marie: A True Storyas Marie Ragghiantimovie1984The Riveras Mae Garveymovie1983The Man with Two Brainsas Anne Uumellmahaye (uncredited) (voice)movie1982Missingas Beth Hormanmovie1981Raggedy Manas Nitamovie1980Heart Beatas Carolyn Cassadymovie1980Coal Miner's Daughteras Loretta Lynnmovie1978Verna: USO Girlas Verna Vanemovie1977Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversaryas Selfmovie