# Alison Wright

Alison Wright (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series The Americans (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. She has also acted in the Ryan Murphy limited series Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) and Hollywood (2020).
Wright's other notable roles were as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series Sneaky Pete (2015–2019) and as Ruth Wardell in the TNT dystopian thriller series Snowpiercer (2020–2024). She has also appeared in various films, including The Nanny Diaries (2007), The Accountant (2016), and Ask for Jane (2018).

## Early life

Wright was born on 12 July 1976, in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, where she was raised by her adoptive parents. She began dancing and acting at a young age. She studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and The Barrow Group in New York City. She worked as a waitress while auditioning for roles.

## Career

Wright made her acting debut in the comedy-drama film The Nanny Diaries, released in 2007. This was followed by appearances in various short films. She made her stage debut as Molly Bhatt in the comedy play Rafta, Rafta... (2008), followed by a role in the play Marie and Bruce (2011), both at the Acorn Theatre.
In 2013, Wright made her television debut in the FX period spy drama series The Americans. Her performance as Martha Hanson, a lonely FBI secretary who is manipulated into spying for the Russians, earned high critical praise. She was promoted to a series regular for the second season, which premiered in January 2014. In 2017, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her guest appearance in The Americans fifth season. The series ended after six seasons in 2018.
From 2015 to 2019, Wright starred as Marjorie in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series Sneaky Pete, receiving positive reviews.
In 2016, she starred as Justine in the action thriller film The Accountant and as Virginia Thomas in the HBO political thriller film Confirmation.
In 2017, she starred as Pauline Jameson, the assistant to Robert Aldrich, in the FX docudrama series Feud: Bette and Joan, which chronicles the rivalry between Hollywood actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during and after the production of the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. She also made her Broadway debut as Jessie in the play Sweat at Studio 54.
In 2018, she had a starring role as Ada in the historical drama film Ask for Jane and as Emilia in a stage production of the Shakespearean tragedy play Othello at Delacorte Theater. In 2019, she had a recurring role in the second season of psychological horror anthology series Castle Rock. She starred as Valerie, a "kind-hearted local who explores the town’s evil history".
In 2020, Wright began a starring role in the TNT post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller series Snowpiercer (2020–2022), based on the 2013 film of the same name by Bong Joon-ho. She played Ruth Wardell, a hospitality worker aboard the train who helps look after First Class passengers. Also that year, she made a guest appearance as Ms. Roswell, the gatekeeper to Ace Studios, in the Netflix period drama miniseries Hollywood.

## Acting roles
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | The Nanny Diaries | Bridget | |
| 2009 | Nights | Bartender | Short film |
| 2011 | Braaains! | Monique Gold | Short film |
| 2015 | Good Ol' Boy | Mrs. Reynolds | |
| 2016 | The Accountant | Justine | |
| 2017 | Active Adults | Therapist | |
| 2018 | Ask for Jane | Ada | |
| 2019 | Georgica | Sophie | Short film |
| 2021 | Biscuit | — | Short film; post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2013–2017 | The Americans | Martha Hanson | 37 episodes |
| 2013 | Blue Bloods | Brijita Holden | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 2015–2019 | Sneaky Pete | Marjorie | 14 episodes |
| 2016 | Confirmation | Virginia Thomas | Television film |
| 2017 | Feud: Bette and Joan | Pauline Jameson | 7 episodes |
| 2019 | Castle Rock | Valerie | 6 episodes |
| 2020–2024 | Snowpiercer | Ruth Wardell | 40 episodes |
| 2020 | Hollywood | Ms. Roswell | Episode: "Hooray for Hollywood" |
| 2022 | Physical | Luanne | Episode: "Don't You Want to Get Better" |
| 2024 | Feud: Capote vs. The Swans | Pamela Harriman | Episode: "Masquerade 1966" |
| 2024 | The Madness | Julia Jayne | 4 episodes |

### Theater

| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
| 2008 | Rafta, Rafta... | Molly Bhatt | Acorn Theatre |
| 2011 | Marie and Bruce | Performer | Acorn Theatre |
| 2017 | Sweat | Jessie | Studio 54 |
| 2018 | Othello | Emilia | Delacorte Theater |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2016 | OFTA Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | The Americans | Nominated |
| 2017 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film | The Americans | Nominated |
| 2017 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Americans | Nominated |
| 2017 | OFTA Television Awards | Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series | The Americans | Nominated |
| 2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Othello | Nominated |
| 2021 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in an Action Series | Snowpiercer | Nominated |
| 2022 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series | Snowpiercer | Nominated |