Angela Bettis
Angela Marie Bettis (born January 9, 1973) is an American actress, film producer, and director. Following her breakthrough role as Janet Webber in the drama film "Girl, Interrupted" (1999), she earned acclaim for her portrayals of Carrietta White in the television film "Carrie" (2002) and the titular character in the psychological horror film "May" (2002). For "May", she won the Brussels International Festival Award for Best Actress, the Catalan International Film Festival Award for Best Actress and the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress. She went on to play Belle Cleek in the horror film "The Woman" (2011 ), and Mandy in the black comedy film "12 Hour Shift" (2020). For "12 Hour Shift", she earned a nomination for the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Horror Movie. In addition to her work in film, Bettis also starred in two Broadway productions: "The Father" in 1996 with Frank Langella, and as Abigail Williams in a 2002 revival of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" alongside Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. Life and career. Bettis was born in Austin, Texas. Daughter of Richard Joseph Bettis and wife Mary Lynn Guthrie, she has a twin brother, Joseph Edward "Joe" Bettis . She is 5'3". She graduated from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, ran Cross Country in Texas at the State level, and graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, New York. Her debut role was a lead in the romantic tragedy, "Sparrow", directed by Franco Zeffirelli, at the age of 18. She later went on to star in a film called "The Last Best Sunday", before supporting Winona Ryder in "Girl, Interrupted" and Kim Basinger in "Bless the Child". In 2002, she starred as Abigail Williams in a production of "The Crucible" on Broadway alongside  Laura Linney and Liam Neeson. Bettis is most famous for her work in independent horror films, and especially her working relationship with writer/director Lucky McKee. Her title role in McKee's 2002 film "May" won her something of a cult following. Since then, she has appeared in McKee's "Masters of Horror" episode "Sick Girl" and provided a voice-over for his film "The Woods". In 2006, their "May" roles reversed, when McKee acted for Bettis in her directorial debut, "Roman", based on a McKee script. In 2011, she played a major role in McKee's adaptation of Jack  Ketchum's "The Woman". Bettis starred as Carrietta White in "Carrie", a made-for-TV remake of Brian De Palma's 1976 classic, in which her performance was singled out for praise. Linda Stasi of the "New York Post" was positively surprised by her performance and stated that Bettis should win an Emmy for her acting. Ron Wertheimer, who wrote for "The New York Times", said that Bettis expressed the character's emotions well, and lamented that the film "affords Ms. Bettis few opportunities for such genuine acting". She headlined Tobe Hooper's "Toolbox Murders", an in-name-only remake  of an obscure 1970s horror film. She also starred in the crime thriller "Scar". She had a guest role on the TV show "Dexter's" fifth season as Emily Birch, the first victim of Jordan Chase. Bettis is a member of her former husband Kevin Ford's Mo-Freek Productions since 2001.