Cristin Milioti

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Cristin Milioti
Cristin Milioti July 13, 2014 (cropped).jpg
Milioti in 2014
Born (1985-08-16) August 16, 1985 (age 40)
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present

Cristin Milioti (born August 16, 1985 [1] ) is an American actress. She is known for playing The Mother, Tracy McConnell, in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother from 2013 to 2014, and Sofia Falcone in the HBO crime drama series The Penguin (2024). The latter earned her a Critics' Choice Television Award and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. She appeared in theater productions such as That Face (2010) and the musical Once (2011–2013), for which she won a Grammy Award and was nominated for a Tony Award.

Contents

Milioti also featured in the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street , the 2020 film Palm Springs , the second season of the FX anthology crime series Fargo (2015), the HBO Max comedy series Made for Love (2021–2022), Peacock comedy mystery series The Resort (2022) and two related episodes of Netflix’s hit series Black Mirror (2017, 2025).

Early life

Milioti was born and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. [2] [3] She is of Italian descent, and calls her family "Olive Garden Italian". [4] In middle school, she found her love of acting at Long Lake Camp for the Arts in Long Lake, New York. [5] She graduated in 2003 from Cherry Hill High School East, where she began performing in school plays. [6] She took acting classes at New York University, but dropped out during her sophomore year, [7] [8] admitting that her dropping out was a result of her being "wildly unhappy there". [7]

Career

Milioti playing a ukulele in 2013 Cristin milioti 120913.jpg
Milioti playing a ukulele in 2013

Milioti's first acting roles were bit parts in national advertising campaign ads, notably one for the Ford Edge. [9] She appeared in television programs such as The Sopranos and films such as Greetings from the Shore . Milioti appeared in stage performances. In 2007, she appeared on Broadway as Alice Ashbrook in Helen Edmundson's award-winning adaptation of Jamila Gavin's novel Coram Boy . [10] In 2010, she starred in That Face , [11] and was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her work in Stunning. [12]

In 2012, she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Girl in Once , a musical in which she performed from 2011 to 2013. [13] Of her performance, Ben Brantley of the New York Times wrote: "It's not easy playing a winsome life force with a foreign accent. But Ms. Milioti has mastered the assignment brilliantly. She brings a new confidence to her portrayal, and an enhanced mixture of wit and wisdom, which suggests a maturity in youth, a fatalism hard won during an Eastern European childhood. And together she and Mr. Kazee exude a chemistry that is all the more achingly real for being so subdued." [14] Her Once performance, with fellow principal soloist Steve Kazee, earned the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. She also read aloud a short story for the 2011 This American Life episode "Adventure". [15] In 2012, she appeared on several songs of Glen Hansard's debut album Rhythm and Repose .

In 2013, Milioti was cast in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother as the titular Mother, appearing for the first time in the season eight finale titled "Something New", and was promoted to a series regular for the show's ninth and final season. [16] Milioti portrayed Jordan Belfort's first wife, Teresa Petrillo, in the 2013 Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street . [17] In February 2014, she was cast as Zelda, the female lead on NBC's comedy A to Z which premiered that October and aired for one season of 13 episodes. [18] In 2015, she co-starred on the second season of FX's Fargo as Betsy Solverson, the cancer-stricken wife of state trooper Lou Solverson and mother of future deputy Molly Solverson. In 2017, Milioti appeared in the fourth season of the sci-fi anthology show Black Mirror in the episode "USS Callister" as Nanette Cole, a newly employed game developer whose digital recreation becomes trapped in a virtual simulator game, [19] a role she reprised in the 2025 seventh season episode "USS Callister: Into Infinity".

In 2020, Milioti starred in the sci-fi/comedy Palm Springs , which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and on Hulu in July. [20] In 2021, she starred in the HBO Max dark comedy series Made for Love as the entrapped wife of a tech billionaire from whom she runs away. [21]

In 2024, Milioti starred as Sofia Falcone in the HBO spin-off miniseries of The Batman titled The Penguin , opposite Colin Farrell. [22] [23] Her performance earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film. [24]

Personal life

Milioti has an adopted mixed-breed West Highland White Terrier dog named Rupert. [25] [26] In February 2021, Milioti worked with PETA in a video featuring Rupert which advocated for adopting a dog over purchasing one from breeders. [27] [28]

Acting credits

Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 Greetings from the Shore Didi
2009 Year of the Carnivore Sammy Smalls
2012 Sleepwalk with Me Janet Pandamiglio
I Am BenThe Journalist
The Brass Teapot Brandi
2013 Bert and Arnie's Guide to Friendship Faye
The Wolf of Wall Street Teresa Petrillo
2014The OccupantsLucy
2015 It Had to Be You Sonia
2017 Breakable You Maud Weller
2020 Palm Springs Sarah Wilder
2025 In Your Dreams Mom (voice)In production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006 3 lbs Megan RaffertyEpisode: "Bad Boys"
2006–2007 The Sopranos Catherine Sacrimoni 3 episodes
2009 The Unusuals Sketch Artist2 episodes
2010 The Good Wife Onya EggertsonEpisode: "Taking Control"
2011 30 Rock Abby Flynn/Abby GrossmanEpisode: "TGS Hates Women"
Nurse Jackie MonicaEpisode: "...Deaf Blind Tumor Pee-Test"
2013–2014 How I Met Your Mother Tracy McConnell / The Mother Guest role (season 8), main role (season 9) Appeared in 25 episodes
2014–2015 A to Z Zelda VascoMain role
2015 Family Guy Andrea CricketVoice role
Episode: "Roasted Guy"
Fargo Betsy SolversonRecurring role (season 2), 9 episodes
2015–2016 The Mindy Project WhitneyRecurring role, 5 episodes
2016–2018 The Venture Bros. Sirena / various voicesRecurring voice role, 8 episodes
2017, 2025 Black Mirror Nanette ColeEpisodes: "USS Callister" and "USS Callister: Into Infinity"
2018 No Activity FrankieMain role (season 2)
2019 Modern Love Maggie Mitchell2 episodes
2020 Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet BeanEpisode: "A Dark Quiet Death"
Death to 2020 Kathy FlowersTelevision special
2021 Ziwe FriendEpisode: "55%"
The Simpsons BarbVoice role
Episode: "A Serious Flanders"
Death to 2021 Kathy FlowersTelevision special
2021–2022 Made for Love Hazel GreenMain role
2022 The Resort Emma ReedMain role
2023 Bob's Burgers AliceVoice role
Episode: "Radio No You Didn't"
Teenage Euthanasia JuggsawVoice role
Episode: "Viva La Flappanista"
2024 Hit-Monkey Iris McHenryVoice role
Season 2
The Penguin Sofia Falcone / The Hangman Limited series

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue(s)Ref.
2006 The Lieutenant of Inishmore Mairead [a] Lyceum Theatre, Broadway [29]
2007 Coram Boy Alice Ashbrook Imperial Theatre, Broadway [10]
The Devil's Disciple Essie Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway [30]
2009 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Mick Kelly New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway [31]
Stunning Lily Lincoln Center Theater, Off-Broadway [32]
2010 The Little Foxes Alexandra New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway [33]
That Face Mia Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway [34]
2011 Once Girl American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge
New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway
2012–2013 Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway [35]
2015–2016 Lazarus Elly New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway [36]
2017Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow MoscowMasha Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown [37]
After The BlastAnna Lincoln Center Theater, Off-Broadway [38]

Discography

YearTitleAlbumNotesRef.
2012"If You Want Me" Once: A New Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
"The Hill"
"Falling Slowly (Reprise)"Duet with Steve Kazee and the Once Ensemble
2014"La Vie En Rose"How I Met Your Mother (Original Television Soundtrack) [39]
2016"Changes" Lazarus (Original Cast Recording)
"Absolute Beginners"Duet with Michael C. Hall, Michael Esper, Sophia Anne Caruso and Krystina Alabado
"Always Crashing in the Same Car"
2018"Delete Delete"#DARKDAZEWith Boots and Run the Jewels [40]
2021"715 Creeks"Non-album single Bon Iver cover [41]

Awards and nominations

OrganizationsYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
Astra Film Awards [b] 2020 Breakthrough Performance - ActressPalm SpringsWon [42]
Astra TV Awards [c] 2021 Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy Made for Love Nominated [43]
2025 Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie The Penguin Won [44]
Best Cast Ensemble in a Limited Series or TV MovieWon
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity Won
Critics' Choice Awards 2016 Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Fargo Nominated [45]
2024 Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television The Penguin Won [46]
Critics' Choice Super Awards 2020 Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie Palm Springs Won [47]
2025 Best Actress in a Superhero Series, Limited Series or TV Movie The Penguin Won [48]
Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited SeriesBlack Mirror: USS Callister: Into InfinityNominated
Dorian TV Awards 2025Best TV Performance — DramaThe PenguinNominated [49]
Golden Globe Awards 2024 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film The Penguin Nominated [24]
Gotham TV Awards 2025 Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited SeriesThe PenguinNominated [50]
Grammy Awards 2013 Best Musical Theater Album Once Won [51]
Independent Spirit Awards 2024 Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series The PenguinNominated [52]
Lucille Lortel Awards 2011 Outstanding Lead Actress Stunning Nominated [53]
2012 Outstanding Lead Actress Once Nominated [54]
2018 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play After the BlastNominated [55]
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2018 Most Frightened Performance Black Mirror: USS Callister Nominated [56]
Online Film & Television Association 2025Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series The Penguin Pending [57]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2025 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Pending [58]
Satellite Awards 2024 Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [59]
Saturn Awards 2024 Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series Won [60]
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2024 Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated [61]
Tony Awards 2012 Best Actress in a Musical Once Nominated [62]

References

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  1. (understudy)
  2. Previously known as Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards.
  3. Previously known as Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards.