Henny Russell

Last updated
Henny Russell
Born
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
Spouse
R. Ward Duffy
(m. 2004)

Henny Russell is an American actress, known for her performances on various Broadway productions. On television, she starred as Carol Denning in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black .

Contents

Life and career

Russell was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to Norwegian mother. [1] She grew up on the Northwest Side and in Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights. [2] She attended the Prospect High School and began perform in Goodman Theatre Young People's Drama Workshop alongside Jennifer Beals. [2] She graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. [2] She later received MFA from the University of San Diego. [3] Russell married actor R. Ward Duffy; they live in New York City. [4]

Theater

During her career, Russell performed on Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatres. She made her Broadway debut starring in the 2001 revival of Todd Haimes Theatre's Major Barbara . [5] She later performed in Impressionism , The Royal Family , Lombardi , The Other Place , The Winslow Boy , Machinal and The Audience . [6] [7] She starred in both off-Broadway and Broadway productions of play Oslo from 2016 to 2017. [8] As a part of the cast, Russell received Obie Award in 2017. [9] [10] In 2024 she played Barbara Fordham in The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of August: Osage County . [11] [12]

Film and television

Russell made her television debut in 1997 playing guest-starring roles on Silk Stalkings and Pensacola: Wings of Gold . She later made guest appearances in Law & Order , Gossip Girl , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , The Leftovers , Elementary and Chicago Med . She also appeared in films Corn (2004), Revolutionary Road (2008), You Don't Know Jack (2010), Kilimanjaro (2013), Freeheld (2015) and Bikini Moon (2017). In 2018, Russell starred as inmate Carol Denning in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black during the show' sixth season. [13] [2] [14] She later guest-starred in Blue Bloods , The Good Fight , FBI: Most Wanted and The Other Two . Russell also had recurring roles in the crime drama Hightown and the drama series Three Women . In 2023 she had a supporting role in the drama film The Magnificent Meyersons starring opposite her Orange Is the New Black co-star, Kate Mulgrew. [15]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2004 Corn Supermarket Customer
2007 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Landlord
2008 Revolutionary Road Aunt Claire
2008Possible Side EffectsMrs. CollinsTelevision Film
2010 You Don't Know Jack Oakhill Spokesperson
2013 Kilimanjaro Ellen
2015 Growing Up Smith Christian Woman
2015 Freeheld Dr. Sarah Tonner
2015 Bridge of Spies Receptionist
2017 Bikini Moon City Clerk
2023The Magnificent MeyersonsJackie
2025BirthriteCarolyn

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997 Silk Stalkings NewscasterEpisode: "Ladies Man"
1997 Pensacola: Wings of Gold Barbara NilesEpisode: "Past Sins"
2005 Hope & Faith TiffanyEpisode: "Faith Fairfield: 1980-2005"
2009 Gossip Girl HelenEpisode: "In the Realm of the Bases"
2005-2010 Law & Order Kate Orris, Melanie MarronEpisodes: "Locomotion" and "Brazil"
2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Faith GreylandEpisode: "Imprisoned Lives"
2014 Unforgettable CasperEpisode: Haircut
2014 The Leftovers Dr. ChamblissEpisode: "B.J. and the A.C"
2016 Elementary CaptainEpisode: "A Study in Charlotte"
2018 Chicago Med Nancy BuckleyEpisode: "Ties that Bind"
2018 Orange Is the New Black Carol Denning
2019 Blue Bloods Lt. Sue PrenticeEpisode: "Past Tense"
2019 Madam Secretary CandiceEpisode: "The New Normal"
2021 The Good Fight Mrs. JoyEpisode: "And the Detente Had an End"
2022 FBI: Most Wanted Rose DalyEpisode: "Gold Diggers"
2023 The Other Two LisaEpisodes: "Brooke Hosts a Night of Undeniable Good" and "Cary Pays Off His Student Loans"
2024 Three Women Rosemary3 episodes
2020-2024 Hightown Dr. Sheila Larkin5 episodes
2025 Doc CeceEpisode: "One Small Step"
2025 Elsbeth Winnie CrawfordEpisode: "Bunker Down"

References

  1. "Henny Russell: Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World". www.broadwayworld.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Swartz, Tracy (July 24, 2018). "Chicago native talks playing new boss on 'Orange Is the New Black'". Chicago Tribune .
  3. "Macy's Visiting Artist Endowment | School of Theatre & Dance | College of the Arts | University of South Florida".
  4. "5 Questions With R. Ward Duffy". cin.
  5. "Major Barbara – Broadway Play – 2001 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  6. "Henny Russell – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  7. Theater, Lincoln Center. "Henny Russell". Lincoln Center Theater.
  8. "On Broadway, She's Quietly Honoring Her Mother". www.tdf.org.
  9. "Henny Russell". www.iobdb.com.
  10. Ward, Jessica (May 22, 2017). "2017 Obie Winners and Performances". Obie Awards.
  11. "Review of August: Osage County at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis". hecmedia.org.
  12. "Fierce Performances Elevate Masterpiece 'August: Osage County'". March 27, 2024.
  13. Object, object (August 2, 2018). "Mackenzie Phillips and Henny Russell on Playing OITNB's Favorite New Baddies". Vulture.
  14. Niedospial, Laurel (August 14, 2018). "If You Recognized Carol in Orange Is the New Black, Pat Yourself on the Back". Popsugar.
  15. "The Magnificent Meyersons (2020) - Evan Oppenheimer | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" via www.allmovie.com.