Ann Dowd is an American actress known for her famous role as Aunt Lydia in the series The Handmaid’s Tale. She created a unique place in the hearts and minds of all people by consistently delivering entertainment through her acting and deep choice of character.
Ann Dowd was nominated for many awards. And she did win various awards for her acting in theaters, TV shows, and movies. In an interview, she shared that she opts for a particular character and works with it on a deep level.
About Ann Dowd
| Category | Information |
| Date of birth | June 30, 1956 |
| Place of birth | Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ann Dowd Age | 67 years |
| Ann Dowd Husband | Lawrence Arancio |
| Ann Dowd Height | 5 feet 2 inches |
| Ann Dowd’s Net Worth | $4 Million |
Early life
Ann Dowd was born on January 30, 1956, in an Irish Catholic family. She grew up living in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Her family is happy and large; she has six siblings. Her father, John Dowd Sr. was an insurance agent, and her mother, Dolores Dowd Dean, was a homemaker. Her parents were very strict, but they were very supportive. Ann Dowd lived a happy and wonderful childhood where she used to go out for vacation and play with her siblings and friends.
When she was in elementary school, she started acting in school plays. Even in high school, she loved to act in school plays, and this is where she started liking acting. At first, her parents denied her the opportunity to pursue a career in acting. Later, she attended Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she was a pre-medical student. Along with her studies, she took acting classes. In the year 1978, she graduated from college.
After that, Ann Dowd moved to New York, where she auditioned at DePaul University’s Theatre School and received an MFA in acting. Later, she acted in various theaters in Chicago. In the year 1988, she moved to New York.
Career
She made her Broadway debut in 1983 in the play A Different Moon. In 1993, she appeared in the play Candida and received the Clarence Derwent Award for her debut performance.
To begin her professional career in acting, Ann Dowd made her debut in the movie First Steps in 1985. Thereafter, she appeared in various movies and TV shows, indicating that her career in acting had just begun. In 1990, she made her first film debut with a small role in the movie Green Card. Later that decade, Dowd appeared in movies like Lorenzo’s Oil (1992), Philadelphia (1993), Garden State (2004), and The Manchurian Candidate (2004). After the year 1995, she did many TV shows like Law & Order (1996–2021), The X-Files (1999), Family Law (2000), Taking Chance (2009), True Detective (2014), and many more.
She became a sensation among viewers when she appeared in the role of Sandra in the 2012 drama film Compliance. She was admired for her acting in movies and received the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. Later, dowd appeared in various movies like Side Effects (2013), St. Vincent (2014), Hereditary (2018), and Mass (2021).
One of her most notable roles is from the 2017 series The Handmaid’s Tale as Aunt Lydia, which has remained stuck in many minds till now. And, due to this, she won two Primetime Emmy Awards for supporting actresses and many hearts of viewers.
In an interview with The Time Experience, she said, “I’m always looking for ways to connect with my characters. I’m also not afraid to take on challenging roles.” She made a different place in the hearts of viewers. Despite being a successful actress in Hollywood, she is a very humble and grounded person.
Ann Dowd Movies and TV Shows
She made herself a very versatile actress with her adaptability to deep and complex characters. Here is the list of all Ann Dowd movies and TV shows:
| Title | Year |
| Movies | |
| Green Card | 1990 |
| Lorenzo’s Oil | 1992 |
| Philadelphia | 1993 |
| Garden State | 2004 |
| The Manchurian Candidate | 2004 |
| Marley & Me | 2008 |
| Compliance | 2012 |
| Side Effects | 2013 |
| St. Vincent | 2014 |
| Captain Fantastic | 2016 |
| Hereditary | 2018 |
| Mass | 2021 |
| TV Shows | |
| First Steps | 1985 |
| Chicago Hope | 1996 |
| The X-Files | 1997 |
| Third Watch | 1999 |
| NYPD Blue | 2000 |
| Judging Amy | 2001 |
| Freaks and Geeks | 2000 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2002-2018 |
| Six Feet Under | 2005 |
| House | 2005-2012 |
| True Blood | 2008 |
| Damages | 2009 |
| The Leftovers | 2014-2017 |
| Masters of Sex | 2016 |
| The Handmaid’s Tale | 2017-2022 |
| Search Party | 2021 |
| Teenage Euthanasia | 2023 |
| The Exorcist: Believer | 2023 |
| The Other Two | 2023 |
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Personal life
When Ann Dowd was at DePaul University making herself a perfect actress, she met with Lawrence Arancio, who was a fellow student there. Later, Ann and Lawrence married, and today they have three kids: Emily, Liam, and Trust.
Ann Dowd is a private person; she never talked about her personal life in public; however, she shared some of her life experiences in her latest interview. She praises her family, siblings, children, and parents for supporting her and inspiring her to stay grounded and humble.