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Who is Gretchen Mol?
American actress and former model Gretchen Mol was born in Deep River, Connecticut USA, on 8 November 1972, meaning that Scorpio’s her zodiac sign. She has 58 acting credits, and is perhaps still known best for starring as Jane Fuller in the 1999 mystery science fiction thriller movie “The Thirteenth Floor”, which also starred Armin Mueller-Stahl and Craig Bierko, and was directed by Josef Rusnak. It follows a computer scientist whose mentor’s been killed, and who’s now the primary suspect; the film was nominated for an Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Award for Best Science Fiction Film.
Gretchen’s still today active in the movie industry, and as of mid-2023 is shooting for the upcoming film “The Invisibles”.
Education and early life
Gretchen was raised in Deep River alongside her brother Jim Mol, who’s today a film director and editor, by their father James Mol who taught at RHAM High School, and mother Janet (nee Morgan) who’s a teacher and artist; James and Janet divorced before Gretchen turned 10.
She studied at Valley Regional High School, and shared class with future American Broadway actor and tenor Peter Lockyer; the two starred alongside in a number of school plays. Gretchen was into several other activities as a teenager, as she took dance lessons and practiced singing.
Upon matriculating in 1991, she enrolled at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, from which she eventually transferred to the William Esper Studio – Gretchen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995.
Roles in movies
Gretchen’s debut film role was playing Girl in the 1996 comedy “Girl 6”, which starred Theresa Randle and Isaiah Washington, and was directed by Spike Lee; it follows an aspiring actress who’s turned to phone sex to make a living. Some of Gretchen’s following roles were in the 1996 crime drama “The Funeral”, the 1996 drama “Calm at Sunset”, and the 1997 biographical crime drama “Donnie Brasco”.
In 1997, she played Mary Greenway in the biographical romantic drama “The Last Time I Committed Suicide”, which starred Keanu Reeves and Thomas Jane, and was written and directed by Stephen Key. It follows an aspiring author whose girlfriend’s attempted suicide. Gretchen was then cast to appear in the 1997 comedy “The Deli”, the romantic comedy “Music from Another Room” and the fantasy comedy “Too Tired to Die”, both in 1998.
What also marked the ‘90s for her was playing Ellie in the 1999 musical comedy “Sweet and Lowdown’, which starred Samantha Morton and Sean Penn, and was written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in the 1930s, the film follows jazz guitarist Emmet Ray who’s fallen in love with a mute woman, and it won one of its 16 award nominations, including two Oscar nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Samantha Morton) and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Sean Penn).
The first half of the 2000s saw Gretchen appear in the 2002 romantic drama “The Magnificent Ambersons”, the 2003 romantic comedy “The Shape of Things” and the 2005 biographical drama “The Notorious Bettie Page”. She portrayed Alice Evans in the evergreen 2007 crime action “3:10 to Yuma”, which starred Russell Crowe and Christian Bale and was directed by James Mangold. It follows an outlaw who’s being held by a small-time rancher until his train to a court in Yuma arrives – the movie won three of the 35 awards for which it was nominated, including Oscar nominations for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.
Some of Gretchen’s following notable performances were in the 2014 romantic comedy “Laggies”, and in 2015 the biographical crime drama “True Story” and the crime drama “Anesthesia”. In 2016, she played Elise Chandler in the hit drama “Manchester by the Sea”, which starred Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck, and was written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. It follows the life of a depressed uncle, and the movie won 128 of the 384 awards for which it was nominated, including Oscar wins for Best Original Screenplay, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Affleck).
Some of Gretchen’s most recent film roles have been in the 2019 crime drama “Sequestrada”, the 2021 mystery horror thriller “False Positive”, and the 2022 drama “Pal Trees and Power Lines”.
Roles in TV series
Gretchen’s debut TV series role was playing Maggie in two episodes of the 1996 western mini-series “Dead Man’s Walk”, and her following three roles were in the 1996 episode “Pride and Prejudice” of the comedy “Spin City”, nine episodes of the 2002 drama “Girls Club” and all 17 episodes of the 2008 crime mystery “Life on Mars”.
From 2010 through 2014, she played Gillian Darmody in the critically acclaimed crime drama “Boardwalk Empire”, which starred Kelly Macdonald and Steve Buscemi, and was created by Terence Winter. It follows a politician from Atlantic City as he’s conspiring with the mob, and the series won 64 of the 248 awards for which it was nominated, including 20 Primetime Emmy wins.
Gretchen could then have been seen appearing in eight episodes of the 2015 musical comedy “Mozart in the Jungle”, 10 episodes of the 2016 mystery thriller “Chance”, and three episodes of the 2018 crime mini-series “Seven Seconds”.
Since 2020, she’s been portraying Linda Mason in the popular historical crime drama “Perry Mason”, which stars Juliet Rylance and Matthew Rhys, and was created by Ron Fitzgerald and Rolin Jones. It follows a defense attorney who takes on important cases, and the series has won three of its 38 award nominations.
Happy birthday to the gorgeous MILF Gretchen Mol! She really needs to be celebrated more! pic.twitter.com/EcVbs8iqLg
— HotBeauties (@69hot4) November 8, 2019
Other credits
Gretchen sang the songs “One Fateful Day” and “2 to Tango” in the 1997 mystery thriller movie “The Blackout”, and the song “Mister Loveman” in the 2007 comedy movie “American Loser”.
Some of her most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Live with Kelly and Mark”, “Last Call with Carson Daly” and “Harry”.
Awards and nominations
Gretchen’s won three of her 12 award nominations: a 2014 Voice Arts Award for Outstanding Audio Book Narration – Classics, for “The New York Stories” and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2011 and 2012, both for “Boardwalk Empire” (shared with colleagues).
Love life and marriage
Gretchen prefers to keep her husband and children away from media, but has allowed her fans a glimpse into her personal life.
She and American screenwriter and director Tod Williams married in a small and private ceremony on 1 June 2004; Tod has six directing credits and is perhaps known best for his work on the 2016 action adventure horror movie “Cell”.
Gretchen gave birth to their first son Ptolemy John Williams on 10 October 2007, and their second son Winter Morgan Williams followed on 17 February 2011.
There are no other men whom Gretchen’s been with, that we know about; she’s married to Tod Williams as of June 2023, and they have two sons together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Since she gave birth to her first son, Gretchen’s only been taking jobs close to her home in New York City, telling her agent that she doesn’t want to work in Los Angeles, California.
She’s a philanthropist, and is today a national spokesperson for the PMD Foundation, which aims to raise awareness of the neurological disorder Pelizaues-Merzbacher disease, as well as to fund its research.
Gretchen worked alongside her husband’s former wife Famke Janssen on the crime movie “Rounders” and the comedy film “Celebrity” both in 1998, before marrying him, and then on the 2007 romantic comedy film “The Ten” after marrying him.
The character Mol in the 2005 thriller movie “Mary” was named after her.
Julia Roberts is one of Gretchen’s favorite actresses, and some of her favorite movies include “Steel Magnolias”, “Mystic Pizza” and “Ocean’s Eleven”.
She was featured on the cover page of the magazine “Vanity Fair” in September 1998.
Height, eyes and wealth
Gretchen’s age is 50. She has blue eyes and blonde hair, is 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall and weighs around 135lbs (62kgs).
Gretchen’s net worth’s been estimated at over $8 million, as of June 2023.
