Bio
Amy Ryan is an American actress best known for her role as Officer Beatrice 'Beadie' Russell in the television drama series The Wire (2003-2008); and for her role as hardened welfare mom Helene McCready in the 2007 film Gone Baby Gone, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, a SAG Award and an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
Ryan has made her mark working with some of today's most prolific directors, writers and actors.
In 2007, Amy starred in Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone as a drug addict mother from Boston's working class Dorchester neighbourhood. That year, she also appeared in Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead.
She followed up those two dramatic performances with a comedic role on the TV Show The Office.
In 2008, she returned to the big screen in Clint Eastwood's Changeling and in 2010, appeared opposite Matt Damon in the Paul Greengrass film Green Zone. She followed that up in Jack Goes Boating, directed by and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman.
In 2011, Amy starred in Win Win opposite Paul Giamatti and directed by Tom McCarthy.
She first garnered attention for her film work in Bennett Miller's Capote in 2005. Her other films include Dan in Real Life, War of the Worlds, Keane, You Can Count on Me, Bob Funk and The Missing Person.
In addition to her film credits, Amy has achieved major success on the Broadway stage. In 2000, she was nominated for her first Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, for her role in Uncle Vanya.
In 2005, she impressed critics with her moving portrayal of Stella in A Street Car Named Desire. She also starred in Neil LaBute's The Distance From Here in London's West End.
Amy's television credits are extensive, with dozens of guest star performances and series regular or recurring roles on primetime television shows. Most notably, she starred for five seasons as Officer Beatrice "Beadie" Russell in the HBO series The Wire.
Amy was raised in Queens, New York where she attended the High School of the Performing Arts. She resides in New York City.