Carrie Coonbegan her career as a theater actor but has recently become one of the biggest names in television, and here are her best roles. Coon’s career has taken some time to develop, with her first major roles coming on the stage, where she appeared in numerous plays, on and off-Broadway.
It wasn’t until 2014, whenCarrie Coon received her first meaty screen role, in the David Fincher-directedGone Girl, that she showcased her powerful ability to be both heartbreaking and sardonic in the same sentence.It’s TV, however, where she’s found true success, with these six series standing above.
One of Carrie Coon’s earliest television roles came in season 14, episode 20, ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, “Girl Dishonored”. There have been plenty ofexcellent guest stars onSVU, but Coon stands out as Talia Blaine, a student counselor at a college campus that has just experienced a sexual assault on its grounds.
Talia is one of the administrators caught in the case. After the young woman’s case comes to the attention of SVU, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) have a chat with Talia in her office. Talia does not mince words when it comes to the school, explaining that the school does not want to punish legacy students.
Coon shines, playing a character who knows she’s in the wrongbut is also daring the officers to explain to her what else she could do. By the end of the episode, Coon is forced to reckon with her inaction, and even if she’s not in legal trouble, Coon’s face lets you know she won’t be forgetting it soon.
The Sinneris a police procedural anthology TV series, a bit of a rare genre to be found inthe world of anthology TV shows, making it a unique project on conceit alone. The series is named for Peter Hammesfahr’s 1999 novel of the same name and the inspiration for season 1 of the four-season show.
Carrie Coon stars as Vera Walker in season 2, which follows Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman), who returns to his hometown after hearing a young boy poisoned a local couple. Vera claims to be the young boy’s real mother, though her backstory makes everyone suspicious of her real intentions.
Harry Ambrose appears in all four seasons of the show, tying the anthology together.
Coon has a real knack for presenting characters as well-intentioned and earnest, but still holding just enough back to make you question if they are not actually completely lying. Vera is a mysterious character, and Coon’s performance makes you want to learn all you can about her.
Though it’s often regarded as one ofthe weaker seasons ofFargo, season 3 is still an excellent 10-episode series, and its failings are slight compared to what it accomplishes. This season takes place between 2010 and 2011 in three Minnesota towns: St. Cloud, Eden Valley, and Eden Prairie.
Carrie Coon co-stars in this season as Gloria Burgle, the former police chief of Eden Valley, before her department was absorbed into the county. In the first episode, Gloria discovers that her step-father, Ennis Stussy (Scott Hylands), has been murdered, and sets out to discover the mysterious explanation for his death.
It’s something of a “Marge Gunderson” role from the originalFargofor Coon, as she’s caught up in a mystery that is much more strange and complicated than she ever would have guessed. The role earned Coon her first Emmy nomination and showcases her ability to hold the screen even when so much is going on around her that would usually distract.
In what is now something of a prestige TV annointment ceremony, Carrie Coon was cast inthe main cast ofThe White Lotusseason 3. She plays Laurie Duffy, a member of the “Blonde Blob”, which also includes Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), who are friends, but sometimes not.
Laurie is so afraid of being called out for her failings, she makes sure to take her shots at others first.
Laurie is perhaps the least outwardly put-together of the trio. She stayed behind in New York to work as a lawyer to the detriment of her family commitments. At the same time, she’s perhaps the most judgmental. Laurie is so afraid of being called out for her failings, she makes sure to take her shots at others first.
It’s a physical, slapstick, and affecting performance, all culminating in one of the show’s best monologues.Her heartfelt and honest expression of love and regret and friendship is perfectly delivered in her thick voice, and it’s hard not to get teary-eyed listening to it again, even months after the show ended.
Damon Lindelof’sLostsuccessor,The Leftovers, is almost a thematic redo of what Lindelof attempted inLost, and he nailed it. If you watched that original ABC series and left disappointed, watchThe Leftoversand get satisfactory closure. You’ll also get an incredible performance from Carrie Coon as Nora Durst.
At the start ofThe Leftovers, 2% of the world’s population suddenly disappears. One moment they’re there, the next they are not. Most people know someone close who disappeared, but Nora’s entire family, her husband, son, and daughter, all disappeared, making her both pitied and a bit feared.
Nora struggles with wondering what happened to her family more than anyone, but because she has no one left to lean on,she also finds it most effective to bury her feelings, often resulting in heartbreak and pain. It’s an incredibly powerful performance from Coon, who’s almost regal in the role.
The Gilded Ageis set in the eponymous American epoch, which took place around the 1880s in New York City. It was around this time that the Northeast saw considerable economic expansion, material excess, and political corruption. It’s therefore a pretty great setting for an HBO series.
Carrie Coon stars as Bertha Russell, a member of the new-money Russell family who is concerned with breaking into high society despite the resistance she faces. Though she was raised in poverty, she’s now one of the wealthiest women in New York thanks to her marriage to a railroad tycoon.
It’s a role that has allowed Coon to showcase the full range of her acting capabilities. Bertha is striving and ambitious, but also kind and soft when she needs to be. She can be cold and calculating, but also witty and charming. It’s the best role ofCarrie Coon’s career, and it’s one she’ll keep playing for now.
