Linda Cardellini

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28 Feb 2024

Linda Cardellini

Linda Edna Cardellini, born on June 25, 1975, is an American actress known for her versatile roles across television and film.
In television, Cardellini gained prominence for her starring roles on "Freaks and Geeks" (1999–2000), "ER" (2003–2009), and "Bloodline" (2015–2017). She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Judy Hale on Netflix's "Dead to Me" (2019–2022), earning a nomination for the 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Additionally, Cardellini appeared as Sylvia Rosen on AMC's "Mad Men" between 2013 and 2015, garnering an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

In film, Cardellini is recognized for her diverse roles. She portrayed Velma Dinkley in "Scooby-Doo" (2002) and its 2004 sequel, showcasing her versatility in comedy. Other notable film credits include "Legally Blonde" (2001), "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), "Return" (2011), "Daddy's Home" (2015), "The Founder" (2016), "Green Book" (2018), "A Simple Favor" (2018), and "The Curse of La Llorona" (2019).

Cardellini also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Laura Barton in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), and the Disney+ miniseries "Hawkeye" (2021). She expanded her MCU presence by voicing and performing motion capture for the character Lylla in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (2023), becoming one of the few actresses to portray two different characters in the franchise.

Linda Edna Cardellini was born on June 25, 1975, in Redwood City, California. Her father, Wayne David Cardellini, worked as a businessman, while her mother, Lorraine (née Hernan), was a homemaker. Cardellini is the youngest of four children and comes from a diverse ethnic background, including Italian, Irish, German, and Scottish ancestry. She was raised in the Catholic faith.

Cardellini's interest in performing arts emerged at a young age, and she made her first public appearance at the age of 10 in a school play. Encouraged by this experience, she participated in numerous school productions and began taking drama lessons. After graduating from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California, in 1993, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in television and film.

In 1994, Cardellini appeared as a contestant on an episode of "The Price Is Right," where she won a fireplace. She furthered her education at Loyola Marymount University's College of Communication and Fine Arts, earning a degree in theater arts in 1997. Her alma mater recognized her as a "Distinguished Alumna" in 2007, acknowledging her achievements in the entertainment industry.

Linda Cardellini's career gained momentum in 1996 when she landed the role of Sarah on ABC's Bone Chillers, marking her first significant breakthrough. Following this, she made guest appearances on several prime-time programs, including Step by Step, Clueless, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Boy Meets World, where she portrayed Lauren, a character who came between the show's main couple.
In 1999, Cardellini starred in the first season of the AMC series The Lot and also participated in a touring production of Lancelot in Europe during the summer. However, her major success came with her role as Lindsay Weir in the NBC series Freaks and Geeks, which debuted during the 1999–2000 season. Portraying an honor student undergoing an identity crisis, Cardellini received acclaim for her performance, propelling her to stardom.

Cardellini's profile further rose when she starred in the live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo in 2002, portraying the beloved character Velma Dinkley. She reprised the role in the sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed in 2004. Additionally, Cardellini joined the cast of the hospital drama ER in 2003 as Samantha Taggart, a free-spirited nurse. She remained on the show for six seasons until its finale, "And in the End...", and received recognition with the cast, winning the TV Land ensemble Icon Award in 2009.

Linda Cardellini's filmography is extensive and diverse. Apart from her notable roles in Freaks and Geeks and ER, she has appeared in various films and television shows over the years.
Some of her film credits include Dead Man on Campus, Strangeland, Good Burger, Legally Blonde, Brokeback Mountain (for which she received nominations for ensemble awards), Grandma's Boy, Kill the Irishman, Super, and Return. She also provided voice work for Ursula in the video game Gladius and Bliss Goode in the animated series The Goode Family.
Cardellini's television appearances have been equally impressive. She played Clara in the CBS miniseries Comanche Moon, Sylvia Rosen in Mad Men (earning an Emmy nomination), and Wendy in the Disney Channel series Gravity Falls. She has also been involved in various live shows and podcasts, such as The Thrilling Adventure Hour.

In 2018, Cardellini starred in the Netflix dark comedy series Dead to Me alongside Christina Applegate, earning critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination. The same year, she appeared in the Oscar-winning film Green Book.
In 2019, Cardellini starred in the horror film The Curse of La Llorona and reprised her role as Laura Barton in Avengers: Endgame. In 2020, she appeared in the biographical drama film Capone.
In 2021, Cardellini returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe reprising her role as Laura Barton in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which premiered in November 2021.