Lizzy Caplan
- Category : Actress
- Type : MGP
- Profile : 5/1 - Heretical / Investigator
- Definition : Single
- Incarnation Cross : LAX Demands 1
Biography
Elizabeth Anne "Lizzy" Caplan (born June 30, 1982) is an American actress. In film, she is best known for her roles as Janis Ian in Mean Girls (2004), Marlena Diamond in Cloverfield (2008), April in Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), and Gena in Bachelorette (2012). On television, her most notable roles include Marjee Sorelli in Related (2005–2006), Kat Warbler in The Class (2006–2007), Amy Burley in True Blood (2008), Casey Klein in Party Down (2009–2010), and Virginia Johnson in Masters of Sex (2013–present).
Personal life
Caplan was born and raised in Los Angeles in a Reform Jewish family. Her mother died when she was thirteen. Caplan attended Alexander Hamilton High School, and was a student at the school's Academy of Music. She first focused on playing the piano, then later decided to pursue drama. She graduated in 2000.
Caplan was in a relationship with actor Matthew Perry from 2006 to 2012. She is godmother to Birdie Leigh Silverstein, the daughter of actress Busy Philipps and screenwriter Marc Silverstein.
Career
Caplan began her television acting career in 1999 playing the minor role of Sara, a girlfriend of Jason Segel's character on the critically acclaimed series Freaks and Geeks. Caplan had a series of guest appearances on numerous shows. She also appeared in Jason Mraz's music video "You and I Both". In 2001, she played Tina Greer in an episode of Smallville, and reprised her role on the show in 2003. She appeared in two episodes of the ABC series Once and Again as Sarah, the ex-girlfriend of Mischa Barton's character, Katie Singer.
She gained wider notice in the 2004 movie Mean Girls, playing the alternative-styled Janis Ian, named for singer-songwriter Janis Ian. In 2003, she starred in the television series The Pitts, playing Faith Pitt. In the second season of Tru Calling she played Tru Davies' friend Avery Bishop.
In 2005 Caplan landed a starring role, playing troubled sister Marjee Sorelli in Related, a one-hour comedy-drama on The WB that was canceled after one season. The next year she starred as Sara Weller in Wesley Strick's thriller, Love is the Drug and was named one of “10 Actors to Watch” by Variety. After Related ended, Caplan was cast in the CBS sitcom The Class, which premiered on September 18, 2006, and lasted one season. She played Kat Warbler, one of several elementary-school friends that reunite after 20 years.
In 2008 Caplan played Marlena Diamond in the film Cloverfield and was nominated for a Saturn award as Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the romantic comedy My Best Friend's Girl as Ami, the roommate of Kate Hudson's character Alexis. In 2008, she guest-starred on the vampire-themed HBO show True Blood in a multiple-episode story arc as Amy Burley, the drug-addled girlfriend of Sookie Stackhouse's brother Jason. She is the voice of Faith Pitt in the animated version of The Pitts, which appeared in 2009.
Caplan also appeared in the critically acclaimed Starz ensemble comedy Party Down, playing a struggling comedienne who is part of a catering crew. In 2010, she appeared in 127 Hours, a film directed by Danny Boyle. Based on a true story, Caplan played Sonja Ralston, the sister of hiker Aron Ralston (James Franco), who was forced to amputate his own arm after being trapped by a boulder.
In early 2012, Caplan premiered two films at the Sundance Film Festival: Save the Date and Bachelorette. Also in 2012, Caplan has appeared in several episodes of the Fox sitcom New Girl as Julia. In March 2012, she filmed a television pilot for Showtime's Masters of Sex, playing 1960s human sexuality pioneer Virginia Johnson opposite Michael Sheen's portrayal of Dr. William Masters. The pilot was directed by John Madden. The first season of 'Masters of Sex' aired to critical acclaim and strong ratings. Apart from acting as Virginia E. Masters, Caplan also provided her own vocals for a cover version of the song 'You Don't Know Me' in the episode titled "Phallic Victories".
