BARANSKI, Christine 1952–

PERSONAL

Full name, Christine Jane Baranski; born May 2, 1952, in Buffalo, NY; daughter of Lucien and Virginia (maiden name, Mazerowski) Baranski; married Matthew Cowles (an actor and playwright), October 15, 1983; children: Isabel, Lily. Education: Juilliard School of Music and Dramatic Arts, B.A., 1974.

Addresses: Agent—United Talent Agency, 9560 Wilshire Blvd., 5th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Manager—Viking Entertainment, 445 West 23rd St., Suite 1A, New York, NY 10011. Publicist—PMK/HBH, 700 San Vicente Blvd., Suite G910, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Career: Actress and producer. McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, member of company, 1976–77. Appeared in television commercials for Cadillac Seville STS, 1997.

Member: Actors' Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild.

Awards, Honors: Obie Award, best performance, 1982, for A Midsummer Night's Dream; Antoinette Perry Award and Drama Desk Award, best featured actress in a play, 1984, both for The Real Thing; Antoinette Perry Award, best featured actress in a play, 1989, for Rumors; Drama Desk Award, best featured actress in a play, 1992, for Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Emmy Award, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, 1995, American Comedy Award, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy, 1996, Q Award, best supporting actress in a quality comedy series, Viewers for Quality Television Awards, 1996, Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, 1996, 1997, and 1998, Golden Globe Award nominations, best supporting actress in a television series, 1996 and 1997, Screen Actors Guild Award, outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series, 1996, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series, 1997, all for Cybill; Screen Actors Guild Award (with others), outstanding performance by a cast, 1997, for The Birdcage; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding guest actress in a comedy series, 1999, American Comedy Award nomination, funniest female guest appearance in a TV series, 2000, both for Frasier; Blockbuster Entertainment Award nomination, favorite supporting actress—comedy, 2001, for How the Grinch Stole Christmas; Screen Actors Guild Award (with others), outstanding performance by the cast of a theatrical motion picture, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award (with others), best acting ensemble, 2003, both for Chicago; Helen Hayes Award, outstanding lead actress—resident musical, 2003, for Sweeney Todd.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Constance, She Stoops to Conquer, Center Stage Theatre, Baltimore, MD, 1976–77.

Private Lives, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY, 1977–78.

Wanda, One Crack Out, Marymount Manhattan Theatre, New York City, 1978.

Billie Dawn, Born Yesterday, Center Stage Theatre, 1978–79.

Maeve Macpherson, Says I, Says He, Marymount Manhattan Theatre, 1979.

Minnie Powell, The Shadow of a Gunman, Symphony Space, New York City, 1979.

(Broadway debut) Elly Bart, Hide and Seek, Belasco Theatre, 1980.

Amanda Gracie, Madame Igrec, and second underworld figure, The Trouble with Europe, Marymount Manhattan Theatre, 1980.

Company, Playwright's Horizons Theatre, New York City, 1980.

Miss America, Coming Attractions, Playwright's Horizons Theatre, 1980–81.

Angela, Operation Midnight Climax, Off–Center Theatre, New York City, 1981.

Talley's Folly, Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo, NY, 1981.

Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1982.

Elvira, Blithe Spirit, McCarter Theatre Company, Princeton, NJ, 1982.

Marsha, Sally and Marsha, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City, 1982.

Clarissa, Sunday in the Park with George, Playwright's Horizons Theatre, 1983.

Charlotte, The Real Thing, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1984.

Bonnie, Hurlyburly, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1985.

Julia Budder, It's Only a Play, Manhattan Theatre Club, 1985–86.

Bunny Flingus, The House of Blue Leaves, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York City, 1986, then Plymouth Theatre, 1986–87.

Hedda Gabler, Studio Arena Theatre, 1987–88.

Chris Gorman, Rumors, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1988–89.

Joanna, Elliot Loves, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, then Promenade Theatre, New York City, 1990.

Tracy Gardner, Nick and Nora, Marriott Marquis Theatre, New York City, 1991.

Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Manhattan Theatre Club, 1991.

A Christmas Memory, Book–Friends Cafe, New York City, 1992.

Doris, The Loman Family Picnic, Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I, 1993–94.

Unsung Musicals, Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, New York City, 1994.

Marge MacDougall, Promises, Promises (concert), City Center Theatre, New York City, 1997.

On the speaker phone: Sylvia Zilinsky, Mizlansky/Zilinsky or "Schmucks", Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I, 1998.

Sweeney Todd (concert), L.A. Reprise!, Los Angeles, 1999.

Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, 2002.

Marie, "3 A.M.," Short Talks on the Universe, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, 2002.

Sondheim Concert Spectacular, Avery Fisher Hall, New York City, 2002.

The Threepenny Opera (workshop), Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City, 2004.

Made stage debut as Annabella, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ; also appeared as Lady Capulet, Romeo and Juliet, American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, CT; Maggie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, American Shakespeare Festival; Dunyasha, The Cherry Orchard, and Lina, Misalliance, both Center Stage Theatre; Dorine, Tartuffe, Center Stage Theatre; Miss Scoons, Angel City, McCarter Theatre; Miss Harris, The Undefeated Rumba Champ, Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York City; in Marathon '86.

Major Tours:

Appeared as Davina Saunders, Otherwise Engaged, U.S. cities.

Film Appearances:

(Film debut) Blonde in bar, Soup for One, Warner Bros., 1982.

Nymphomaniac, Lovesick, Warner Bros., 1983.

Maxine, Crackers, Universal, 1984.

Thea, 9 1/2 Weeks, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists, 1986.

Carol Freeman, Legal Eagles, Universal, 1986.

Harriet, The Pick–Up Artist, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1987.

Andrea Reynolds, Claus' girlfriend, Reversal of Fortune, Warner Bros., 1990.

Lucy, Ellen's pal, The Night We Never Met, Miramax, 1993.

Carol, Life with Mikey (also known as Give Me a Break), Buena Vista, 1993.

Becky Martin–Granger, Addams Family Values, Paramount, 1993.

Miss Strapford, school teacher, The War, Universal, 1994.

Connie Chasseur, The Ref (also known as Hostile Hostages), Buena Vista, 1994.

Mrs. Margaret "Maggie" "Higgs, Getting In (also known as Student Body), Trimark Pictures, 1994.

Prosecutor, New Jersey Drive, Gramercy Pictures, 1995.

Ann Marwood Bartle, Jeffrey, Orion, 1995.

Katharine Archer, The Birdcage (also known as Birds of a Feather), Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1996.

Cameo, Inside Out, Strand Releasing, 1997.

Thelma, Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple II" (also known as The Odd Couple II), Paramount, 1998.

Constance Bulworth, Bulworth, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1998.

Bunny Caldwell, Cruel Intentions, Columbia, 1998.

Carol, Bowfinger (also known as Bowfinger's Big Thing), Universal, 1998.

Herself, Get Bruce!, Miramax, 1999.

Martha May Whovier, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (also known as Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and The Grinch), MCA/Universal, 2000.

Chantal, The Guru (also known as Le gourou et les femmes), Universal, 2002.

Mary Sunshine, Chicago, Miramax, 2002.

Mary Ellen Sprinkle, Marci X, Paramount, 2003.

Charlotte Cole, Welcome to Mooseport, Fox Film Corp., 2004.

Bree, Social Grace, 2005.

Arleen Clayton, Relative Strangers, Nu Image, 2005.

Television Appearances; Series:

Beverly Tucker, Another World (also known as Another World: Bay City), 1983.

Jewel, All My Children, ABC, 1984.

Maryann Thorpe, Cybill, CBS, 1995–98.

(Uncredited) Voice of Ruth Bender, Now and Again, CBS, 1999.

Marsha Bickner, Welcome to New York, CBS, 2000.

Voices of Trixie Fontaine and Spritle Fontaine, Speed Racer X (animated), 2002.

Annie Brennan, Happy Family, NBC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Olga, Playing for Time, CBS, 1980.

Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1982.

Kate, To Dance with the White Dog, CBS, 1993.

Prunella Stickler, Eloise at the Plaza, ABC, 2003.

Prunella Stickler, Eloise at Christmastime, ABC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Bunny Flingus, "The House of Blue Leaves," American Playhouse, PBS, 1987.

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1995.

CBS Sneak Peek '95, CBS, 1995.

Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond, UPN, 1996.

Spotlight: The Birdcage, Comedy Central, 1996.

National Memorial Day Concert, PBS, 1996.

The Late Show with David Letterman Video Special 2 (also known as The Late Show with David Letterman Primetime Video Special 2), CBS, 1996.

The 20th Annual Kennedy Center Honors (also known as The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts), CBS, 1997.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth—A Celebration of Life, ABC, 1997.

New York host, The All–American Thanksgiving Parade, 1997.

Herself, Ira Gerswhin at 100: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, PBS, 1997.

Canned Ham: Bowfinger, Comedy Central, 1999.

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Primetime Special, NBC, 1999.

Comedy Central Presents the New York Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller, Comedy Central, 1999.

Anchor, The All–American Thanksgiving Parade, CBS, 2000.

Intimate Portrait: Liz Smith (documentary), Lifetime, 2001.

The 26th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 2003.

Made television debut in The Adams Chronicles, PBS.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 43rd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1989.

The 50th Annual Tony Awards, 1996.

The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, 1996.

Presenter, The 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, 1996.

Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, 1996.

Presenter, The 51st Annual Tony Awards, 1997.

Presenter, The 53rd Annual Tony Awards, 1999.

Herself, The 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Fox, 2000.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Cara, Bigshots in America, NBC, 1985.

Spellbound, Fox, 2004.

In the Game, ABC, 2005.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Paulette, "The Furlough," Combat!, 1966.

Victoria Baines, "Mama's Boy," The Equalizer, CBS, 1985.

Katherine Masucci Beigel, "Torrents of Greed: Parts 1 & 2," Law & Order, NBC, 1991.

Rose Siegal, "Nurture," Law & Order, NBC, 1994.

Guest, Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, 1995, 2000, 2001.

Host, Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1996.

Herself, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996, 1997.

Sonja Umdahl, "Dick and the Single Girl," 3rd Rock from the Sun (also known as Life as We Know It) NBC, 1997.

Dr. Nora Fairchild, "Dr. Nora," Frasier, NBC, 1999.

Bunny Caldwell, "Cruel Intentions," Manchester Prep, 1999.

Glenn Ferguson Baines Welch, "Three Days in November," Citizen Baines, CBS, 2001.

Dr. Terry Howland, "Pick Your Battles," Presidio Med, CBS, 2002.

Dr. Terry Holwand, "Best of Enemies," Presidio Med, CBS, c. 2003.

The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2003.

The View, ABC, 2003.

The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 2003.

Behind the Movie, VH1, 2003.

Also appeared in Texas, NBC; Murder Ink.

Television Work; Series:

Executive producer, Welcome to New York (also known as Gaffigan), CBS, 2000.

Radio Appearances:

Selected Shorts, National Public Radio, 1998.

RECORDINGS

Music Videos:

Appeared in Placebo's "Every You, Every Me," 1999.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Newsmakers, Issue 2, Gale, 2001.