Carrie Preston was born on June 21, 1967, in Macon, Georgia, to Pam and Ray Preston. Her brother, John G. Preston, is also an actor, indicating a family inclination towards the performing arts.

From a young age, she exhibited a passion for theater, organizing front-yard plays at the age of 12 and engaging in ballet during her childhood. This early exposure to the arts laid a solid foundation for her future endeavors in acting.

Carrie Preston pursued higher education at the University of Evansville, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1990. She further honed her craft at The Juilliard School’s Drama Division, graduating in 1994.

Her time at these institutions not only refined her acting skills but also provided valuable connections that would later influence her career trajectory.

She gained widespread recognition for her roles as Arlene Fowler in HBO’s True Blood and as Elsbeth Tascioni in CBS’s The Good Wife, a performance that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award.

Her career is marked by a dynamic range of characters, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the craft. Carrie has worked on numerous projects with her husband, actor Michael Emerson, whom she married in 1998.

Emerson played Ben Linus on television’s Lost, and Preston was a guest star in episode 20 of season 3, “The Man Behind the Curtain” as Ben’s mother Emily in flashback scenes, though she and Emerson never shared scenes together.

The couple were featured in the 2004 comedy film Straight-Jacket and the 2008 feature film, Ready? OK!. Carrie appeared in several episodes of Person of Interest as Grace Hendricks, the former fiancée of Emerson’s character, Harold Finch.

Carrie Preston is co-owner of the production company Daisy 3 Pictures with James Vasquez and Mark Holmes.

Her career began with notable theater performances, including her Broadway debut as Miranda in Shakespeare’s The Tempest alongside Patrick Stewart in 1995. This role showcased her ability to tackle classical material and opened doors to further opportunities on stage.

Transitioning to on-screen roles, she appeared in films such as My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) and Transamerica (2005), where she portrayed the sister of Felicity Huffman’s character.

Carrie Preston has starred in films such as the romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), the comedy-drama Transamerica (2005), the romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), the drama Doubt (2008), the drama To the Bone (2017), the slasher horror They/Them (2022), and the comedy-drama The Holdovers (2023).