Mary-Louise Parker, born on August 2, 1964, in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, is an acclaimed American actress known for her work on stage and screen. Raised in a military family, her childhood was spent moving frequently, including time in South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Germany, and France.

She graduated from Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona, and later earned her drama degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 1986.

Her career began with her role as a regular on the soap opera "Ryan's Hope" in 1975. She made her Broadway debut in 1990 as Rita in Craig Lucas's "Prelude to a Kiss," earning a Tony Award nomination.

Her breakthrough film roles came in the early 1990s with "Grand Canyon," "Fried Green Tomatoes," and "The Client". She continued to build her reputation with performances in "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994), "Boys on the Side" (1995), "The Portrait of a Lady" (1996), and "The Maker" (1997).

Her portrayal of Ruth Jamison in the 1991 film "Fried Green Tomatoes" is one of her most memorable roles. Her strong performances in both film and theatre continued, leading to her starring role as Nancy Botwin in the television series "Weeds" from 2005 to 2012.

The role earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2006. She has also appeared in several notable television shows, including "The West Wing," where she played Amy Gardner, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2002.

Her performance as Harper Pitt in the HBO miniseries "Angels in America" garnered both a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award in 2003.

In recent years, she has continued to make her mark on both stage and screen. She returned to Broadway in 2019 to star in "The Sound Inside," for which she won her second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. In 2022, she reprised her role as Li'l Bit in "How I Learned to Drive," earning her fifth Tony nomination.

Her personal life has also garnered media attention. She had a high-profile relationship with actor Billy Crudup from 1996 to 2003, and they have a son named William, born in 2004. In 2007, she adopted a baby girl, Caroline Aberash Parker, from Ethiopia.

Mary-Louise Parker has garnered numerous awards throughout her career. These include two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and three Primetime Emmy Awards. She has also been nominated multiple times for her work in both film and television. Beyond acting, she has authored a memoir, "Dear Mr. You," published in 2015.