Actor Spotlights are features examining the careers and impacts of talented performers working in film and television. The latest looks at Cristin Milioti who has appeared in shows such as Black Mirror, The Penguin and How I Met Your Mother.
Be sure to check out our earlier Actor Spotlight features. They cover stars like Jensen Ackles, Jack Quaid, Titus Welliver and more.
Born in New Jersey, Cristin Milioti has dazzled audiences across a variety of genres including crime drama, sitcom and animation.
While the 39-year-old actress has made her mark on-screen – Milioti also has a successful theatre background.
From 2011 to 2013, she portrayed “Girl” in the musical Once across different venues – winning a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Whether she’s playing a likeable protagonist or a villainous role, Milioti continues to deliver powerful performances in her work.
Let’s take a look back at some of the star’s biggest roles.
The Penguin
In a recent acclaimed performance, Milioti portrays the DC Comics villain Sofia Gigante/Falcone in The Penguin. She stars in HBO’s crime drama opposite Colin Farrell, who plays the title role.
A member of the Falcone crime family – daughter of infamous Carmine – Sofia serves as a major presence and antagonist in the miniseries.
Introduced after having been released from Arkham State Hospital, Sofia clashes with Farrell’s character Oswald “Oz” Cobb for control of Gotham City’s criminal enterprises.
Milioti’s memorable performance won her a Critics’ Choice Television Award, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
Speaking to Batman News, the actress previously said: “I think it’s certainly the opportunity to do something different. But also everything about this role appealed to me.
“She’s so complex, and it’s such an incredible world, and I’m such a huge Batman fan, so to just even be in this universe was a thrill, but to get to play this multi-layered villain. It was just, it was a dream. So there was no world in which I wasn’t gonna jump be a part of this.”
Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springs’ premise depicts strangers who meet at a wedding in Palm Springs – but discover they’re stuck in a time loop.
It sees Milioti take on a leading role, starring opposite Andy Samberg as the central romance. The plot’s reminiscent of Groundhog Day, only both leads are trapped in the loop.
Having had high-profile television roles – and other film appearances -up to this point, Palm Springs marked a big step in Milioti’s career.
Critics also praised her performance, with Glamour writing: “Sarah—whose sometimes improvised portrayal by Milioti proves the actor should headline every major comedy in the future—feels completely trapped, unable to escape the stressors caused by close proximity to her family, and even worse, herself (sounds familiar).”
The review added: “The chemistry between Samberg and Milioti shines through in one of the funniest, absurdly charming movies of 2020.”
Did you know?
Cristin Milioti has worked with Black Mirror co-stars Jesse Plemons (Robert Daly) and Billy Magnussen (Valdack) on a further project each. Keep scrolling to find out what….
Black Mirror
Milioti played lead character Nanette Cole in one of Black Mirror‘s most iconic episodes – USS Callister (2017).
She shone in a dual performance – although more so two sides of the same character. This episode’s premise mean most cast members play two distinct roles.
For Milioti, this was “real world” game programmer Nanette – but also a digital clone of Nanette created by quietly sadistic boss Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons).
As well as Milioti and Plemons, the episode also featured Jimmi Simpson, Billy Magnussen and Michaela Coel in major roles.
Describing her character at the time, the actress told Variety: “She’s so tough, but one can write her off at first as being this very sweet, meek women in the office who just has her head down and is trying to focus on her work and isn’t taken as seriously as she would like to be taken.
“But when push comes to shove, she can captain a ship. She has a strength in her that no one saw coming. She’s a spitfire.”
Did you know?
Milioti became a series regular in How I Met Your Mother‘s ninth and final season – marking the first change to that show’s main cast.
Some other projects…
Alongside these characters, Milioti also had a very notable role on CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. She played the titular mother – Tracy McConnell – who’d been teased for almost a decade by then.
She debuted on-screen as The Mother in season eight’s finale and was a regular during its ninth and final season.
On FX dark comedy-crime drama anthology Fargo, the actress portrayed Betty Solverson – who has cancer.
It marked the first time Milioti worked with Jesse Plemons, two years prior to their Black Mirror collaboration.
She also starred in Peacock mystery series The Resort and appeared in now-classic film The Wolf of Wall Street.
Follow writer Conor O’Brien on X.
A lifelong TV and Film buff, Conor founded Courageous Nerd in 2019. He has conducted hundreds of interviews for the site, as well as written comprehensive feature articles on a variety of topics. You can find him on X: @conorrcn.
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