Greta Lee Bio
Greta Lee (born March 7, 1983) is an American actress whose career spans Broadway, television, and film. She first drew widespread attention as Maxine in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll and as Stella Bak in the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show. Lee later earned international acclaim for her lead performance in the romantic drama film Past Lives, directed by Celine Song. In addition to her screen work, she is a respected stage actress who has appeared in major Broadway and West End productions.
Over the course of her career, Lee has built a reputation for thoughtful performances across independent film, network television, and prestige streaming series. Her work in The Morning Show brought her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, along with two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. She continues to balance acting in major studio releases with smaller dramatic projects and animated voice work.
Early Life and Background
Greta Lee was born on March 7, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. She is the child of South Korean immigrants and grew up in a household shaped by her family’s cultural heritage. While attending Harvard-Westlake School, she discovered her interest in the performing arts and began exploring acting through school productions and local opportunities.
After graduating from high school, Lee enrolled at Northwestern University, where she studied theater and refined her craft as a performer. Her time at Northwestern exposed her to classical training and a wide range of theatrical traditions, which would later influence her work on both stage and screen. Following her university studies, she moved to New York City to pursue acting professionally, joining the city’s vibrant community of theater artists and aspiring performers.
Lee’s move to New York marked the beginning of her immersion in stage work, where she would soon make her Broadway debut. The combination of her academic training and her decision to settle in New York set the foundation for the diverse body of work that would follow.
Path to Acting
Lee’s professional career began on the New York stage, where she earned early opportunities in notable theatrical productions. She made her Broadway debut in 2007, stepping into the role of the multilingual honor student Marcy Park in the musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The role showcased her range as a performer and introduced her to a wider Broadway audience.
She continued to build her stage résumé with the 2010 Broadway revival of David Hirson’s comedy La Bête at the Music Box Theatre, acting alongside Mark Rylance, David Hyde Pierce, and Joanna Lumley. Lee later reprised her role in the West End production of La Bête at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London, and she appeared in Amy Herzog’s play 4000 Miles at Lincoln Center Theatre in 2011. These early theater experiences established her as a versatile actress capable of moving between comedic and dramatic material.
Alongside her stage work, Lee began transitioning to television and film. She made her television debut in 2006 in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, followed by recurring roles in shows such as High Maintenance, Nurse Jackie, Girls, Wayward Pines, Chance, and The Good Fight. She also appeared in films including Sisters (2015) alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Money Monster starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, steadily building the screen presence that would lead to her later breakthrough.
Greta Lee Career
Early Career (2006–2018)
Lee’s early career was defined by steady work across television, film, and theater. Her first notable screen appearance came in 2006 with a guest role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and she quickly followed this with her Broadway debut in 2007. Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, she alternated between recurring television roles and stage productions, building a reputation as a reliable and inventive performer.
During this period, Lee earned recognition for her work in High Maintenance, Nurse Jackie, Girls, and a string of independent films. She also voiced Lyla in a post-credits scene of the animated superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse in 2018, signaling her growing presence in major studio projects. By the end of the decade, she had established a versatile foundation that would soon support her move into leading roles.
Breakthrough (2019–Present)
Lee’s breakthrough arrived in 2019 when she was cast as Maxine in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll, a role she played through 2022. Her performance brought her significant visibility and led to her casting as Stella Bak in the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show, which she has portrayed from 2021 to 2025. The role earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, along with two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
In 2023, Lee achieved international recognition for her starring role in Past Lives, directed by Celine Song. She played Nora, a woman who reconnects with her childhood friend from South Korea, a performance that earned her the Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Award for Best Actress. The role also brought her nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance.
Lee’s recent work includes starring roles in Problemista (2023) and supporting roles in Tron: Ares (2025), Late Fame (2025), and A House of Dynamite (2025). She also reprised her voice role as Lyla in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) and was featured in advertising campaigns for fashion labels Loewe (2023 and 2024) and Calvin Klein (2024). She voices the villain Lilypad in the Pixar animated film Toy Story 5 (2026).
Notable Works and Milestones
Lee’s signature work includes her roles in Russian Doll, The Morning Show, and Past Lives, each of which earned her critical recognition and award nominations. Her Primetime Emmy nomination for The Morning Show stands as one of the defining honors of her television career, while her Golden Globe nomination for Past Lives marked her arrival as a leading film actress. The breadth of her filmography, ranging from independent dramas to major animated franchises, reflects her range and continued growth within the entertainment industry.
Greta Lee Award Nominations
Greta Lee has received multiple award nominations across her career in television and film. Her work on The Morning Show brought her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, along with two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Her lead performance in Past Lives further resulted in nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance.
Greta Lee Awards Won
Greta Lee has earned recognition from critics’ organizations for her performances in film and television. She won the Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Film Award for Best Actress for her starring role in Past Lives. Beyond this honor, her body of work has continued to receive industry attention across nominations from major awards bodies including the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards.
Greta Lee Family
Greta Lee was raised in Los Angeles, California, as the child of South Korean immigrants. Her family’s background and heritage have informed both her personal perspective and several of the roles she has chosen throughout her career.
Personal Life
Greta Lee is married to actor and writer Russ Armstrong. The couple wed in 2014 and have two sons. Lee has continued to live and work primarily in New York City and Los Angeles, balancing her film and television career with her family life.