Mamie Gummer Bio
Mary Willa Mamie Gummer (born August 3, 1983) is an American actress who has built a distinguished career across film, television, and theater. She is widely recognized for her leading role as Emily Owens in The CW series Emily Owens, M.D. (2012–2013) and for her recurring portrayal of Nancy Crozier in The Good Wife (2010–2015) and its acclaimed spin-off The Good Fight (2018–). Throughout her career, Gummer has demonstrated versatility, appearing in films such as Evening (2007), Side Effects (2013), Cake (2014), and Ricki and the Flash (2015). She is also an accomplished stage actress, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance in Ugly Lies the Bone. As the daughter of renowned actress Meryl Streep and sculptor Don Gummer, Gummer has carved her own successful path in the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
Mamie Gummer was born Mary Willa Gummer on August 3, 1983, in New York City, New York. She is the eldest daughter of actress Meryl Streep and sculptor Don Gummer. Gummer grew up primarily in Salisbury, Connecticut, where she developed an appreciation for the arts through her parents’ creative professions. During her childhood, she also spent five years living in Los Angeles with her older brother, Henry Wolfe Gummer, and younger sisters, actresses Grace Gummer and Louisa Jacobson.
Gummer received her early education at Miss Porter’s School before graduating from the Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. Her interest in performing arts flourished during these formative years, setting the foundation for her future endeavors. She continued her academic journey at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she studied theater and communications. Gummer successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005, graduating alongside her college peers and preparing herself for a professional career in acting.
Path to Actress
Gummer’s introduction to acting came at an exceptionally young age when she appeared alongside her mother Meryl Streep in the film Heartburn (1986). At just twenty months old during filming, she was credited under the name Natalie Stern to protect her privacy from media attention. Despite her young age, her performance received a positive review in The New York Times, suggesting an early innate talent for the craft.
After graduating from Northwestern University in 2005, Gummer made her professional stage debut in off-Broadway productions. She starred opposite Michael C. Hall in the premiere of Noah Haidle’s play Mr. Marmalade, a role that earned her the prestigious Theatre World Award recognizing outstanding new stage performances. In 2007, she received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for her compelling work in Theresa Rebeck’s drama The Water’s Edge. These early theatrical successes established her reputation as a serious stage actress and laid the groundwork for her transition to screen work.
Mamie Gummer Career
Early Career (2006–2011)
Gummer made her adult screen debut with a minor role in Lasse Hallström’s The Hoax (2006), starring alongside Richard Gere. This appearance marked her formal entry into the film industry as an adult performer. In 2007, she starred opposite her mother Meryl Streep in Michael Cunningham’s film adaptation of Susan Minot’s novel Evening, portraying the younger version of her mother’s character. The ensemble film, directed by Lajos Koltai, featured an impressive cast including Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, and Claire Danes.
Her career continued to gain momentum with diverse roles across television and theater. In 2008, Gummer portrayed Sally Adams in the HBO miniseries John Adams, which chronicled the life of America’s second president. That same year, she made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-nominated revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, earning critical praise for her performance. She also began her recurring role as Nancy Crozier on The Good Wife, a character she would return to over multiple seasons.
Breakthrough (2012–2018)
The year 2012 marked a significant breakthrough for Gummer when she landed the title role in The CW medical drama Emily Owens, M.D. Although the series was cancelled early during its first season after 13 episodes, the role demonstrated her ability to carry a television series as a leading actress. During this period, she also appeared in several notable films including Side Effects (2013), starring Jude Law and Rooney Mara, and Cake (2014), alongside Jennifer Aniston.
In 2015, Gummer began a featured role in the WGN America period drama Manhattan and starred in the original production of the play Ugly Lies the Bone for the Roundabout Theater Company. Her performance in the play earned her a 2016 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Play, highlighting her continued commitment to stage work alongside her screen career. She also appeared in Jonathan Demme’s Ricki and the Flash (2015), starring Meryl Streep as a rock musician.
Notable Works and Milestones
Gummer’s career has been defined by her ability to seamlessly transition between film, television, and theater. Her recurring role as Nancy Crozier in The Good Wife and The Good Fight has garnered significant attention, with The Good Fight continuing to air with her character into 2018 and beyond. She has also appeared in the third season of HBO’s anthology drama True Detective as Lucy Purcell, a mother of two children involved in a criminal investigation. Her diverse filmography showcases her range as a performer, from period pieces to contemporary dramas.
Mamie Gummer Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Mamie Gummer has received recognition for her performances in both theater and film. In 2016, she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her role in the original production of Ugly Lies the Bone. Prior to this, she received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination in 2007 for her performance in The Water’s Edge, demonstrating her early promise as a stage actress.
Mamie Gummer Awards Won
Upon completing her studies at Northwestern University in 2005, Gummer made an immediate impact in the theater world. Her off-Broadway debut in Mr. Marmalade earned her the Theatre World Award, an honor recognizing outstanding debut performances by new actors in New York productions. This early recognition established her as a talent to watch and set the stage for her subsequent success across multiple platforms.
Mamie Gummer Family
Mamie Gummer comes from a remarkably accomplished family in the arts. Her father, Don Gummer, is a renowned sculptor who has served as a professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her mother, Meryl Streep, is widely considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation, with numerous Academy Award nominations and wins throughout her career. Gummer has three siblings: brother Henry Wolfe Gummer, and sisters Grace Gummer and Louisa Jacobson, both of whom are established actresses. Her uncle by marriage is musician Mark Ronson, who is married to her sister Grace Gummer.
Personal Life
Gummer was first married to actor Benjamin Walker in July 2011 at her parents’ home in Connecticut. The couple had been engaged since October 2009 and resided in Park Slope, Brooklyn, before announcing their amicable separation in March 2013. In August 2018, Gummer became engaged to writer Mehar Sethi (born Meharban Singh Sethi), and they married in February 2019. That same month, she gave birth to her first child, a son. Gummer and Sethi welcomed a daughter in 2021. In February 2025, it was reported that Gummer and Sethi had filed for divorce after separating in 2023. Gummer is actively involved in charitable work, supporting organizations such as the Women’s Refugee Commission and the Nomi Network.