Molly Parker

Early life and training

Molly Parker was born on June 30, 1972, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and grew up on a farm in the nearby community of Pitt Meadows. Her parents, whom she has described as hippies, operated a seafood store, and she has one younger brother named Henry. Parker's early artistic discipline was in dance, as she trained in ballet from the age of three until she was seventeen. Her dedication led to a professional engagement, and she spent three years performing with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. She began acting in local productions at age fourteen, and her early career was managed by her uncle's agent, securing her initial roles in Canadian television. Parker further honed her craft by studying at Vancouver's Gastown Actors' Studio, laying the foundation for her transition from dancer to a serious dramatic actress.

Early career and breakthrough (1991 to 2001)

In 1993, she appeared in the teen comedy Just One of the Girls and the television thriller The Substitute. Her television work expanded with guest spots on series like Highlander: The Series in 1995 and a role in the television film Serving in Silence, where she played the daughter of a lesbian military officer opposite Glenn Close and Judy Davis. That same year, she had minor film roles in Last of the Dogmen and the Lifetime holiday film Ebbie. A Gemini Award nomination for her performance in the television film Paris or Somewhere signalled her emerging talent. Her career-defining breakthrough arrived in 1996 with Lynne Stopkewich's controversial independent film Kissed, where she portrayed a necrophiliac medical student. The demanding role won her the Genie Award for Best Actress and established her as a fearless performer. Also in 1996, she appeared in Bruce McDonald's cult film Hard Core Logo and an episode of Poltergeist: The Legacy.

In 1997, she took a leading role in the television horror-thriller Intensity, playing a kidnap victim. From 1998, she joined the cast of the surreal Canadian sitcom Twitch City for its two-season run. Her film work at the turn of the millennium demonstrated her range, including parts in Michael Winterbottom's Wonderland (1999), the historical drama Sunshine (1999), and the thriller The Intruder. Her first major American film role came in 2000 with Waking the Dead, where she played the socialite girlfriend of a political candidate opposite Billy Crudup. She reunited with director Lynne Stopkewich for Suspicious River that same year, earning a Leo Award nomination for her portrayal of a rape victim. The year 2001 brought two significant performances: a Genie Award-nominated supporting turn in The War Bride and a lead role in Wayne Wang's low-budget indie The Center of the World. Her performance as a Las Vegas escort in the latter film garnered critical praise and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead, solidifying her status as an actress of considerable depth and nuance.

Mainstream success and Deadwood (2002 to 2009)

The early 2000s marked a period of increasing visibility and mainstream success for Parker. In 2002, she delivered a powerful performance as a heroin-addicted mother in the drama Pure opposite Keira Knightley and had a supporting role in the historical thriller Max. She also guest-starred in two episodes of the HBO series Six Feet Under, playing a rabbi. That same year, she married writer and director Matthew Bissonnette and served as an executive producer on his debut feature, Looking for Leonard. She starred with Christian Slater in the 2004 drama The Good Shepherd and appeared as a suffragist in the HBO film Iron Jawed Angels alongside Hilary Swank. Her most significant career milestone during this period was being cast as Alma Garret, a refined widow in the brutal frontier of 1870s South Dakota, on HBO's critically acclaimed Western series Deadwood. Parker played the role for all three seasons of the series, from 2004 to 2006, and was part of the ensemble nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2007.

While starring on Deadwood, Parker continued her film work, appearing in the anthology drama Nine Lives in 2005. She took on roles in The Wicker Man remake and the period drama Hollywoodland in 2006. In October 2006, during the airing of Deadwood's final season, Parker gave birth to her first child, a son named William, in Los Angeles. In 2008, she headlined the CBS period drama Swingtown, set in the 1970s, though the series lasted only one season. The following year, she made a guest appearance on Party Down and played a survivor in the post-apocalyptic film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Her personal life saw a shift in 2009 when she and Matthew Bissonnette separated, beginning a protracted process that would lead to their divorce several years later.

Television prominence and diverse projects (2010 to 2017)

In the 2010s, Parker maintained a steady presence on television while pursuing independent film projects. She starred in the Canadian police procedural Shattered for one season in 2010 and led the drama Trigger opposite Tracy Wright. A recurring guest role on the sixth season of Showtime's Dexter in 2011 was followed by a lead part in the 2012 television adaptation of The Firm. That same year, she played Pauline Pfeiffer, Ernest Hemingway's second wife, in the HBO film Hemingway & Gellhorn alongside Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman. Her most high-profile television role of the decade came in 2014 when she joined the cast of Netflix's political drama House of Cards as Congresswoman Jacqueline Sharp. She appeared in the show's second, third, and fourth seasons, and her performance in the fourth season earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Parker's film work during this period included the supernatural thriller The 9th Life of Louis Drax (2016) and a supporting role as a therapist in Ewan McGregor's adaptation of American Pastoral. She won the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Bruce McDonald's 2016 drama Weirdos. In 2017, she was involved in three Netflix productions: the crime film Small Crimes, the Stephen King adaptation 1922, and Errol Morris's docudrama miniseries Wormwood. Also in 2017, she made her debut as a writer and director with the short film Birds, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her divorce from Matthew Bissonnette was finalized in October 2016 after a seven-year separation.

Recent work and current projects (2018 to present)

Molly Parker's career continued to evolve with high-profile genre and streaming projects. She co-starred in Josephine Decker's experimental feature Madeline's Madeline in 2018. That same year, she began starring as scientist and matriarch Maureen Robinson in Netflix's remake of the classic series Lost in Space, a role she played through the show's conclusion in 2021. In 2019, she returned to her role as Alma Garret for the HBO television film Deadwood: The Movie, providing closure for the beloved series. In a significant new chapter for her television career, Parker began her lead role as Dr. Amy Larsen in the Fox medical drama Doc in January 2025, marking her return to network television in a starring capacity.

Selected filmography

Throughout her career, Molly Parker has built a substantial and varied body of work. Her film roles are noted for their emotional complexity and range, while her television work has often placed her in critically acclaimed, ensemble-driven series. The following table highlights a selection of her key film and television performances, from independent Canadian cinema to major American television productions. This overview includes her award-winning early work, her defining television roles, and her most recent leading part.

Awards and recognition

Molly Parker's work has been recognized by numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, particularly within the Canadian film industry. Her breakthrough performance in Kissed earned her the Genie Award for Best Actress in 1996. She has received several Gemini and Leo Award nominations for her television work in Canada. For her role in the 2016 film Weirdos, she won both the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her international profile was highlighted by an Independent Spirit Award nomination for The Center of the World and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her guest work on House of Cards. The ensemble of Deadwood was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2007 during her tenure on the show.

• Genie Award for Best Actress, Kissed (1996)
• Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress, Weirdos (2016)
• Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress, Weirdos (2016)
• Nominated: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress, House of Cards (2016)
• Nominated: Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead, The Center of the World (2001)
• Nominated: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Deadwood (2007)

Questions about Molly Parker

What is Molly Parker best known for?

Molly Parker is best known for several key roles across film and television. Her breakthrough came with the controversial 1996 Canadian film Kissed, for which she won a Genie Award. She gained widespread recognition for playing the refined widow Alma Garret on all three seasons of HBO's acclaimed Western series Deadwood. Later, she earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for her role as Congresswoman Jacqueline Sharp on Netflix's House of Cards. More recently, she starred as Maureen Robinson in Netflix's Lost in Space remake and began starring as Dr. Amy Larsen in the Fox medical drama Doc in 2025.

Where is Molly Parker from in Canada?

Molly Parker was born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, on June 30, 1972. She spent her childhood on a farm in the neighbouring community of Pitt Meadows. Her parents operated a seafood store, and she has described them as hippies. Parker's early artistic training was in ballet in British Columbia, which led to her performing professionally with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet before she transitioned into acting through local productions and study at Vancouver's Gastown Actors' Studio.

Was Molly Parker in House of Cards?

Yes, Molly Parker had a significant recurring role on the Netflix political drama House of Cards. She played Congresswoman Jacqueline Sharp, a political rival and eventual ally to Frank Underwood. Parker first appeared in the show's second season and continued in the third and fourth seasons. Her performance in the fourth season was particularly noted, earning her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2016.

What was Molly Parker's role in Deadwood?

Molly Parker played Alma Garret on the HBO Western series Deadwood. She portrayed the role of a widow in 1870s South Dakota for all three seasons of the series. Her performance contributed to the show receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Best Ensemble in 2007. Parker later reprised the role for the HBO television film Deadwood: The Movie in 2019.

Is Molly Parker married?

Molly Parker was married to Canadian writer and director Matthew Bissonnette. The couple married in 2002 and had one son, William, who was born in October 2006. They separated in 2009 and their divorce was finalized in October 2016 after a seven-year separation. Parker has kept her personal life private, and there is no public record of her remarrying as of the latest information.

What is Molly Parker's new show in 2025?

In January 2025, Molly Parker began starring in a new Fox medical drama titled Doc. She plays the lead role of Dr. Amy Larsen. This marks a return to network television in a starring capacity for Parker, following her work on streaming series like Lost in Space and House of Cards. The role represents the latest chapter in her long and varied career in television drama.

Sources and further reading

• Molly Parker (Wikipedia)
• Molly Parker Movies & TV Shows List (rottentomatoes.com)
• Molly Parker Movies and Shows (tv.apple.com)
• Molly Parker (academy.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-02.