A gifted actress and veteran of series television, Elisabeth Moss wasted no time getting her career off the ground. Starting as a child actor, Moss graduated high school two years early; then stayed out of trouble during her teens, choosing instead to focus solely on her work. As a result of her unusually mature work ethic, Moss was rarely without a job. After working steadily in film and television for a few years, Moss got her big break in 1999 when she was cast as Martin Sheen’s daughter on “The West Wing” (NBC, 1999-2006). Moving from her supporting berth at the White House, Moss took on a more challenging adult role as a 1960s-era secretary named Peggy Olson in “Mad Men” (AMC, 2007- ), the critically acclaimed dramedy from “The Sopranos” writer-producer, Matthew Weiner.Born in Los Angeles, CA on Oct. 15, 1983, Elisabeth Moss gravitated toward acting from an early age. Inspired to pursue an acting career at by her screen idol, Bette Davis, Moss made her acting debut at age six with a small role in “Lucky/Chances” (CBS, 1990), a miniseries based on the novel by Jackie Collins. Starting out as a voice actor in animation, Moss gradually moved to performing in front of the cameras. A small role in the Hulk Hogan family comedy “Suburban Commando” (1991) led the 13-year-old Moss to a recurring stint on David E. Kelley’s quirky suburban drama, “Picket Fences’ (CBS, 1992-96).
Moss’ true big break, however, came three years later, when she was cast as First Daughter Zoey Bartlet in the Emmy Award-winning “The West Wing.” As the youngest daughter of U.S. President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen), Zoey provided the somber political drama with a much-needed shot of adolescent angst. A hopeless romantic by nature, Zoey’s heart often led her into problematic situations, as it did during the first season when she fell for Charlie Young, one of her father’s chief advisors. In fact, Zoey and Charlie’s clandestine relationship would continue off-and-on for the life of the series.
On the big screen, Moss turned in a smart performance as Polly Clark, one of the inmates at an all-female mental institution in “Girl, Interrupted” (1999). After years of being a reliable supporting player in films, Moss got her chance to shine in her first leading role in the indie feature “Virgin” (2003). The story of a young woman who believes she has been subject to an immaculate conception, “Virgin” stirred some mild controversy from within the Roman Catholic Church, but the brouhaha soon faded.
Moss returned to television in the mid-2000s as a regular on the short-lived “aliens are among us” drama “Invasion” (ABC, 2005-06). After that show’s premature demise, Moss returned to series work with a regular role in “Mad Men” – a show few expected to be as big a critical hit as it turned out to be, being original programming from AMC.
Profession(s):
Actor, dancer
Sometimes Credited As:
Elissabeth Moss
Elizabeth Moss
2007 Cast as Peggy in the AMC drama series, “Mad Men”
2005 Played Christina on the drama series “Invasion” (ABC)
2003 Breakthrough performance in the indie drama, “Virgin”; earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her role
2002 Made New York stage debut in the title role of Richard Nelson’s “Franny’s Way”
1999 Had a supporting role as Polly, the burn victim in “Girl, Interrupted,” opposite Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie
1999 - 2006 Played first daughter Zoey Bartlet on the American political drama, “The West Wing” (NBC)
1997 Appeared in “A Thousand Acres” opposite Michelle Pfeiffer
1996 Played a conservative 12-year-old facing the wrath of a group of lethal liberals in “The Last Supper”
1996 Had a starring role in ABC's re-make of the 1974 film “Escape to Witch Mountain”
1995 Portrayed a young Ashley Judd in the CBS miniseries “Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge”
1994 Played Fairuza Balk’s younger sister in the independent feature, “Imaginary Crimes”
1993 Provided the voice of Michelle in the Hanna-Barbera's animated feature “Once Upon a Forest”
1991 Feature debut in the comical “Suburban Commando”
1990 Made her acting debut at the age of six in the NBC miniseries “Lucky Chances”
Began training in ballet at the age of five
Will star in the military drama, “Day Zero,” with Elijah Wood and Chris Klein (lensed 2006)
