Ann Dowd is an American actress, known for her intense portrayals of complex characters in both film and television. After a long career in theater and in supporting roles, she gained critical acclaim for her starring role in the drama film *Compliance* (2012), for which she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her fame grew internationally with impactful television roles, particularly as Patti Levin in the HBO series *The Leftovers* (2014-2017) and especially as Aunt Lydia in *The Handmaid's Tale* (2017-present). For the latter role, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2017. Her other significant work includes the films *Captain Fantastic* (2016), *Hereditary* (2018), and *Mass* (2021), for which she received BAFTA and Critics' Choice Award nominations, cementing her reputation as a versatile and powerful actress.