Biografia
Lily Holleman is remarkably versatile. Watching her perform alongside childhood idol Tracey Ullman in Showtime's Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008) (appearing in four episodes across three seasons), or as "Lisa" on Showtime's Shameless (2011), or guest-starring on Comedy Central's Key and Peele (2012), clearly showcases her natural talent for comedy. Yet, when she portrays the sincere, compassionate, and spirited wife of a Navy SEAL on CBS' NCIS: New Orleans (2014), or takes on a recurring guest role as a recovered meth addict and single mother fighting to keep her child in John Wells' NBC/TNT police drama Southland (2009), her impressive range becomes evident.
Lily's film roles further highlight her versatility. In the college comedy Tenure (2008) (starring Luke Wilson and Gretchen Mol), she plays an enthusiastic, charming college student. In How I Got Lost (2009), a film festival favorite featuring Aaron Stanford and Rosemarie DeWitt, she embodies the tough owner of a rural gas station. In @urFRENZ (2010), a powerful drama about cyberbullying, Lily’s lead role as "Catherine" earned her multiple best actress and rising star honors.
Los Angeles theater audiences know that just when they think they understand Lily Holleman, she surprises them. Her portrayal of the wide-eyed, pregnant teenager "Jewel" in Boston Court’s Bleed Rail, which earned her Ovation and LA Weekly award nominations, seems perfectly suited to her, yet she then transforms into the Oscar-winning actor Christopher Walken in All About Walken—a performance both hilarious and unsettling. When director Sam Gold and playwright Annie Baker brought their Obie-winning Off-Broadway hit Circle Mirror Transformation to Southern California’s South Coast Rep, Lily took on the pivotal role of "Lauren". Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies wrote the character "Miss Glace" in his popular Geffen Theatre production Coney Island Christmas specifically for her. She continued her collaboration with South Coast Rep by portraying "Thelma," a role originally created by Eva Marie Saint, in a revival of Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful. Most recently, Lily received glowing praise for her "superbly focused," "delightfully quirky," "slyly nimble," and "stunning" portrayal of "Bess" in the 25th anniversary production of Beth Henley’s Abundance.
A native of Washington, D.C., and a graduate of the prestigious National Cathedral School, Lily attended Washington and Lee University, where she earned a degree in Art History and was honored with the John Graham Award in Fine Arts, given annually to the student who contributes most to theater, studio art, music, and art history. She currently serves as both President and Chairman of the Board of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club, an organization founded in 1925 by many of the film industry’s legends.
Lily will soon appear in two independent films: the period parody The Love Witch (2016) and the dark comedy The Lady Killers (2017), which she also co-produced. Later this year, she will be featured in the heartfelt character drama Home to Roost.
At first glance, Lily Holleman’s appearance might mislead you about the types of characters and performances she delivers. But if you see through to her ferocity, integrity, innate decency, and boundless curiosity, you realize she is anything but deceptive.
