Can you be a real Hollywood star even though nobody knows you? The answer is auburn-haired, beautiful and her name is Judy Greer. But that doesn’t really matter – nobody remembers names anyway!
Clooney, Heigl, Lopez and co.: the list of her friends reads just as prominently as the excerpts from her career ladder. From “Planet of the Apes” to “Kiss the Coach” and numerous other schmaltzy flicks, the 39-year-old’s CV is overflowing with top Hollywood stars. In the series segment, she can also boast crème-de-la-crème references (“Two and a Half Men”, “How I Met Your Mother”, “Californication”). And the actress can even cross a self-written car biography off her bucket list. And yet nobody knows who we are actually talking about here. Judy what? Who the fuck is the woman with the strawberry blonde hair? It’s Judy Greer – Hollywood’s most famous supporting role. The woman who generally pales as an inconspicuous BFF next to the female lead in romantic comedies. The faithful soul that the main cast only need to verbalize their inner dialogues.
Life in the second row
A fate that Judy Greer is by no means only familiar with from the silver screen. As a redhead with braces, Greer didn’t exactly hit the jackpot in the school playground. “I was never noticed. Just teased.” At least Fortuna had mercy on her looks and gave the adolescent Judy that sexy girl-next-door charm. But aside from that, fate continues to reach out wherever it can. Industry whisperings about occasional nominations but never winning TV awards are nasty enough. “What’s even worse is that I’m constantly being approached by strangers and mistaken for well-known Hollywood celebrities,” says Greer. In the meantime, she has become accustomed to her lack of recognition value, spares herself the protest and diligently distributes fake autographs. After all, such incidents make it easy for to find a suitable title for her autobiography: “I don’t know what you know me from. Confessions of a Co-Star” demonstrates self-irony, a large portion of courage and also fits like a glove in terms of content. For a good book fee, you can make a virtue out of necessity.
Not born to be a Hollywood star
On the red carpet, however, things look different with a good face. Venturing to the Oscars with the fate of the eternal Cinderella is bound to go wrong. One step on the hem of the designer frock is enough to send hundreds of pearl embellishments rolling down the industry’s most important carpet. The crimson blush of her cheeks, the hysterically desperate smile and the unobstructed view of the flesh-colored support lingerie make Judy human, but also explain why she was neither class president nor will she ever be cast in the leading role. “That was the most embarrassing moment of my life. Maybe I just wasn’t born to be a Hollywood star.” At least Judy Greer didn’t cry. Having to carry home the first and perhaps only invitation to the Oscars without an award and with a bag full of laughter instead sucks. Just like it sucks to be the eternal runner-up. “After all, I didn’t study acting at DePaul University in Chicago to never get a leading role. But to be honest, after 15 years in the business, I kind of used to this fate.” And with that, Judy seemingly casts the redeeming spell. Because – simsalabim – Cinderella doesn’t become a princess. But a satisfied person. In the shadow of the rich and beautiful, life is quite cozy.
Judy Greer life & work
Judy Greer was born on 20. She was born Judith Laura Evans in Detroit, Michigan, on July 1975. In 1997, she successfully completed her acting studies at DePaul University in Chicago. Judy Greer has been married to producer Dean Johnson since December 2011.
Find out more about Judy Greer’s biography here.
Since 1997, Judy Greer has starred in more than 50 films and just as many TV series.
Here you will find a complete overview of all roles played by Judy Greer.
Judy Greer videos
Judy Greer talks about her life as a co-cast member in an interview.
Legendary: Judy Greer in a running gag in the TV series “Arrested Development”.