Elizabeth Jean "Busy" Philipps (born June 25, 1979) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on the television series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), Dawson's Creek (2001–2003), and ER (2006–2007), and for her portrayal of Laurie Keller on the ABC series Cougar Town (2009–2015), for which she received the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[1] She has also appeared in supporting roles in numerous films, such as The Smokers (2000), Home Room (2002), White Chicks (2004), Made of Honor (2008), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), The Gift (2015), and I Feel Pretty (2018). From 2018 to 2019, Philipps hosted her own television talk show Busy Tonight, on E!. She currently stars in the Peacock / Netflix original series Girls5eva.
Busy Philipps | |
|---|---|
_(portrait).jpg) Philipps speaking at South by Southwest in 2019 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Jean Philipps June 25, 1979 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Loyola Marymount University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editPhilipps was born in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[2][3] She received the nickname "Busy" as a child; sources conflict on whether the nickname came from her parents[4] or a babysitter named Susie.[5] She said on her late-night talk show, Busy Tonight, that her mother gave her the nickname, but during her book tour said that her babysitter had given it to her. This was clarified on an episode of Comedy Bang! Bang! when she confirmed to host Scott Aukerman that it was her babysitter.[6] Phillips was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona,[7] where she graduated from Chaparral High School.[8]
Phillips attended Loyola Marymount University at the same time as Colin Hanks and Freaks and Geeks costar Linda Cardellini. She then dated Hanks for several years, after they left school.[3][9][10][11]
Career
edit
While still in high school, Philipps worked at toy trade fairs as a real-life Barbie, her sister Cool Teen Skipper.[5] Among the many people who saw her at toy conventions was actress Sharon Stone, who was impressed with her performance and told Philipps that she would be a star.[4]
Her first major role was Kim Kelly in the 1999–2000 comedy-drama TV series Freaks and Geeks; Philipps appeared in all but one of the show's 18 episodes (the episode "Chokin' & Tokin'").[3][11] She made her film debut in the comedy The Smokers in 2000, and had various small appearances on television.
In 2001, Philipps was cast as Audrey Liddell in the teen drama Dawson's Creek.[3][12]
Philipps appeared in several films, including Home Room (2002) and White Chicks (2004). She was cast in the UPN sitcom Love, Inc. in a role originally intended for Shannen Doherty.[13] The show lasted one season (2005–2006). In 2006, she had a major recurring role as Hope Bobeck on ER, alongside her Freaks and Geeks co-star Linda Cardellini.[3][12] During her second year on ER, her character was written out as heading to South America to "fulfill her Christian mission".[14]
Philipps had a co-credit for the storyline of the 2007 comedy film Blades of Glory.[3][12][15] A year later, she appeared in a supporting role in Made of Honor.[3]
She made appearances in He's Just Not That Into You as Kelli Ann[16] and on an episode of How I Met Your Mother.
From 2009 to 2015, Philipps portrayed Laurie Keller in the television series Cougar Town.[12] She routinely contributed to the Thrilling Adventure Hour, a live stage radio show.[17] Her primary recurring character was the Red Plains Rider.[18]
On a 2010 appearance on Chelsea Lately, Philipps said that she auditioned for the hit television show Glee just one week after giving birth, following a pregnancy during which she gained 80 pounds.[19]
Philipps starred on the HBO series Vice Principals (2016–2017).[20]
In 2017, she signed on as co-lead opposite Casey Wilson in Tina Fey's comedy pilot The Sackett Sisters for NBC, but it was not picked up.[21]
In 2018 and 2019, Philipps played Sheba Goodman in season 4 of Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
She had a late-night talk show called Busy Tonight, which aired on E! from October 28, 2018, to May 16, 2019.[22][23] It was cancelled the same day Philipps was nominated for a 2019 Critics Choice Award.[24] In August 2020 she began hosting a podcast, Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best, along with former Busy Tonight writers Caissie St. Onge and Shantira Jackson.[25]
In October 2020 it was announced that she had joined the main cast of Peacock's Girls5eva, a musical comedy about a female pop group that reunites 20 years after it flamed out. In its third season the show, created by Meredith Scardino, shifted to Netflix.[26]
In February 28, 2023, Philipps was announced as Mrs. George in the 2024 film adaptation of the musical Mean Girls, based on the 2018 Broadway musical.[27]
Book
editPhilipps's memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little, was released October 18, 2018.[28] It includes a passage where she describes a physical altercation she had with James Franco on the set of Freaks and Geeks. She said she was "bummed" by the amount of attention drawn to just this incident in the book, saying the story was not new, and that she meant it "to illustrate a larger point about the way women are treated in this business and in life."[29]
Personal life
editPhilipps married screenwriter Marc Silverstein on June 16, 2007.[3][12] They have two daughters: Birdie Leigh, born in 2008, and Cricket Pearl, born in 2013.[30][31][32][33][34] They separated in February 2021.[35] Philipps has ADHD.[36]
Political views
editAfter the Alabama Legislature's May 14, 2019, passage of House Bill 314 (also known as the "Human Life Protection Act"), Philipps advocated that women speak out if they had had abortions. On May 14, she invoked the hashtag #YouKnowMe (established on February 18) to her 370,000 followers on Twitter, with her call for testimonies:[37] "1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth."[38] The previous week she revealed on her Busy Tonight TV show that she had an abortion at age 15.[39]
On June 4, 2019, Philipps gave a testimonial before the House Judiciary Committee defending women's right to access more abortion clinics.[40][41] She spoke of her own experience with abortion: "I am a human being that deserves autonomy in this country that calls itself free, and choices that a human being makes about their own bodies should not be legislated by strangers who can't possibly know or understand each individual's circumstances or beliefs."[42]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Smokers | Karen Carter | |
| 2002 | Home Room | Alicia Browning | |
| 2004 | Mummy an' the Armadillo | Carol Ann | |
| White Chicks | Karen Googlestein | ||
| 2005 | Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story | Additional Voices (voice) | |
| 2008 | Made of Honor | Melissa | |
| 2009 | He's Just Not That Into You | Kelli Ann | |
| 2010 | Revolution | Emily | Short film |
| 2011 | I Don't Know How She Does It | Wendy Best | |
| 2012 | The Reef 2: High Tide | Cordelia (voice) | |
| Made in Cleveland | Shannon | ||
| 2013 | A Case of You | Ashley | |
| 2014 | Jason Nash is Married | Busy Philipps | |
| 2015 | The Gift | Duffy | |
| 2016 | FML | Amanda | |
| 2018 | I Feel Pretty | Jane | |
| 2022 | DC League of Super-Pets | Foofy Dog (voice) | |
| 2024 | Mean Girls | Mrs. George |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Saving Graces | Mindy | TV series |
| 1999–2000 | Freaks and Geeks | Kim Kelly | 18 episodes |
| 2000 | Malcolm in the Middle | Meghan | Episode: "High School Play" |
| 2001 | Anatomy of a Hate Crime | Chasity Pasley | Television film |
| Spring Break Lawyer | Jenny | ||
| Dead Last | Tracy Sallback | Episode: "Death Is in the Air" | |
| 2001–2003 | Dawson's Creek | Audrey Liddell | Main role (season 6); recurring (season 5) |
| 2002 | Undeclared | Kelly | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Criminology 101 | Polly | Television film |
| 2004 | Foster Hall | Peg Hall | |
| 2005 | Life As We Know It | Alex Morrill | 2 episodes |
| Testing Bob | Madison 'Maddie' West | Television film | |
| Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Korlianne (voice) | Episode: "Girl Trouble" | |
| 2005–2006 | Love, Inc. | Denise Johnson | 22 episodes |
| 2005, 2018 | American Dad! | Dana / Blanch (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | ER | Dr. Hope Bobeck | 19 episodes |
| 2007 | Entourage | Cheryl | Episode: "Dog Day Afternoon" |
| How I Met Your Mother | Rachel | Episode: "Third Wheel" | |
| 2008–2009 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Kacy Corbin | 5 episodes |
| 2009 | Kath & Kim | Whitney | Episode: "Competition" |
| 2009–2015 | Cougar Town | Laurie Keller | Main role |
| 2011 | Community | Greendale Team Member | Episode: "For a Few Paintballs More" |
| Fish Hooks | Clamanda (voice) | Episode: "We've Got Fish Spirits" | |
| 2012 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Herself | Episode: "A Reunion..." |
| RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Episode: "RuPaul's Gaff In" | ||
| 2013 | Arrested Development | Joan | Episode: "Borderline Personalities" |
| 2014 | Garfunkel and Oates | Karen | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2018 | Drunk History | Various | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Bottom's Butte | Beverly Bottom (voice) | Episode: "Pilot |
| 2016 | New Girl | Connie | Episode: "300 Feet" |
| Angie Tribeca | Courtney Woodpatch-Newton | Episode: "Miso Dead" | |
| Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Cate Kates | Episode: "Spiritual Gurus" | |
| 2016–2017 | Vice Principals | Gale Liptrapp | Main role |
| 2017 | The Odd Couple | Natasha | Episode: "Should She Stay or Should She Go?" |
| Chopped Junior | Herself (guest judge) | Episode: "Curry Hurry" | |
| The Sackett Sisters | Mandy Sackett | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Beat Bobby Flay | Herself (guest judge) | Episode: "Tame the Flame" | |
| 2018 | Camping[43] | Allison | Episode: "Up All Night" |
| 2018–2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Sheba Goodman | 2 episodes |
| Busy Tonight | Herself | Main role; also executive producer | |
| 2019 | Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show | Episode: "Full House But Black" | |
| 2021 | Search Party | Donna | Episode: "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig" |
| 2021–present | Girls5eva | Summer Dutkowsky | Main role |
| 2023 | With Love | Amanda | Episode: "Lily's Double Quinceañera" |
| Single Drunk Female | Darby | 3 episodes |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Teen Choice Awards | Dawson's Creek | Choice TV: Sidekick | Nominated |
| 2010 | Entertainment Weekly | Cougar Town | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won[44] |
| 2011 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won[citation needed] | |
| Gold Derby Awards | Comedy Supporting Actress | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "PHOTOS - Busy Philipps représente Cougar Town aux People's Choice Awards". purebreak.com (in French). Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "Busy Philipps Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Heldman, Breanne L. (April 25, 2008). "'Made of Honor' star Busy Philipps has a lot on her plate". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ a b Heawood, Sophie (October 21, 2018). "Busy Philipps: 'I've been on three big TV shows but was broke by the age of 28'". The Observer. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ^ a b "Busy Philipps". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ^ "Busy Burgeys, episode #672 of Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast on Earwolf". www.earwolf.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (March 14, 2024). "Busy Philipps Took Over Social Media. Now She's Taking Over Netflix". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024.
- ^ "Busy Phillips and the Bella Twins Reminisce on Growing Up in Arizona". ABC 15. February 21, 2019. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024.
- ^ Soriano, César G. (January 10, 2002). "Colin Hanks follows his dad's lead". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ Turner, Lauren (February 12, 2016). "66 Celebrity Couples You Most Definitely Forgot About". Pop Sugar. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Amy (March 14, 2011). "Judd Apatow's 'Freaks and Geeks' gang reminisces -- and mocks James Franco". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e O'Toole, Lesley (February 4, 2015). "Busy Philipps Pours One Out for 'Cougar Town'". Backstage. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ Brownfield, Paul (September 22, 2005). "Don't make a date with 'Love, Inc.'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt (August 31, 2007). "Busy Busy Philipps Checks Out of the ER". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Halterman, Jim (September 29, 2009). "COUGAR TOWN's Busy Philipps on being a troublemaker". Jim Halterman. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Specter, Emma (April 6, 2020). "21 Thoughts I Had While Rewatching 'He's Just Not That Into You'". Vogue. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ Weber, Sarah (March 17, 2015). "Preparing for the end of 'Thrilling Adventure Hour'". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on February 17, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ Arnold, Joel (February 5, 2014). "Inside 'The Thrilling Adventure Hour' Podcast with Ben Acker and Ben Blacker". SplitSider. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ "Busy Philipps on Chelsea Lately". YouTube. May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 30, 2015). "Busy Philipps Joins HBO Comedy Series 'Vice Principals'". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 17, 2017). "'Sackett Sisters': Busy Philipps To Star In NBC Comedy Pilot Produced By Tina Fey". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (August 16, 2018). "Busy Philipps' Late-Night Talk Show Gets October Premiere at E!". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ Bradley, Laura (May 6, 2019). "Busy Philipps's Busy Tonight Gets Canceled: Why That's So Frustrating". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "E! cancels Busy Philipps' show the same day she was nominated for a Critics Choice award". Newsweek. May 6, 2019. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Chuba, Kirsten (July 21, 2020). "Busy Philipps Launches Podcast With 'Busy Tonight' Writers (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ White, Peter (October 5, 2020). "Busy Philipps Joins The Band In Peacock's 'Girls5eva' Alongside Sara Bareilles & Renée Elise Goldsberry". Deadline. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 1, 2023). "'Mean Girls' Movie Musical At Paramount Adds Busy Philipps". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Philipps, Busy (2018). This Will Only Hurt a Little (Touchstone ed.). New York. ISBN 9781501184710. OCLC 1047694480.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Barna, Dan (October 19, 2018). "Busy Philipps Is 'Bummed' at How the Media Is Covering Her Story About James Franco". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Grossberg, Josh (August 14, 2008). "Busy Phillips' Little Bundle of Joy". E Online. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
- ^ "Update: Actress Busy Philipps expecting first child, a girl". People. March 12, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ^ Finn, Natalie (July 4, 2013). "Busy Philipps Welcomes a Baby Girl With Husband Marc Silverstein". E! Work. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ Dizon, Bettina (September 27, 2022). "Busy Philipps Shares the Story behind Her Daughter Cricket Pearl Silverstein's Name". AmoMama. AmoMama Media Limited. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ Fernández, Alexia. "Busy Philipps Reveals Her 12-Year-Old Child Birdie Is Gay, Prefers They/Them Pronouns". People. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ Goldstein, Joelle (May 27, 2022). "Busy Philipps and Husband Marc Silverstein Have Been Separated for More Than Year: 'It's a Journey'". People. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ "Busy Philipps on the Subtle ADHD Symptoms That She Missed For Years". self.com. May 10, 2024.
- ^ Sini, Rozina (May 16, 2019). "Emotional abortion stories shared with #youknowme". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Philipps, Busy (May 14, 2019). "1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Safronova, Valeriya (May 15, 2019). "Thousands of Women Have Shared Abortion Stories With #YouKnowMe. She Was First". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Watkins, Eli (June 4, 2019). "GOP lawmaker questions actress Busy Philipps on abortion in House hearing". CNN. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ Sheffer, Anna (June 6, 2019). "Busy Philipps testified about reproductive rights, and she shut down a congressman who questioned her". Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ Silver, Jocelyn (June 5, 2019). "Watch Busy Philipps Testify to Congress: The Reason I Had an Abortion "Shouldn't Matter"". W Magazine. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ Gelman, Vlada (May 16, 2018). "TVLine Items: Elisabeth Shue Joins Amazon's Boys, Kimmy Trailer and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ "EW Emmy Party Video: 'Cougar Town' scene-stealer Busy Philipps accepts her EWwy Award!". EW.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
