Elisabeth Singleton Moss was born on July 24, 1982, in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, Linda and Ronald Charles Moss, were both musicians. She has British ancestry through her mother. Moss began taking ballet lessons at a young age and traveled to New York City as a teenager to study at the School of American Ballet. She also studied acting at the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio.
Moss began her acting career in the early 1990s, with minor roles in television series and films. Her early credits include appearances in shows like “Picket Fences” and “Law & Order.” She gained early recognition for her role as Zoey Bartlet, the youngest daughter of President Josiah Bartlet, in the NBC political drama “The West Wing” (1999-2006).
Moss achieved widespread recognition for her portrayal of Peggy Olson in the AMC period drama “Mad Men” (2007-2015). Her performance earned her six Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The role is considered a career-defining moment, showcasing her versatility and dramatic range.
Following “Mad Men,” Moss continued to garner critical acclaim for her role as Detective Robin Griffin in the BBC Two/SundanceTV crime drama miniseries “Top of the Lake” (2013, 2017). She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in the first season. Her success continued with her starring role as June Osborne/Offred in the Hulu dystopian drama “The Handmaid’s Tale” (2017-present). For this role, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and two Golden Globe Award nominations.
Moss has also had a successful film career, appearing in a variety of genres. Her notable film roles include: