Willa Fitzgerald was born on January 17, 1991, in Nashville, Tennessee. She attended the Harpeth Hall School, an all-girls college preparatory school. She graduated from Yale University in 2013 with a degree in Theater Studies.
Fitzgerald began her professional acting career shortly after graduating from Yale. She has worked in television, film, and theater. Her early roles included appearances in television series such as Blue Bloods, Alpha House, and The Following.
Fitzgerald gained significant recognition for her starring role as Emma Duval in the MTV television series Scream (2015-2016), a television adaptation of the popular horror film franchise. She also starred as Meg March in the 2017 PBS miniseries adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Other notable television roles include Dare Me (2019-2020) and Reacher (2022), where she played Roscoe Conklin.
Fitzgerald has appeared in several films, including For the Love of George (2018), Blood Money (2017), and Beach House (2017). She played Kitsey Barbour in the 2019 film adaptation of Donna Tartt’s novel, The Goldfinch. Additionally, she starred in the 2022 film All Man.
While specific awards and nominations are still accumulating, Fitzgerald has garnered attention for her performances in various roles. Her work in Scream and Reacher, in particular, has been praised by critics and audiences alike.