Greta Celeste Gerwig was born on August 4, 1983, in Sacramento, California. She is the daughter of Christine (née Sauer), an OB-GYN nurse, and John Gerwig, a computer programmer and consultant. Gerwig has German, Irish, and English ancestry. She was raised Roman Catholic and attended St. Francis High School, a private Catholic all-girls school in Sacramento. She studied English and philosophy at Barnard College in New York City, graduating in 2006.
Gerwig began her acting career in the mid-2000s, primarily associated with the mumblecore film movement. She often collaborated with filmmakers such as Joe Swanberg, appearing in films like LOL (2006), Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007), and Nights and Weekends (2008), which she co-directed with Swanberg.
Her career gained wider recognition through roles in mainstream independent films. Notable performances include Baghead (2008), Greenberg (2010) directed by Noah Baumbach, and Arthur (2011).
Further acclaimed performances include roles in Frances Ha (2012), which she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, earning her a Golden Globe nomination, and Mistress America (2015), also co-written with Baumbach. She also appeared in films like Maggie’s Plan (2015), 20th Century Women (2016), and Jackie (2016).
Gerwig transitioned into directing with her solo directorial debut, Lady Bird (2017), which she also wrote. The film was critically acclaimed and nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Gerwig. She became the fifth woman ever to be nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards.
Her second solo directorial effort, Little Women (2019), which she wrote and directed, also received widespread acclaim and was