Vera Ann Farmiga was born on August 6, 1973, in Clifton, New Jersey, to Ukrainian immigrant parents, Michael and Luba Farmiga. She grew up in Irvington, New Jersey, in a Ukrainian community. Farmiga did not speak English fluently until she was six years old. She attended St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School and Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Initially aspiring to become an optometrist, she later studied Performing Arts at Syracuse University, graduating in 1995.
Farmiga began her acting career on stage, making her Broadway debut in Ronald Harwood’s “Taking Sides” in 1996. She transitioned to television with roles in series like “Law & Order” (1997) and “Trinity” (1998). Her early film roles include “Return to Paradise” (1998) and “The Opportunists” (2000).
Farmiga’s career gained momentum in the early 2000s with notable roles in films such as “Down to the Bone” (2004), for which she received the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Acting. She continued to build her reputation with performances in “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004), “Running Scared” (2006), and “The Departed” (2006).
Farmiga has received critical acclaim for her diverse range of roles across various genres. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Up in the Air” (2009). Her other notable film credits include: