
Mary Elizabeth 'Sissy' Spacek (born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for four British Academy Film Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. Spacek was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.
Born and raised in Texas, she initially aspired to a career as a recording artist. In 1968, at age 18, she recorded a single, "John, You Went Too Far This Time," under the name Rainbo. She began her professional acting career in the early 1970s, making her debut as an extra in Andy Warhol's Women in Revolt (1971). Her breakout role came with Terrence Malick's influential crime film Badlands (1973), which earned her a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Carrie White in Brian De Palma's horror film Carrie (1976), for which she received her first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. After appearing in the acclaimed films Welcome to L.A. (1976) and Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977), she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in the biographical musical film Coal Miner's Daughter (1980).
Her other Oscar-nominated roles include Missing (1982), The River (1984), Crimes of the Heart (1986), and In the Bedroom (2001). Her other prominent films include Raggedy Man (1981), JFK (1991), Affliction (1997), The Straight Story (1999), Tuck Everlasting (2002), Nine Lives (2005), North Country (2005), Four Christmases (2008), Get Low (2010), The Help (2011), and The Old Man & the Gun (2018). She received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the television films The Good Old Boys (1995) and Last Call (2002), and for her guest role on the HBO drama series Big Love (2011). She portrayed matriarch Sally Rayburn on the Netflix drama thriller series Bloodline (2015–2017), Ruth Deaver on the Hulu psychological horror series Castle Rock (2018), and Ellen Bergman on the Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller series Homecoming (2018).
She has also ventured into music, and recorded vocals for the soundtrack album of Coal Miner's Daughter, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and garnered her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. She released a studio album, Hangin' Up My Heart (1983), which was critically well-received and peaked at number 17 on Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Frequent co-stars
18
Titles
41

Dying for Sex
Gail • 2025
Serie
★7/10

Dø, min kærlighed
Pam • 2025
Film
★6/10

Nattehimmel
Irene York • 2022
Serie
★7/10

Sam & Kate
Tina • 2022
Film
★6/10

Den sidste gentleman
Jewel • 2018
Film
★6/10

Bloodline
Sally Rayburn • 2015
Serie
★7/10

Deadfall
June • 2012
Film
★6/10

Niceville
Missus Walters • 2011
Film
★8/10

Get Low
Mattie Darrow • 2010
Film
★7/10

Four Christmases
Paula • 2008
Film
★6/10

Lake City
Maggie • 2008
Film
★5/10

Pictures of Hollis Woods
Josie Cahill • 2007
Film
★7/10

Hot Rod
Marie Powell • 2007
Film
★6/10

Gray Matters
Dr. Sydney • 2007
Film
★6/10

North Country
Alice Aimes • 2005
Film
★7/10

The Ring 2
Evelyn • 2005
Film
★6/10

An American Haunting
Lucy Bell • 2005
Film
★6/10

Tuck Everlasting
Mae Tuck • 2002
Film
★7/10

In the Bedroom
Ruth Fowler • 2001
Film
★7/10

The Straight Story
Rose • 1999
Film
★8/10

Blast from the Past
Helen • 1999
Film
★7/10

Den Jagede
Margie Fogg • 1998
Film
★6/10

If These Walls Could Talk
Barbara Barrows • 1996
Film
★7/10

The Grass Harp
Verena Talbo • 1996
Film
★6/10

A Place for Annie
Susan Lansing • 1994
Film
★6/10

Trading Mom
Mommy / Mama / Mom / Natasha • 1994
Film
★6/10

Hard Promises
Christine Ann Coalter • 1992
Film
★6/10

JFK
Liz Garrison • 1991
Film
★8/10

The Long Walk Home
Miriam Thompson • 1990
Film
★8/10

'night, Mother
Jessie Cates • 1986
Film
★7/10

Crimes of the Heart
Babe Magrath • 1986
Film
★6/10

Violets are Blue
Augusta "Gussie" Sawyer • 1986
Film
★5/10

Stormfloden
Mae Garvey • 1984
Film
★6/10

Missing
Beth Horman • 1982
Film
★7/10

Coal Miner's Daughter
Loretta Lynn • 1980
Film
★7/10

3 Women
Mildred "Pinky" Rose • 1977
Film
★7/10

Carrie
Carrie • 1976
Film
★7/10

Welcome to L.A.
Linda Murray • 1976
Film
★5/10

Badlands
Holly Sargis • 1974
Film
★8/10

Ginger in the Morning
Ginger Brown • 1974
Film
★4/10

Hakkedrenge
Poppy • 1972
Film
★6/10
