Mireille Enos

An intense presence, Mireille Enos worked steadily as a character actress on television while building an acclaimed theatrical career. Nominated for a Tony opposite Kathleen Turner in the Broadway revival of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 2005, Enos achieved under-the-radar fame for her constant string of TV guest spots, including turns on "Medium" (NBC, 2005-09; CBS, 2009-2011) and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC, 2001-07; USA Network, 2007-2011), but earned more attention for her long-running stint as twin sisters on the polygamy drama "Big Love" (HBO, 2006-2011) as well as her 2008 marriage to character actor Alan Ruck.

Her mainstream breakthrough came as the introspective, ultra-focused homicide detective Sarah Linden on "The Killing" (AMC 2011-13; Netflix, 2014). The stylish, dark adaptation of the Danish murder mystery electrified pop-culture fans, with critics and audiences hailing Enos' groundbreaking performance as one of the series' most powerful assets. Serious-minded and dedicated to her craft, Enos consistently proved herself an actress of immense substance and depth.

Born Sept. 1975 in Houston, TX, Mireille Enos was the daughter of an American father and French mother. Raised in the Mormon faith, she studied acting at Brigham Young University before landing a spot with the Classic Stage Company in New York City. As her reputation for finely honed theatrical performances grew, Enos also began collecting screen credits, including a turn as a yoga instructor in the Ashley Judd/Hugh Jackman romantic comedy "Someone Like You " (2001). She guest starred on episodes of everything from "Sex and the City" (HBO, 1998-2004) to "Strong Medicine" (Lifetime, 2000-06) to "Rescue Me" (FX, 2004-2011) but continued to moonlight on the stage as well.

Critics raved about her performances in productions of classics such as "Mourning Becomes Electra," "The Miracle Worker" and "The Invention of Love," and she earned a 2005 Best Supporting Actress Tony nomination for her turn as the timid Honey in the Kathleen Turner-led Broadway revival of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" When the play was transferred the following year to London's West End, she earned excellent reviews from European critics as well.

Enos' professional momentum increased accordingly; she booked even more television work, including spots on "Crossing Jordan" (NBC, 2001-07), "CSI: Miami" (CBS, 2002- 2012), "Medium" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." A lengthier and showier display of her considerable acting chops came when she played twin sisters JoDeen and Kathy Marquart on the polygamy drama "Big Love." In 2008, she married character actor Alan Ruck, and the two welcomed a daughter in 2010.

The following year proved Enos' mainstream breakthrough, however, when she was chosen to head the cast of "The Killing" (AMC 2011-13; Netflix, 2014), the moody American adaptation of the immensely popular Danish murder mystery. As lead homicide detective Sarah Linden, Enos received rapturous reviews from critics, who hailed the character as groundbreaking - an often silent, introspective cop and single mother defined by her laser focus and sharp edges. The stylishly downbeat series became a sensation, with Enos and her magnetic performance at its center. Not unexpectedly, Enos earned Emmy and Golden Globe award nominations in 2012.

Despite the acclaim, however, many viewers became frustrated with the way that the narrative unfolded on "The Killing," putting its fate in jeopardy. In January of 2013, Enos had her first significant film role, playing the patient wife of Josh Brolin's lead cop character in the period crime drama "Gangster Squad." That same week, "The Killing" was unexpectedly renewed for its third season, allowing Enos to return for what turned out to be the show's final run.

Meanwhile, her big-screen career continued to thrive, with Enos portraying Karin Lane, the mother of two children who must escape a zombie horde with her husband (Brad Pitt) in "World War Z" (2013). Although production problems had seemingly hindered the movie, it proved to be a huge box-office hit, boding well for her cinematic future.