Helen Hunt
Award Winning Actress, Accomplished Writer, Director & Producer
Helen Hunt
Award Winning Actress, Accomplished Writer, Director & Producer
Biography
Helen Hunt is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy-winning artist whose distinguished career spans film, television, and theater—not only as an acclaimed actress, but also as an accomplished writer, director, and producer.
Earlier this summer, Hunt was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, recognizing a career defined by versatility, intelligence, and creative courage.
Hunt returned to the stage this past February to star in BETRAYAL, Harold Pinter’s celebrated drama, directed by Susan V. Booth at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. She played Emma opposite Ian Barford, who portrayed Robert.
In 2022, she completed a prestigious residency at The Old Vic Theatre in London, starring in the European premiere of EUREKA DAY, Jonathan Spector’s sharp and timely satire about parental attitudes to an outbreak of mumps. The production was directed by Katy Rudd, with a cast including Kirsten Foster, Mark McKinney, Ben Schnetzer, and Susan Kelechi Watson.
In television, Hunt can most recently be seen as Winnie Landell in the critically acclaimed HBO Max series HACKS, created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. She also starred as Rainey in the STARZ series BLINDSPOTTING, based on the 2018 film of the same name, created by Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal. The show was nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best New Scripted Series in 2022, with its second season released in April 2023.
In 2019, Hunt reprised her beloved role as Jamie Buchman opposite Paul Reiser in a limited-series revival of MAD ABOUT YOU for Spectrum Originals, with all episodes released on demand. Earlier in the show's original run, Hunt earned four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards (three for Lead Actress and one as a Producer for Best Comedy), and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her work on MAD ABOUT YOU. Her other notable television work includes the acclaimed HBO miniseries EMPIRE FALLS.
In film, she can next be seen in Peter Greenaway’s LUCCA MORTIS, opposite Dustin Hoffman.
In 2012, Hunt received widespread acclaim for her performance in THE SESSIONS, earning an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female, along with nominations from the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, BAFTA, and Broadcast Film Critics’ Awards. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award and the Jury Prize for Best Ensemble. Hunt won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in AS GOOD AS IT GETS, also earning a Golden Globe and SAG Award.
Her other widely recognized film credits include: Netflix’s Comedy CANDY JAR, RIDE (which Hunt also co-wrote, produced, and directed), DECODING ANNIE PARKER, SOUL SURFER, EVERY DAY, BOBBY, THEN SHE FOUND ME (which Hunt again also co-wrote, produced, and directed), AS GOOD AS IT GETS, WHAT WOMEN WANT, CASTAWAY, A GOOD WOMAN, Woody Allen’s THE CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION, Robert Altman’s DR. T AND THE WOMEN, PAY IT FORWARD, and TWISTER. Hunt can last be seen in HOW IT ENDS, Michael Cristopher’s THE NIGHT CLERK and Adam Randall’s thriller I SEE YOU. Early career film credits are: THE WATERDANCE, KISS OF DEATH, MR. SATURDAY NIGHT, PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, NEXT OF KIN, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, PROJECT X. and MILES FROM HOME.
Speech Topics
Fighting for Equality in Hollywood & Beyond
When it comes to fighting for equality for women, Helen Hunt, an award-winning actress, writer, director and producer will never be silent. She’s been vocal about equal rights in Hollywood and beyond for over a decade. And she’s not the only one. Hunt’s great-great-grandmother was a pivotal figure in the battle for women's equality — a fact Hunt learned while exploring her family tree on NBC’s Who Do You Think You Are. It fired her up even more to take on the fight. In this conversation, Hunt shares her story of growing up in Hollywood, the sexism she faced and becoming politically engaged, from participating in marches with her daughter to demanding equal rights and opportunity on the set of the reboot of Mad About You. You’ll learn about this incredibly talented woman and what it takes to fight for your rights, whether you are in the film industry or any other place where there is disparity.
Re-Imagining Your Life
It’s no secret that Hollywood is not kind to actresses of a certain age — with fewer and fewer roles available. And yet, it hasn’t stopped Helen Hunt from moving forward and creating her own opportunities to excel. The Oscar-winning actor, writer, director and producer still acts in projects of her own choosing, has written, directed and produced two screenplays and even returned to school. In this conversation, Hunt shares her own journey of reinventing her own life and why it’s never too late to be brave and live your life fully.
Women’s Empowerment
There’s an old saying that “empowered women empower women” and no more is that true than for Helen Hunt. The actress, writer, director and producer learned through the years that when women support each other in their careers and lives, nothing can stop them. In this conversation, Hunt reveals the moments that others have helped her along the path of life and had her back — no matter the circumstance — and why there is so much power in supporting each other instead of going it alone.
How to Get Ahead in Hollywood
It’s a fact: Breaking into the entertainment industry is incredibly tough. But it’s still possible. You have to be pro-active creatively as an artist and not wait for the job to be handed to you, says Helen Hunt. And she should know. The actor, writer, director and producer is the daughter of a director/acting teacher. She has been in the business herself for almost 50 years and has won multiple Emmies, Golden Globes and an Academy Award for best actress for As Good as it Gets. In this conversation, Hunt shares her Hollywood journey, along with career advice for those who want to break into the business.
Cultivating Creativity
It’s a common misconception that creativity is this crazy talent that can’t be learned — more of a God-given gift. But in fact, we all have the capacity to be creative. It just needs to be encouraged and allowed to flourish. In this conversation, actor, writer, producer and director Helen Hunt shares the tools she uses to reach her full creative potential and how you can nurture innovation and imagination in your kids, as well.
)
)
)