Famous actresses from New Jersey
Anyone who wants to admire and envy the world's biggest stars needs only to look on Instagram. From A-list movie stars and major musicians to pro ball players and comedians who landed their own sitcoms, there's no shortage of evidence of just how good the good life is. They post pictures of themselves with other big shots on rooftop bars, at exclusive clubs, at backstage parties, and at restaurants where regular people can't get a reservation.
But the vast majority of these celebrities were born and raised outside of Hollywood, finding their way to the bright lights and big money of superstardom from obscure beginnings in regular small towns and cities across the country.
Stacker compiled a list of actresses that were born in New Jersey from IMDb's most popular list. Movie poster images are from OMDb. Keep reading to see which of your favorite actresses are from your home state.
Vera Farmiga
- Known for:
--- Madolyn in "The Departed" (2006)
--- Alex Goran in "Up in the Air" (2009)
--- Kate in "Orphan" (2009)
Kirsten Dunst
- Known for:
--- Mary Jane Watson in "Spider-Man" (2002)
--- Justine in "Melancholia" (2011)
--- Younger Amy March in "Little Women" (1994)
Diane Guerrero
- Known for:
--- Maritza Ramos in "Orange Is the New Black" (2013-2019)
--- ) in "Emoticon" Amanda Nevins
--- Doom Patrol in "/title/tt2147275/?ref_=nm_knf_i2" Crazy Jane / Driver 8 / Miranda / Baby Doll / Dr. Harrison / Driver-8 / Flit / Hammerhead / Hangman's Beautiful Daughter / Karen / Scarlet Harlot / The Secretary
Rachel Zegler
- Known for:
--- María in "West Side Story" (2021)
--- Snow White in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (2023)
--- Actress in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" (2023)
Hunter Schafer
- Known for:
--- Jules Vaughn in "Euphoria" (2019-2022)
--- Actress in "Cuckoo"
--- Self in "Build" (2019)
Zoe Saldana
- Known for:
--- Gamora in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)
--- Neytiri in "Avatar" (2009)
--- Uhura in "Star Trek" (2009)
Meryl Streep
- Known for:
--- Karen in "Out of Africa" (1985)
--- Sophie in "Sophie's Choice" (1982)
--- Violet Weston in "August: Osage County" (2013)
Hope Davis
- Known for:
--- Joyce Brabner in "American Splendor" (2003)
--- Madeleine Gravis in "Synecdoche, New York" (2008)
--- Jeannie Schmidt in "About Schmidt" (2002)
Judith Light
- Known for:
--- Angela Bower in "Who's the Boss?" (1984-1992)
--- Shelly Pfefferman in "Transparent" (2014-2019)
--- Claire Meade in "Ugly Betty" (2006-2010)
Jane Krakowski
- Known for:
--- Jenna Maroney / Dusty Springfield in "30 Rock" (2006-2013)
--- Cousin Vicki in "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983)
--- Elaine Vassal in "Ally McBeal" (1997-2002)
Elizabeth Gillies
- Known for:
--- Fallon Carrington / Alexis Carrington in "Dynasty" (2017-2021)
--- Heather in "Vacation" (2015)
--- Jade West / Self in "Victorious" (2010-2013)
Taissa Farmiga
- Known for:
--- Max Cartwright in "The Final Girls" (2015)
--- Melanie Clark in "6 Years" (2015)
--- Sam in "The Bling Ring" (2013)
Cristin Milioti
- Known for:
--- Teresa Petrillo in "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013)
--- Sarah in "Palm Springs" (2020)
--- Betsy Solverson in "Fargo" (2015)
Katrina Bowden
- Known for:
--- Allison in "Tucker and Dale vs Evil" (2010)
--- Shelby in "Piranha 3DD" (2012)
--- Cerie in "30 Rock" (2006-2013)
Kira Kosarin
- Known for:
--- Phoebe Thunderman / Phoebe Monica Rachel Thunderman in "The Thundermans" (2013-2018)
--- Ellie Jensen-Bauer in "One Crazy Cruise" (2015)
--- Phoebe Thunderman in "Henry Danger" (2016-2020)
Melissa Rauch
- Known for:
--- Bernadette Rostenkowski in "The Big Bang Theory" (2009-2019)
--- Harley Quinn / Harleen Quinzel in "Batman and Harley Quinn" (2017)
--- Hope Ann Greggory in "The Bronze" (2015)
Ali Larter
- Known for:
--- Clear Rivers in "Final Destination" (2000)
--- Lisa in "Obsessed" (2009)
--- Brooke Taylor Windham in "Legally Blonde" (2001)
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe
- Known for:
--- Taylor Vaughan in "She's All That" (1999)
--- Sarah in "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" (1998)
--- Ashley in "Whatever It Takes" (2000)
Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez
- Known for:
--- Blanca Rodriguez in "Pose" (2018-2021)
--- Ebony in "Saturday Church" (2017)
--- Carolyn in "tick, tick...BOOM!" (2021)
Tara Reid
- Known for:
--- Vicky in "American Pie" (1999)
--- Bunny Lebowski in "The Big Lebowski" (1998)
--- Sasha Thomas in "Urban Legend" (1998)
Midori Francis
- Known for:
--- Lily in "Dash & Lily" (2020)
--- Lily in "Good Boys" (2019)
--- Alicia in "The Sex Lives of College Girls" (2021)
Lauren Cohan
- Known for:
--- Greta Evans in "The Boy" (2016)
--- Alice Kerr in "Mile 22" (2018)
--- Maggie Rhee / Maggie Greene / Maggie in "The Walking Dead" (2011-2022)
Jessica Hecht
- Known for:
--- Helena in "Whatever Works" (2009)
--- Susan / Susan Bunch in "Friends" (1994-2000)
--- Boy's Mother in "Stay" (2005)
Bebe Neuwirth
- Known for:
--- Dr. Lilith Sternin / Self in "Cheers" (1986-1993)
--- Nora Shepherd in "Jumanji" (1995)
--- Lana Jong in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (2003)
Laura San Giacomo
- Known for:
--- Cynthia in "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" (1989)
--- Kit De Luca in "Pretty Woman" (1990)
--- Crazy Cora in "Quigley Down Under" (1990)
Courtney Henggeler
- Known for:
--- Amanda LaRusso in "Cobra Kai" (2018-2021)
--- Missy Cooper in "The Big Bang Theory" (2008-2018)
--- Claudia in "Mom" (2013-2015)
Ashley Tisdale
- Known for:
--- Candace Flynn / Can-tok / Constance / Control Freak / Princess Baldegunde in "Phineas and Ferb" (2007-2015)
--- Sharpay Evans in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (2008)
--- Jody in "Scary Movie V" (2013)
Sue Ane Langdon
- Known for:
--- Aunt Esther in "UHF" (1989)
--- Mitzi in "Frankie and Johnny" (1966)
--- Lillian Nuvo in "Arnie" (1970-1972)
Joanna Cassidy
- Known for:
--- Zhora in "Blade Runner" (1982)
--- Dolores in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988)
--- Eileen Gallagher in "The Package" (1989)
Janeane Garofalo
- Known for:
--- Bowler in "Mystery Men" (1999)
--- Colette in "Ratatouille" (2007)
--- Abby in "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" (1996)
Mary McCormack
- Known for:
--- Andrea Baker in "Deep Impact" (1998)
--- Mary Shannon in "In Plain Sight" (2008-2012)
--- Rachel Powell in "K-PAX" (2001)
Queen Latifah
- Known for:
--- Motormouth Maybelle in "Hairspray" (2007)
--- Matron Mama Morton in "Chicago" (2002)
--- Producer in "Bringing Down the House" (2003)
Laura Prepon
- Known for:
--- Alex Vause in "Orange Is the New Black" (2013-2019)
--- Donna Pinciotti in "That '70s Show" (1998-2006)
--- Charlotte Dylan in "The Hero" (2017)
Melissa Fumero
- Known for:
--- Amy Santiago in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (2013-2021)
--- Melissa in "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" (2009)
--- Adriana Cramer / Adriana Colon / Adriana Cramer Balsom / Adriana Cremer in "One Life to Live" (1998-2011)
Kate Micucci
- Known for:
--- Stacy in "When in Rome" (2010)
--- Sadie Miller in "Steven Universe" (2013-2019)
--- Clayface in "The Lego Batman Movie" (2017)
Linda Hunt
- Known for:
--- Billy Kwan in "The Year of Living Dangerously" (1982)
--- Miss Schlowski in "Kindergarten Cop" (1990)
--- Shadout Mapes in "Dune" (1984)
Danika Yarosh
- Known for:
--- Samantha in "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016)
--- Malina Bennet in "Heroes Reborn" (2015-2016)
--- Caroline Found in "The Miracle Season" (2018)
Lee Garlington
- Known for:
--- Mary Pat Foley in "The Sum of All Fears" (2002)
--- Dr. Elena Rhyzkov in "Sneakers" (1992)
--- Myrna in "Psycho II" (1983)
Michelle Borth
- Known for:
--- Super Hero Mary in "Shazam!" (2019)
--- Catherine Rollins / Lt. Catherine Rollins in "Hawaii Five-0" (2010-2020)
--- Lynn Fenton in "Teenage Cocktail" (2016)
Tawny Cypress
- Known for:
--- Inez in "Inez & Doug & Kira" (2019)
--- Allisa in "Brooklyn's Finest" (2009)
--- Melissa in "Autumn in New York" (2000)
Liza Weil
- Known for:
--- Paris Geller in "Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007)
--- Suicide Girl in "Dragonfly" (2002)
--- Debbie the Babysitter in "Stir of Echoes" (1999)
Jennifer Taylor
- Known for:
--- Chelsea / Suzanne / Nina / Tina in "Two and a Half Men" (2003-2015)
--- Meg Harvey in "God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness" (2018)
--- Anne Seery in "Shameless" (2016-2018)
Madeline Brewer
- Known for:
--- Janine Lindo in "The Handmaid's Tale" (2017-2021)
--- Dawn in "Hustlers" (2019)
--- Alice / Lola in "Cam" (2018)
Vivian Blaine
- Died: 12/9/1995
- Known for:
--- Miss Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" (1955)
--- Emily Edwards in "State Fair" (1945)
--- Mary Elizabeth 'Doll Face' Carroll in "Doll Face" (1945)
Kerry Bishé
- Known for:
--- Kathy Stafford in "Argo" (2012)
--- Cheyenne in "Red State" (2011)
--- Twenty-Something Girl Dreaming in "Sex and the City" (2008)
Elizabeth Peña
- Died: 10/14/2014
- Known for:
--- Johnson in "Rush Hour" (1998)
--- Pilar in "Lone Star" (1996)
--- Rosie Morales in "La Bamba" (1987)
Gillian Vigman
- Known for:
--- Pam Gringe in "Step Brothers" (2008)
--- Stephanie in "The Hangover" (2009)
--- Female Blooper Anchor #1 in "Walk of Shame" (2014)
Lisa Marie
- Known for:
--- May Lewis in "We Are Still Here" (2015)
--- Vampira in "Ed Wood" (1994)
--- Martian Girl in "Mars Attacks!" (1996)
Christina Milian
- Known for:
--- Linda Moon in "Be Cool" (2005)
--- Isabelle Fuentes in "Pulse" (2006)
--- Paris Morgan in "Love Don't Cost a Thing" (2003)