Beanie Feldstein Bio
Elizabeth Greer “Beanie” Feldstein (born June 24, 1993) is an American actress and singer. She first gained recognition for her starring roles in the comedy film Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), the comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), and the coming-of-age comedy film Booksmart (2019), the last of which earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical.
On the Broadway stage, Feldstein made her debut as Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly! (2017–18) and went on to portray the lead role of Fanny Brice in the 2022 revival of Funny Girl. In television, she portrayed Monica Lewinsky in the third season of the FX anthology series Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021).
Early Life and Background
Feldstein was born in Los Angeles, California, the only daughter of Sharon Lyn Feldstein, a costume designer and fashion stylist, and Richard Feldstein, a tour accountant for Guns N’ Roses. She is Jewish and the youngest of three children. Her older brother is actor Jonah Hill, and her oldest brother, Jordan Feldstein (1977–2017), worked as a manager for Maroon 5 and died suddenly of a blood clot at age 40.
Her nanny gave her the nickname “Beanie” when she was an infant, a name her brothers also used. Feldstein attended the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles and later trained at Stagedoor Manor, a theatre camp in New York. It was during these formative years that she met fellow actor Ben Platt, who has remained one of her closest friends since high school.
Feldstein graduated from Wesleyan University in 2015 with a degree in sociology. Her early exposure to the entertainment world, combined with training in theatre camps and strong family ties to the industry, helped shape her path toward a professional acting career.
Path to Acting
Feldstein made her acting debut in 2002, appearing in the ABC comedy series My Wife and Kids. In 2012, she played Megan in the musical television pilot Madison High, and in 2015 she appeared as a guest in the third season of the Netflix comedy series Orange Is the New Black. That same year, she took on the role of Anna in the comedy film Fan Girl, gradually building her resume in both television and indie film.
Her larger breakthrough came with a more significant role in the comedy film Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), where she appeared alongside Seth Rogen and Zac Efron. The film was released on May 20, 2016, and helped introduce Feldstein to a wider audience. She soon followed with a role in Whitney Cummings’ directorial debut, The Female Brain, which premiered at the LA Film Festival in June 2017.
Beanie Feldstein Career
Early Career (2002–2015)
During her early years in the industry, Feldstein balanced school and training with small television roles. Her debut on My Wife and Kids in 2002 marked the beginning of her on-screen work, followed by the 2012 musical pilot Madison High and a guest spot on Orange Is the New Black in 2015. These early appearances allowed her to develop her craft while completing her education at Wesleyan University, from which she graduated in 2015.
Her stage work during this period was equally formative. Time at Stagedoor Manor and her connection to Ben Platt nurtured a love of musical theatre that would later lead to her Broadway debut. By the time she completed college, Feldstein had already laid the foundation for a career that would quickly move from small television parts to larger ensemble film roles.
Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Feldstein’s profile rose sharply with Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), where she played one of the sorority sisters. The success of that film led to casting in Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, Lady Bird (2017), starring alongside Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. Lady Bird was released to critical acclaim and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture, with Feldstein and the cast receiving a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
In 2017, Feldstein made her Broadway debut as Minnie Fay in the revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler as Dolly Levi. The show began previews on March 15, 2017, and officially opened on April 20, 2017, earning positive reviews for her performance. That same year, she appeared in The Female Brain at the LA Film Festival, further showcasing her range in comedic roles.
Her most celebrated work came with the 2019 high school comedy Booksmart, directed by Olivia Wilde. Feldstein’s performance garnered widespread critical acclaim and earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical. In 2019, she also appeared in What We Do in the Shadows, playing a recurring role as Jenna in the first season of the FX horror comedy series, and portrayed Johanna Morrigan in the coming-of-age comedy How to Build a Girl, adapted from Caitlin Moran’s 2014 novel.
Notable Works and Milestones
Feldstein’s signature work remains Booksmart, a coming-of-age comedy that earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Her earlier work in Lady Bird earned cast-wide recognition from the Screen Actors Guild, and her turn as Monica Lewinsky in Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021) cemented her reputation for tackling complex, real-life figures. Each of these roles highlighted her ability to balance comedy with emotional depth.
Beanie Feldstein Award Nominations
Across her career in film, television, and stage, Feldstein has earned recognition from major industry organizations. Her breakthrough film Booksmart (2019) brought her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical, while her work in the Academy Award–nominated Lady Bird (2017) earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. For her Broadway portrayal of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (2022), she received a nomination for the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.
Beanie Feldstein Awards Won
Feldstein’s recognition has largely come in the form of nominations and critical praise rather than major award wins, reflecting her standing as a respected performer in film and stage. Her Golden Globe nomination for Booksmart and her SAG nomination with the ensemble of Lady Bird represent the most prominent honors of her career to date.
Beanie Feldstein Family
Feldstein is the youngest of three children in a family closely tied to the entertainment industry. Her older brother is actor Jonah Hill, and her oldest brother, Jordan Feldstein (1977–2017), worked as a manager for the band Maroon 5. She also has a strong creative lineage through her mother, Sharon Lyn Feldstein, a costume designer and fashion stylist, and her father, Richard Feldstein, a tour accountant for Guns N’ Roses.
Personal Life
Feldstein is queer and has spoken publicly about her identity. She met English film producer Bonnie-Chance Roberts on the set of the 2019 film How to Build a Girl, and the two became engaged in June 2022. They were married on May 19, 2023. Feldstein and Roberts have continued to collaborate creatively, with Feldstein set to appear in projects alongside her spouse.
