Lizzy Caplan Bio
Elizabeth Anne Caplan (born June 30, 1982) is an American actress whose work across film and television has earned her a reputation as one of the most versatile performers of her generation. Her performances as Virginia E. Johnson in the Showtime series Masters of Sex (2013–2016) and as Libby Epstein in FX on Hulu’s Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022) brought her nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Caplan first gained widespread recognition for her role as Janis Ian in the 2004 comedy film Mean Girls, and she has since built a steady career through a blend of independent projects, network television, and major studio releases.
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth Anne Caplan was born on June 30, 1982, in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the city’s Miracle Mile district. She is the youngest of three children, with an older brother named Benjamin and an older sister named Julie. Her father, Richard Caplan, worked as a lawyer, and her mother, Barbara (née Bragman), was a political aide. Her family are Reform Jews of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and she had a Bat Mitzvah and attended Jewish summer camp during her youth.
Caplan’s mother died of cancer when she was thirteen years old, a loss that shaped her formative years. Her uncle was publicist Howard Bragman, who became a well-known figure in entertainment publicity. She attended Alexander Hamilton High School in the Castle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, where she was part of the school’s Academy of Music. She first focused on playing the piano before deciding to shift her attention toward drama, and she also played on her school’s soccer team. She graduated in 2000 and chose not to attend college, opting instead to focus on acting.
Path to Acting
Caplan began her professional acting career in 1999 with a guest role on the critically acclaimed series Freaks and Geeks, where she played a girl named Sara who became the girlfriend of Jason Segel’s character. The performance earned her notice in the industry and led to a series of guest appearances on shows such as Smallville, Once and Again, and Tru Calling. She also appeared in Jason Mraz’s music video for the song “You and I Both,” expanding her on-screen presence beyond traditional scripted roles.
Her early television work was followed by her first film role in 2000 with the straight-to-television release From Where I Sit. In 2003, she starred as Faith Pitt in the television series The Pitts. These early credits allowed Caplan to develop her craft across a range of genres, from comedy to drama, and set the stage for the breakout role that would soon define her career in Hollywood.
Lizzy Caplan Career
Early Career (1999–2003)
Lizzy Caplan’s first notable work came in 1999 on Freaks and Geeks, where her performance as Sara led to her character becoming the girlfriend of Jason Segel’s character Nick Andopolis. The show was short-lived but has since been regarded as a cult classic, and her early work on the series helped establish her as a promising young talent. She also reprised her role as Tina Greer on Smallville in 2001 and again in 2003, showing her range across different television formats.
During this period, Caplan appeared in the Jason Mraz music video “You and I Both” and took on her first film role in the 2000 straight-to-television feature From Where I Sit. In 2003, she was cast as Faith Pitt in the series The Pitts, further demonstrating her comedic abilities. She also had two guest appearances on the ABC series Once and Again, rounding out a period of steady, varied work that prepared her for larger opportunities.
Breakthrough (2004–2010)
Caplan’s breakthrough arrived in 2004 with her role as Janis Ian in the comedy film Mean Girls, a performance that brought her wider public recognition. In 2005, she played troubled sister Marjee Sorelli in the comedy-drama Related on The WB, and in 2006 she was named one of Variety’s “10 Actors to Watch.” She also appeared as Kat Warbler in the CBS sitcom The Class, which ran for one season beginning in September 2006.
In 2008, Caplan played Marlena Diamond in the monster film Cloverfield, a role that earned her a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. That same year, she appeared in the romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Girl and guest-starred as Amy Burley on the HBO series True Blood. She also joined the cast of the Starz ensemble comedy Party Down, playing a struggling comedian who is part of a catering crew, and appeared in the 2010 film 127 Hours.
In early 2012, Caplan premiered two films at the Sundance Film Festival: Save the Date and Bachelorette. She also played Julia in several episodes of the Fox sitcom New Girl. Her growing reputation as a film actress was reinforced by her role as Agent Lacey in the 2014 comedy The Interview.
Lizzy Caplan Masters of Sex
In 2013, Caplan began playing 1960s human sexuality pioneer Virginia E. Johnson on the Showtime series Masters of Sex, a role that would become one of the defining performances of her career. Caplan also provided her own vocals for a cover of “You Don’t Know Me” featured in the episode “Phallic Victories.” Her portrayal earned consistent critical praise and led to her nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series on July 10, 2014.
Caplan was cast in the role of Johnson before her eventual co-star Michael Sheen was signed as William H. Masters. Producer Sarah Timberman noted that the moment the producers met Caplan, they felt she embodied the spirit of Virginia Johnson. To prepare, Caplan read Thomas Maier’s 2009 biography Masters of Sex and listened to interview tapes that the author had collected during his own research. The role marked the first time Caplan had portrayed a real person, and she described feeling a deep responsibility to Johnson while also having the freedom to interpret the character. Her performance also earned nominations for the Satellite Award and the Critics’ Choice Television Award, both for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Lizzy Caplan Award Nominations
Across her career, Lizzy Caplan has received nominations at some of the most prominent awards ceremonies in television and film. Her portrayal of Virginia E. Johnson on Masters of Sex brought her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2014, along with nominations at the Satellite Awards and the Critics’ Choice Television Awards. She was also nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Cloverfield.
Lizzy Caplan Family
Caplan is the youngest of three children in her family, with an older brother named Benjamin and an older sister named Julie. Her father, Richard Caplan, practiced law, while her mother, Barbara (née Bragman), worked as a political aide. Her uncle, Howard Bragman, was a well-known publicist. Her mother passed away from cancer when Caplan was thirteen years old, and the family is of Reform Jewish, Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
Personal Life
Caplan became engaged to British actor Tom Riley in New York in May 2016, after the two had met in January 2015 while she was filming Now You See Me 2 in London. They made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Prague Opera Ball in February 2016 and married in September 2017. The couple have a son born in 2021. Previously, Caplan had dated actor Matthew Perry from 2006 until 2012.
