Chloë Sevigny is a triple threat. Her beginnings as an indie film star propelled her to mainstream success, which lead her to prominent and memorable television characters. She has been able to adapt her talents to every film project— landing her a long IMDB page with an immense variety of projects.
Her experience in front of the camera has inspired her to take a seat in the director's chair. Her directorial debut for Refinery29, Kitty, is a dreamy short film about a young girl that turns into a cat. The story is based on the 1980 short story by Paul Bowles that has a significant themes of being ignored, not being heard, and the overall transformation of being a young woman — all of which Sevigny has endured growing up in front of a camera.
As she tries out a new medium, it's important not to forget the roles that made us love Sevigny in the first place.
Women accounted for only 13% of the directors on the 700 top grossing films in 2014 — and only 7% of the top 250 films. Refinery29 wants to change this by giving 12 female directors a chance to claim their power. Our message to Hollywood? You can't win without women.
Kids(1995)
In her film debut, Sevigny co-starred in Larry Clark 's controversial movie surrounding teens at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 90s New York City. This film sparked Sevigny's reputation as a queen of independent drama films.
Photo: Films/Photofest.
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Sevigny starred alongside Hilary Swank in this Academy Award-winning film portrayal the real life and death of Brandon Teena in Humboldt, Nebraska. Sevigny role as Lana Tisdel earned her a Oscar nomination.
Photo: Fox Searchlight/REX/Shutterstock.
American Psycho (2000)
Sevigny's plays Jean, a young secretary to a murderous investment banker who discovers his secret life.
Photo: Lions Gate/REX/Shutterstock.
Party Monster (2003)
Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin) picks up Gitsie (Sevigny) on his cross-country trip in search of more club kids to populate his party at The Limelight in New York City. The film was based on the memoir "Disco Bloodbath " by former club kid James St. James.
Photo: Hbo/REX/Shutterstock.
The Brown Bunny (2003)
Bud Clay (Vincent Gallo) is a motorcycle racer that can't let go of his feelings for his former lover Daisy (Sevigny). The film garnered much controversy as Sevigny is filmed giving a blowjob in one scene — but she stood by the film and its vision. She told The Daily Beast 's Marlow Stern in a 2014 interview, "I was interested in doing something really transgressive, and I was really shocked by how much of a hoopla it was — I didn’t think it would turn into such a hoopla — and it was really painful to go through. In the end, I think the stress will have taken a few years off of my life. It’s an art film. I stand behind my choices, Marlow."
Photo: Gallo Prods./REX/Shutterstock.
Zodiac(2007)
Sevigny co-stars in this mainstream thriller as Melanie Graysmith, the wife of Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle who interprets letters sent during the manhunter of the Zodiac serial killer.
Photo: Paramount/War/REX/Shutterstock.
Big Love (2007)
Sevigny won the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Nicolette Grant, the second wife to a polygamist from a fundamentalist Mormon church.
Photo: HBO/REX/Shutterstock.
American Horror Story: Asylum (2012)
The actress went back to episodic drama and guest starred in the FX's anthology horror show in its second season as Shelley, a nymphomaniac who is later used in medical experiment testings.
Photo: Frank Ockenfels/FX.
Portlandia (2013)
Sevigny's character Alexandra was first featured in season 3 of the IFC show as both Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen 's roommate then lover. The triangle lead to more of Alexandra throughout the series, proving that the show could handle one-off sketches and larger narratives.
Photo: Frank DiMarco/IFC.
American Horror Story: Hotel (2016)
Sevigny came back to the anthology television thriller as Dr. Alex Lowe, a grieving mother searching for answers surrounding her missing son while her husband Detective John Lowe (Wes Bentley) is enthralled by the Hotel Cortez in the midst of solving a serial murder case.
Photo: Doug Hyun/FX.
Bloodline (2016)
Sevigny continues to shine in episodic dramas as she takes on the role of Chelsea O'Bannon in the Netflix drama Bloodline.
Photo: Saeed Adyani/Netflix.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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