Skip to content
Join free
Embeth Davidtz
Actor

Embeth Davidtz

11 Aug 1965Born
61Age
48Credits
Lafayette, Indiana, USABirthplace

Biography

Embeth Jean Davidtz (born August 11, 1965) is an American-born South African actress and director. She has appeared in movies such as Schindler's List, Matilda, Bridget Jones's Diary, and The Amazing Spider-Man, and in the television series In Treatment, Californication, and Mad Men.

In 2024 Davidtz made her directorial debut with Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, an adaptation of the best-selling memoir of the same name by Alexandra Fuller about growing up on a farm in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. The film had its Canadian premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Read the full biography

Davidtz was born on August 11, 1965, in Lafayette, Indiana, to South African parents John and Jean, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. The family later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then to South Africa when Davidtz was nine years old

Davidtz has Dutch, English, and French ancestry. She had to learn Afrikaans before attending school classes in South Africa, where her father took up a teaching post at Potchefstroom University. Davidtz graduated from The Glen High School in Pretoria in 1983 and studied at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

In 1992, Davidtz played the part of Sheila in Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness alongside Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. The third movie in the Evil Dead franchise would eventually become a big cult classic worldwide. In 1993, Davidtz played the role of Helen Hirsch in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List.

In 1995, Davidtz had a central role in the fact-based film Murder in the First, and the Merchant Ivory Productions Feast of July.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2025Don't Let's Go to the Dogs TonightFilm: Nicola Fuller, Director, Screenplay
  2. 2023RetributionFilm: Heather Turner
  3. 2022Tales of the Walking DeadSeries: Amanda (1 episode)
  4. 2022Not OkayFilm: Judith
  5. 2021OldFilm: Adult Maddox
  6. 2020Love, VictorSeries: Mrs. Campbell (1 episode)
  7. 2019The Morning ShowSeries: Paige Jacobs (5 episodes)
  8. 2015The Secret Life of Marilyn MonroeSeries: Natasha Lytess (2 episodes)
  9. 2014The Amazing Spider-Man 2Film: Mary Parker
  10. 2013ParanoiaFilm: Judith Bolton
  11. 2013Ray DonovanSeries: Sonia Kovitzky (4 episodes)
  12. 2013Europa ReportFilm: Dr. Samantha Unger
  13. 2012The Amazing Spider-ManFilm: Mary Parker
  14. 2011The Girl with the Dragon TattooFilm: Annika Blomkvist Giannini
  15. 20103 BackyardsFilm: The Actress
  16. 2009Winged CreaturesFilm: Lydia Jaspersen
  17. 2008In TreatmentSeries: Amy (8 episodes)
  18. 2007CalifornicationSeries: Felicia Koons (10 episodes)
  19. 2007Mad MenSeries: Rebecca Pryce (8 episodes)
  20. 2007FractureFilm: Jennifer Crawford
  21. 2005JunebugFilm: Madeleine
  22. 2005Grey's AnatomySeries: Nancy Shepherd (uncredited) (1 episode)
  23. 2002The Emperor's ClubFilm: Elizabeth
  24. 2002ShackletonSeries: Rosalind Chetwynd (2 episodes)
  25. 2001Thir13en GhostsFilm: Kalina
  26. 2001ScrubsSeries: Maddie (1 episode)
  27. 2001Citizen BainesSeries: Ellen Baines Croland (9 episodes)
  28. 2001The HoleFilm: Dr. Philippa Horwood
  29. 2001Bridget Jones's DiaryFilm: Natasha
  30. 1999Bicentennial ManFilm: Little Miss / Portia
  31. 1999Mansfield ParkFilm: Mary Crawford
  32. 1999Last RitesFilm: Dr. Lauren Riggs
  33. 1999Simon MagusFilm: Leah
  34. 1998The Gingerbread ManFilm: Mallory Doss
  35. 1998FallenFilm: Gretta Milano
  36. 1997The Garden of RedemptionFilm: Adriana
  37. 1996MatildaFilm: Miss Honey
  38. 1995Feast of JulyFilm: Bella Ford
  39. 1995Murder in the FirstFilm: Mary McCasslin
  40. 1993Schindler's ListFilm: Helen Hirsch
  41. 1992Deadly MatrimonyFilm: Dianne Masters
  42. 1992Army of DarknessFilm: Sheila
  43. 1992Till Death Us Do PartFilm: Katherine Palliko
  44. 1991The Night of the 19thFilm: Tessa van Dyk
  45. 1990Sweet MurderFilm
  46. 1989A Private LifeFilm: Older Karen
  47. 1989MutatorFilm: Jennifer
  48. 1985Screen TwoSeries: Older Karen (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.