Busy Philipps
Birth nameElizabeth Jean Philipps
Birth dateJune 25, 1979 (age 47)
Birth placeOak Park, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materLoyola Marymount University
OccupationActress, singer and comedian
Years active1999–present
SpouseMarc Silverstein (m. 2007; ended 2021)

Elizabeth Jean "Busy" Philipps (born June 25, 1979) is an American actress, singer and comedian. She is best known for her roles on the television series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), Dawson's Creek (2001–2003), and ER (2006–2007), and for her portrayal of Laurie Keller on the ABC/TBS television sitcom Cougar Town (2009–2015), for which she received the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.[1]

Phillips has also appeared in supporting roles in films, including The Smokers (2000), Home Room (2002), White Chicks (2004), Made of Honor (2008), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), The Gift (2015), and I Feel Pretty (2018). From 2018 to 2019, Philipps hosted her own television talk show Busy Tonight, on E!. From 2021 to 2024, she starred on the Peacock / Netflix original series Girls5eva.

Early life

Philipps was born in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[2][3] She received the nickname "Busy" as a child; sources conflict on whether the nickname came from her parents[4] or a babysitter named Susie.[5] She said on her late-night talk show, Busy Tonight, that her mother gave her the nickname, but during her book tour said that her babysitter had given it to her. This was clarified on an episode of Comedy Bang! Bang! when she confirmed to host Scott Aukerman that it was her babysitter.[6] Philipps was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona,[7] where she graduated from Chaparral High School.[8]

Philipps attended Loyola Marymount University at the same time as Colin Hanks and Freaks and Geeks costar Linda Cardellini. She then dated Hanks for several years, after they left school.[3][9][10][11]

Career

While still in high school, Philipps worked at toy trade fairs as a real-life Barbie, her sister Cool Teen Skipper.[5] Among the people who saw her at toy conventions was actress Sharon Stone, who was impressed with her performance and told Philipps that she would be a star.[4]

Her first major role was Kim Kelly in the 1999–2000 comedy-drama TV series Freaks and Geeks; Philipps appeared in all but one of the show's 18 episodes (the episode "Chokin' & Tokin'").[3][11] She made her film debut in the comedy The Smokers in 2000, and had various small appearances on television.

In 2001, Philipps was cast as Audrey Liddell in the teen drama Dawson's Creek.[3][12]

Philipps appeared in several films, including Home Room (2002) and White Chicks (2004). She was cast in the UPN sitcom Love, Inc. in a role originally intended for Shannen Doherty.[13] The show lasted one season (2005–2006). In 2006, she had a major recurring role as Hope Bobeck on ER, alongside her Freaks and Geeks co-star Linda Cardellini.[3][12] During her second year on ER, her character was written out as heading to South America to "fulfill her Christian mission".[14]

Philipps had a co-credit for the storyline of the 2007 comedy film Blades of Glory.[3][12][15] A year later, she appeared in a supporting role in Made of Honor.[3]

She made appearances in He's Just Not That into You as Kelli Ann[16] and on an episode of How I Met Your Mother.

In 2008 to 2009 she was a recurring character on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, appearing in five episodes as Kacy Corbin. From 2009 to 2015, Philipps portrayed Laurie Keller in the television series Cougar Town.[12] She routinely contributed to the Thrilling Adventure Hour, a live stage radio show.[17] Her primary recurring character was the Red Plains Rider.[18]

On a 2010 appearance on Chelsea Lately, Philipps said that she auditioned for the hit television show Glee just one week after giving birth, following a pregnancy during which she gained 80 pounds.[19]

Philipps starred on the HBO series Vice Principals (2016–2017).[20]

In 2017, she signed on as co-lead opposite Casey Wilson in Tina Fey's comedy pilot The Sackett Sisters for NBC, but it was not picked up.[21]

In 2018 and 2019, Philipps played Sheba Goodman in season 4 of Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

She had a late-night talk show called Busy Tonight, which aired on E! from October 28, 2018, to May 16, 2019.[22][23] It was cancelled the same day Philipps was nominated for a 2019 Critics Choice Award.[24] In August 2020 she began hosting a podcast, Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best, along with former Busy Tonight writers Caissie St. Onge and Shantira Jackson.[25]

In October 2020, it was announced that she had joined the main cast of Peacock's Girls5eva, a musical comedy about a female pop group that reunites 20 years after it flamed out. In its third season the show, created by Meredith Scardino, shifted to Netflix.[26]

In February 28, 2023, Philipps was announced as Mrs. George in the 2024 film adaptation of the musical Mean Girls, based on the 2018 Broadway musical.[27]

In 2024, Phillips began hosting a talk/shopping show called "Busy This Week" on the QVC+/HSN+ streaming service.

Book

Philipps's memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little, was released October 18, 2018.[28] It includes a passage where she describes a physical altercation she had with James Franco on the set of Freaks and Geeks. She said she was "bummed" by the amount of attention drawn to just this incident in the book, saying the story was not new, and that she meant it "to illustrate a larger point about the way women are treated in this business and in life."[29]

Personal life

Philipps married screenwriter Marc Silverstein on June 16, 2007.[3][12] They have two daughters.[30][31][32][33][34] They separated in February 2021.[35] Philipps has ADHD.[36]

Political views

After the Alabama Legislature's May 14, 2019, passage of House Bill 314 (also known as the "Human Life Protection Act"), Philipps advocated that women speak out if they had had abortions. On May 14, she invoked the hashtag #YouKnowMe (established on February 18) to her 370,000 followers on Twitter, with her call for testimonies:[37] "1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth."[38] The previous week she revealed on her Busy Tonight TV show that she had had an abortion at age 15.[39]

On June 4, 2019, Philipps gave a testimonial before the House Judiciary Committee defending women's right to access more abortion clinics.[40][41] She spoke of her own experience with abortion: "I am a human being that deserves autonomy in this country that calls itself free, and choices that a human being makes about their own bodies should not be legislated by strangers who can't possibly know or understand each individual's circumstances or beliefs."[42]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000The SmokersKaren Carter
2002Home RoomAlicia Browning
2004Mummy an' the ArmadilloCarol Ann
White ChicksKaren Googlestein
2005Stewie Griffin: The Untold StoryAdditional Voices (voice)
2008Made of HonorMelissa
2009He's Just Not That Into YouKelli Ann
2010RevolutionEmilyShort film
2011I Don't Know How She Does ItWendy Best
2012The Reef 2: High TideCordelia (voice)
Made in ClevelandShannon
2013A Case of YouAshley
2014Jason Nash is MarriedBusy Philipps
2015The GiftDuffy
2016FMLAmanda
2018I Feel PrettyJane
2022DC League of Super-PetsFoofy Dog (voice)
2024Mean GirlsMrs. George

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Saving GracesMindyTV series
1999–2000Freaks and GeeksKim Kelly18 episodes
2000Malcolm in the MiddleMeghanEpisode: "High School Play"
2001Anatomy of a Hate CrimeChasity PasleyTelevision film
Spring Break LawyerJenny
Dead LastTracy SallbackEpisode: "Death Is in the Air"
2001–2003Dawson's CreekAudrey LiddellMain role (season 6); recurring (season 5)
2002UndeclaredKelly2 episodes
2003Criminology 101PollyTelevision film
2004Foster HallPeg Hall
2005Life As We Know ItAlex Morrill2 episodes
Testing BobMadison 'Maddie' WestTelevision film
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!Korlianne (voice)Episode: "Girl Trouble"
2005–2006Love, Inc.Denise Johnson22 episodes
2005, 2018American Dad!Dana / Blanch (voices)2 episodes
2006–2007ERDr. Hope Bobeck19 episodes
2007EntourageCherylEpisode: "Dog Day Afternoon"
How I Met Your MotherRachelEpisode: "Third Wheel"
2008–2009Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesKacy Corbin5 episodes
2009Kath & KimWhitneyEpisode: "Competition"
2009–2015Cougar TownLaurie KellerMain role
2011CommunityGreendale Team MemberEpisode: "For a Few Paintballs More"
Fish HooksClamanda (voice)Episode: "We've Got Fish Spirits"
2012Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23HerselfEpisode: "A Reunion..."
RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsEpisode: "RuPaul's Gaff In"
2013Arrested DevelopmentJoanEpisode: "Borderline Personalities"
2014Garfunkel and OatesKaren2 episodes
2014–2018Drunk HistoryVarious3 episodes
2015Bottom's ButteBeverly Bottom (voice)Episode: "Pilot"
2016New GirlConnieEpisode: "300 Feet"
Angie TribecaCourtney Woodpatch-NewtonEpisode: "Miso Dead"
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$Cate KatesEpisode: "Spiritual Gurus"
2016–2017Vice PrincipalsGale LiptrappMain role
2017The Odd CoupleNatashaEpisode: "Should She Stay or Should She Go?"
Chopped JuniorHerself (guest judge)Episode: "Curry Hurry"
The Sackett SistersMandy SackettEpisode: "Pilot"
Beat Bobby FlayHerself (guest judge)Episode: "Tame the Flame"
2018Camping[43]AllisonEpisode: "Up All Night"
2018–2019Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtSheba Goodman2 episodes
Busy TonightHerselfMain role; also executive producer
2019Astronomy Club: The Sketch ShowEpisode: "Full House But Black"
2021Search PartyDonnaEpisode: "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig"
2021–2024Girls5evaSummer DutkowskyMain role
2023With LoveAmandaEpisode: "Lily's Double Quinceañera"
Single Drunk FemaleDarby3 episodes
2024–presentBusy This WeekHerself/HostMain role

Awards and nominations

YearAwardWorkCategoryResult
2003Teen Choice AwardsDawson's CreekChoice TV: Sidekick
2010Entertainment WeeklyCougar TownBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series[44]
2011Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series[45]
Gold Derby AwardsComedy Supporting Actress

References

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