Chris McGinn on the red carpet at the 2017 premiere of Kidnap.
Chris McGinn is a versatile actress and director best known for her film and television credits Kidnap with Halle Berry, opening August 4, 2017, Synecdoche, NY starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and directed by Charlie Kauffman, My Own Love Song with Renee Zellweger and Forest Whitaker, The Silence of the Lambs, Sweet and Lowdown, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix), You Don’t Know Jack, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Corrections (HBO) and the House of Lies pilot with Don Cheadle (Showtime).
Her theatre credits are highlighted by the acclaimed Long Wharf production of Camille; a modern adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas classic by the British playwright Pam Gems with Kathleen Turner, Gina Gershon and David Hyde Pierce.
Additional work includes Bringing Out The Dead directed by Martin Scorsese Martin Scorsese, Mickey Blue Eyes directed by Hugh Grant, Ed, Law and Order, SVU, Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC), 100 Centre Street (A&E), The Sopranos, Sex and the City (HBO), Wonderland and the recurring role of “Irma in the Glamourama” on All My Children (ABC).
Chris is also an acting and improvisation coach.
Chris McGinn in a scene from HBO's You Don't Know Jack.
Chris will next be seen in two Netflix series: Seven Seconds, starring Regina King, which re-teamed her with director Jonathan Demme, and the second season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, starring Krysten Ritter and directed by Minkie Spiro of Downton Abbey fame. She was recently directed by Eko’s Sam Barlow in his new interactive web series, WarGames, produced by MGM.
Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Ms. McGinn earned a Bachelor of Science Education in Theatre, Speech and English at Truman University in Kirksville, MO. Moving to New York City one week after graduation, she began her career as a founding member and resident director of two theatre companies, Pantheon Productions and Yankee Rep. As a member of The Pantheon she directed and acted in the classic plays Loot, Look Back In Anger and When Ya Comin’ Back, Red Ryder to critical acclaim. At Yankee Rep, in addition to acting and directing, she co-created an award winning interactive youth program, The Fork In The Road Players, which toured schools and non-profit organizations in the five boroughs, tackling the subjects of dating violence and safe sex.
Chris is also a sought-after acting coach and instructor of improvisation, commercial and on-camera acting for children and adults. On the rare occasions when she’s not working, she spends her time traveling, rooting for the New York Yankees and working with animals.