Lizzy Caplan
An actress of captivating subtlety who broke out playing a pioneering sex researcher with fearless intelligence and depth.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American actress·Birthday: June 30·Millennials
Biography
Lizzy Caplan spent her early career as the quintessential indie darling, stealing scenes with acerbic wit in cult favorites like 'Mean Girls' and 'Cloverfield.' She possessed a rare, offbeat magnetism that suggested deeper layers, which were fully revealed when she took on the role of Virginia Johnson in 'Masters of Sex.' As the real-life research assistant turned pioneering sexologist, Caplan delivered a masterclass in nuanced performance. She portrayed Johnson’s intelligence, vulnerability, and quiet revolution with a mesmerizing stillness, holding her own against a formidable co-star and making scientific inquiry feel intensely human and dramatic. This role announced her as a serious dramatic force, a reputation she has since fortified with sharp, complex work in series like 'Castle Rock' and 'Fleishman Is in Trouble,' consistently choosing characters who are prickly, complicated, and irresistibly watchable.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lizzy was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lizzy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Lizzy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role as Virginia Johnson in 'Masters of Sex.'
- Earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Libby Epstein in the limited series 'Fleishman Is in Trouble,' garnering another Emmy nomination.
- Gained early cult status for her scene-stealing performance as Janis Ian in the iconic film 'Mean Girls.'
- Starred as Annie Wilkes in the Hulu series 'Castle Rock,' offering a fresh origin story for Stephen King's famous character.
Did You Know?
She is a trained cellist and played the instrument in her role in the film 'Martyrs.'
Caplan dropped out of high school to pursue acting full-time.
She is married to actor Tom Riley, whom she met while he guest-starred on 'Masters of Sex.'
She voiced the character of Miss Sharon in the animated series 'Star vs. The Forces of Evil.'
“I'm drawn to characters who are a little bit off, who have a strange way of looking at the world.”
