Misty Upham

Misty Anne Upham ( born July 6, 1982 in Kalispell, Montana, United States ) is an American actress.

Life

Upham was born 1982 in Montana, the fourth of five children of a music teacher. The ancestors of their family were Blackfoot Indians. Her family moved to Seattle, as Upham as was 8 years. She attended different high schools in King County. As a teenager she began in the Indian theater group Red Eagle Soaring with acting. In addition, she attended a Young Shakespeare Workshop and occurred on Freehold Theatre.

After leaving school she wrote a own stage play that was staged under her direction and with her as an actress at the Seattle Nippon Kan Theatre. A movie of the production brought her the request of casting directors Rene Haynes. After a month, her feature film debut followed in Chris Eyre's drama Skins. Later Upham took roles in several television films and series. In 2006, she appeared in Rick Stevenson's black comedy Expiration Date.

In summer 2007, Upham moved to Los Angeles.

An international audience she became known in 2008 for her role as Indian smuggler Lila in the film drama Frozen River alongside Melissa Leo. Upham was involved in the project for several years and came back in 2004, together with Leo in the short film by director Courtney Hunt on, which served as inspiration for Frozen River. For the role in Frozen River Upham took to 20 pounds and was cut without the knowledge of the director before her waist-length hair to play the role of the Mohawk Indian as little cliched as possible. The role earned Upham the American Indian Movie Award 2008 at the American Indian Film Festival and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Independent Spirit Awards 2009.

Filmography

• 2002: Skins
• 2002: Goodbye, Pet (TV series, two episodes)
• 2002: Skinwalkers ( TV movie )
• 2002: Dream Keeper ( TV movie )
• 2003: Edge of America ( TV movie )
• 2006: Expiration Date
• 2008: Frozen River
• 2010: The Dry Land
• 2010: Big Love (TV series, two episodes)
• 2012: Django Unchained
• 2013: Jimmy P. ( Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian)
• 2013: In August Osage County ( August: Osage County)