Elizabeth Reaser

Elizabeth Reaser is an Emmy-nominated actress best known for playing Esme Cullen in The Twilight Saga and for her roles in Grey’s Anatomy and The Handmaid’s Tale. Reaser studied drama at Oakland University before transferring to Juilliard School in New York City, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1999.

Reaser began her career in independent films and television in the early 2000s. She gained critical attention for her role in Sweet Land (2005), and her early TV work included guest spots on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Sopranos. Her breakout came when she landed a recurring role on Grey’s Anatomy as Jane Doe in 2007. For her role on the show, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

She was cast as Esme Cullen in Twilight in 2008 and reprised the role in its sequels through 2012. In 2018, she signed on to the cast of Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House as Shirley Crain. Some of her notable appearances include The Family Stone (2005), The Handmaid’s Tale and American Crime Story.

In 2024, the actress starred in the dramedy The Uninvited alongside Lois Smith.

Reaser quietly tied the knot with composer Bruce Gilbert in August 2023.