Vera Farmiga is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the Conjuring Universe films and “Up in the Air,” for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.
She began her career on stage and starred in TV shows such as Bates Motel, earning Emmy nominations. Furthermore, she directed Higher Ground.
In this article, we’ll discuss Vera Farmiga’s life details. But before exploring her life, let’s review some quick information.
Quick Information
| Full Name | Vera Farmiga |
| Date of Birth | August 6, 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Clifton, New Jersey, USA |
| Age | 51 years old (as of 2024) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, producer, director, and TV personality |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouses | Sebastian Roché (m. 1997; div. 2004) Renn Hawkey (m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Net Worth | $10 million (as of 2024) |
Early Life & Education
Vera Farmiga was born on 6 August 1973 in Clifton, New Jersey, to Ukrainian parents Mykhailo Farmiga, a former systems analyst, and Lubomyra “Luba” Spas, a schoolteacher.
Vera Farmiga has one older brother and five younger siblings. Her maternal grandparents met at a displaced persons camp in Karlsfeld during World War II.
Farmiga grew up in a Ukrainian-American community in Irvington, New Jersey, where she spoke Ukrainian as her first language and converted to Pentecostalism with her family during childhood.
She graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School in 1991, where she discovered her love for acting after auditioning for a school play. She then studied Theatre at Syracuse University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1995.
Her performance in “The Seagull” at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival contributed to the production winning top honors.
Acting Career
Vera Farmiga began her professional acting career in February 1996, starring as Miranda in the American Conservatory Theater’s production of “The Tempest.”
That same year, she portrayed Anne Hartman in “Good” at The Barrow Group and made her Broadway debut in October 1996, understudying the role of Emmi Straube in Ronald Harwood’s play “Taking Sides.”
In April 1997, she co-starred in the Hallmark Hall of Fame western television film “Rose Hill” as Emily Elliot. She gained further recognition as a prominent cast member in Fox’s fantasy adventure series “Roar” (1997) alongside Heath Ledger.
Farmiga made her film debut in 1998 with a supporting role in “Return to Paradise,” opposite Vince Vaughn and Joaquin Phoenix.
She continued with roles in “The Opportunists” (2000) as Miriam Kelly, “Autumn in New York” (2000) as Lisa Tyler, and “15 Minutes” (2001) alongside Robert De Niro.
She also starred in “Dust” (2001), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. On television, she joined NBC’s “UC: Undercover” as Alex Cross in 2001 and appeared in the Hallmark fantasy film “Snow White: The Fairest of Them All.”
In “Down to the Bone” (2004), Farmiga portrayed drug-addict Irene Morrison. As a result of her performance, she won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress.
She starred in “The Departed” (2006) as Dr. Madolyn Madden alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon, receiving nominations for an Empire Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Other notable roles during this period included “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004), “Running Scared” (2006), and “Never Forever” (2007), where critics praised her as one of the most talented actresses of her time.
In 2009, Farmiga starred alongside George Clooney as Alex Goran in Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air,” earning nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She also appeared in “Orphan” (2009) and “The Vintner’s Luck.” In 2011, she made her directorial debut with “Higher Ground,” a film in which she also starred, receiving praise for her dual roles as director and actress.
Farmiga gained widespread recognition as Norma Bates in the A&E series Bates Motel (2013–2017), which earned Emmy and Critics’ Choice nominations and a Saturn Award.
Vera Farmiga appeared in the critically and commercially successful horror film “The Conjuring” (2013) and its sequels, portraying paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren.
Other notable roles include appearances in “The Judge” (2014), “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019), and “When They See Us” (2019), which earned her another Emmy nomination.
In recent years, Farmiga has continued to impress audiences with roles in “The Many Saints of Newark” (2021), the Marvel miniseries “Hawkeye” (2021), and “Five Days at Memorial” (2022).
In 2024, she debuted as a singer with her band The Yagas, releasing the single “The Crying Room.” She remains active in various upcoming projects, including the biopic “The Leader” and the animated series “Gossamer.”
Net Worth
According to reporters, Vera Farmiga’s net worth is estimated at $10 million as of 2024. She accumulated this net worth from her acting career. Her net worth will further increase due to her hard work and dedication to her passion.
Relationship Status
Vera Farmiga met actor Sebastian Roché while filming Roar. They moved to the Bahamas in 1997 but divorced in 2004. Farmiga then dated musician Renn Hawkey, who mutual friend Allen Hughes introduced on the set of “Touching Evil.”
They married on September 13, 2008, while she was five months pregnant. Their son, Fynn, was born in January 2009, and their daughter, Gytta, arrived in November 2010. The family has homes in Hudson Valley, New York, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Farmiga’s sister-in-law is actress and photographer Molly Hawkey. She is also close friends with “Bates Motel” co-star Freddie Highmore, her son’s godfather, and with “Conjuring” co-star Patrick Wilson.
