(1979-)

Who Is Busy Philipps?

Busy Philipps landed a role in the critically lauded but short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks when she was 19. She went on to appear on TV shows such as Dawson’s Creek and Cougartown, and in movies like White Chicks and I Feel Pretty. Philipps has also made a name for herself with the engaging videos she posts via Instagram’s Stories feature. She’s married to screenwriter Marc Silverstein, with whom she has two daughters.

When Was Busy Philipps Born?

Elizabeth Jean Philipps was born on June 25, 1979, in Oak Park, Illinois, to parents Barbara and Joe Philipps. She received the nickname Busy by the time she was six months old because she was so full of energy. Philipps has one sibling, an older sister named Leigh Ann.

Philipps grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her first professional acting job was playing a real-life Barbie doll for a Mattel convention. She attended Loyola Marymount University, where her boyfriend was fellow actor Colin Hanks.

TV Shows and Movies

Often portraying characters with a wild streak, Philipps has been seen on numerous TV series. In addition to working in movies as an actor, she has a story credit on Blades of Glory (2007), a film in which Will Ferrell and Jon Heder become a pairs figure skating duo.

‘Freaks and Geeks’

At the age of 19, Philipps was cast on Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000), her first TV show. Despite its short run, the production was a career launchpad for Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini and Philipps.

Philipps played Kim Kelly, who was involved with James Franco’s character, Daniel. Though they had to make out for the cameras, the two actors didn’t get along in real life; in one incident, Franco shoved Philipps. However, they’ve since mended fences and become friends.

‘Dawson’s Creek’

In 2001, Philipps joined teen primetime soap Dawson’s Creek in the show’s fifth season. Her lively character of Audrey helped Joey (played by Katie Holmes) become a little less strait-laced and became romantically involved with Pacey (played by Joshua Jackson).

Dawson’s Creek was also where Philipps met Michelle Williams, who played Jen on the show. Though their characters didn’t interact a lot onscreen, offscreen the two actresses started what has become a lasting friendship.

‘White Chicks’

The movie White Chicks (2004) featured Philipps as one of the socialites deceived by Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans in their undercover disguises as the titular white chicks.

‘Cougar Town’

On TV’s Cougar Town (2009-2015), Philipps played Laurie, a friend of star Courteney Cox’s character, Jules. Philipps directed an episode of the show during its final season.

‘I Feel Pretty’

In the film I Feel Pretty (2018), Philipps plays Jane, one of star Amy Schumer’s best friends. The film has Schumer’s character, who’s previously felt unattractive, suffer a blow to the head that makes her believe she’s stunningly beautiful — a storyline that received criticism for ostensibly conveying the message that some women could only embrace their appearance after suffering a head injury. Philipps spoke out against the backlash to the film, saying in an interview, “It was never about making fun of someone’s body or someone’s looks,” but rather intended to address common issues with self-esteem.

Other Roles and ‘Busy Tonight’

Philipps was Gale Liptrapp on HBO’s Vice Principals and Dr. Hope Bobeck on ER. She’s also guest-starred on shows such as How I Met Your Mother, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and New Girl. She’s also filled in as a host on Live with Kelly and Ryan, and has appeared on Drunk History.

The movies Philipps has acted in range from romantic comedies like Made of Honor (2008) to the thriller The Gift (2015). In late 2018, Philipps began hosting her own late-night talk show Busy Tonight. However, the show was canceled less than a year later in May 2019.

Instagram Success

As of September 2019, Philipps has nearly two million followers on Instagram; over 200,000 people view her Instagram Stories — short videos that disappear from the site after 24 hours, unless Philipps saves them — every day. The Stories she’s shared include intense trampoline workouts, the pain of leaving her daughter’s teddy bears behind while on vacation, an unsettling Uber ride, adventures with lifelong best friend Michelle Williams and returning from the Golden Globes only to find she was locked out of her house.

In 2017, Philipps told Cosmopolitan, “I’m weirdly stopped more on the street now for my Instagram than any acting I’ve done over the last five years.” Social media success has also been lucrative; she made more money in 2016 from sponsored content — while noting she only works with brands she truly likes — than from acting.

Thanks to her Stories, an editor at Simon & Schuster asked Philipps to produce a book of humorous autobiographical essays, titled This Will Only Hurt a Little, which was published in late 2018.

Friendship With Michelle Williams

Since making Dawson’s Creek together in North Carolina — and enjoying the nightlife there — Philipps and Williams have remained close. Philipps is godmother to Williams’ daughter Matilda Ledger and has accompanied Williams to many awards shows. These outings include the Academy Awards ceremony in 2017 — where their front-row reactions to learning that Moonlight was the actual Best Picture winner, not La La Land, became part of a viral photo.

Talking about Philipps in 2016, Williams declared, “She’s proof that the love of your life does not have to be a man! That’s the love of my life right there.” And describing Philipps in 2018, Williams said, “She has this amazing quality: People just fall in love with her. Like, you spend ten minutes with her, and people are like, ‘She’s incredible.’”

Health

Philipps has been open about suffering from anxiety and occasional depression and has explained that exercise helps her manage these symptoms. After the birth of her first daughter, she suffered from postpartum anxiety, though it took a year for her to seek treatment. In 2018, she talked to TODAY Parents about how she’d felt at the time, sharing, “I didn’t even know that what I was going through was a thing. I just thought, ‘This is who I am, and I’m crazy.’”

Philipps has also discussed other health issues on social media, like the time she sunburned her eyes (photokeratitis) and when she had to go to the hospital due to a medical condition called ovarian torsion, which causes pain in the abdomen.

Podcast

In her podcast, We’re No Doctors, Philipps delves into health and medicine-related topics — she and her co-host describe themselves as “two neurotic, hypochondriac actors.”

Husband and Kids

Philipps married screenwriter Marc Silverstein in 2007. He’s written movies such as Never Been Kissed (1999), He’s Just Not That Into You (2009) — in which Philipps appeared — and2012’s The Vow (Philipps told ABC News that some of the wedding vows in that film came from her own ceremony with Silverstein). Silverstein also co-wrote and co-directed I Feel Pretty.

Philipps has two daughters with Silverstein: Birdie Leigh (born August 13, 2008) and Cricket Pearl (born July 3, 2013). Both girls have appeared in her social media posts, though Philipps has said she tries not to embarrass them. As she noted in a 2017 interview, “I just really want to be respectful of the fact that they’re their own people, they have their own lives, and they didn’t choose to be my kids.”

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QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1979
• Birth date: June 25, 1979
• Birth State: Illinois
• Birth City: Oak Park
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: Actress Busy Philipps starred on hit TV shows such as ‘Freaks and Geeks,’ ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Cougartown,’ and also hosted her own late-night talk show ‘Busy Tonight.’
• Astrological Sign: Cancer
• Schools
• Loyola Marymount University
• Nacionalities
• American

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Busy Philipps Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/busy-philipps
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: September 30, 2019
• Original Published Date: May 16, 2018