Krysten Ritter is a talented actress who garnered widespread acclaim with memorable roles in hit shows Breaking Bad, Gilmore Girls, and Jessica Jones. Having begun her career in the entertainment industry as a model, the gifted performer slowly began to transition into acting and gained recognition with endearing parts in beloved programs like Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls. Ritter would go on to lead the ABC sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and headline her own Marvel show Jessica Jones in addition to the miniseries The Defenders; she is currently set to lead the Orphan Black spin-off, Echoes.



Outside the small screen, Ritter has appeared in compelling films like the dark fantasy Nightbooks, Tim Burton’s award-winning biographical drama Big Eyes, and the gripping Sam Elliott dramedy The Hero. With roles in such lauded projects, the actress has firmly established herself as a dynamic presence who can masterfully do it all and remains an exciting and multidimensional star. Let’s take a look at some of Krysten Ritter’s most outstanding performances so far.

9 Nightbooks

Based on the J.A. White children’s book of the same name, the 2021 dark fantasy Netflix original Nightbooks follows a creative young boy with a passion for scary stories who becomes the prisoner of an evil witch named Natacha (Krysten Ritter) and must use his visionary mind to find a way to escape her wicked clutches. Alex is forced to tell the witch a new terrifying tale every night in order to stay alive, and teams up with Natacha’s kind servant Yazmin to battle against the nefarious forces at work.

Ritter’s turn as the devilish, spooky story-loving sorceress went on to earn praise from critics as did the big screen adaptation itself, with Variety writing, “Its whimsical touches, along with a reverence for creative young minds, gives the film a warmth that counterbalances its shocks.”

8 Veronica Mars

One of Krysten Ritter’s most prominent earlier television roles was as Gia Goodman on the teen noir mystery drama Veronica Mars, in which the actress appears as the quirky, fun-loving daughter of Neptune town mayor Woody Goodman whom the titular character befriends. Gia was a recurring role for Ritter throughout the second season of the popular series, and the actress reprised the part for the 2014 film installment of the drama.

When discussing her involvement in the project, she told OK! Magazine, “I was so flattered and honored that Rob Thomas even wanted me in the movie and gave me such a significant part. I was surprised, and I think the fans will be surprised. I would have done a cameo. I would have done anything to be a part of it. It was so f***ing cool.”

7 Listen Up Philip

Featuring an exceptional ensemble cast led by Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, and Krysten Ritter, the 2014 comedy-drama Listen Up Philip centers on the eponymous self-obsessed young writer as he seeks refuge from his mundane daily life by staying in the isolated summer home of his beloved literary idol.

In the absorbing picture, Ritter portrays renowned novelist Ike Zimmerman’s indignant daughter Melanie, who is estranged from her father and is none-too-pleased that Philip is taking up residence in her family home. Listen Up Philip had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where it garnered rave reviews for its dark humor, compelling performances and refreshing look at narcissism and self-proclaimed genius.

6 Big Eyes

Legendary gothic fantasy filmmaker Tim Burton decided to tackle the biographical drama genre when he directed the 2014 picture Big Eyes, which chronicles the relationship between the gifted painter Margaret Keane and her husband Walter throughout the ‘50s and the ‘60s, during which the artist’s spouse attempted to take credit for her awe-inspiring creations.

Related: Rob Zombie’s The Munsters to Join Tim Burton’s Wednesday on Netflix This Fall

Starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz as the at-odds married couple, Krysten Ritter also appears in the stunning picture as Margaret’s free-spirited close friend Dee-Ann, who encourages her pal to embrace her talent and enjoy all that life has to offer. When discussing her role in Big Eyes, Ritter expressed her profound joy of working with Tim Burton, calling the whole experience “a dream come true.”

5 Gilmore Girls

For the final season of the beloved comedy-drama television series Gilmore Girls, Krysten Ritter joined the cult classic program and appeared as Rory Gilmore’s Yale classmate and gal pal Lucy, a fun and care-free character who majored in acting and befriended Rory at an art show along with her best friend Olivia. Rory and Lucy’s relationship goes through a rocky stage when the latter learns the Gilmore girl had a close bond with her boyfriend Marty, causing major tension between the two.

Ritter discussed her time on the adored show with the AV Club, saying, “…they were at the very end of their run, and here I was stepping in late in the game. That was tricky, because I was so young and wide-eyed and, like, ‘I can’t wait to do this,’ while everybody else is going, ‘Let’s get this over with.’ [Laughs.] It’s funny how many people watch those shows. They really got things started for me. So I’m really grateful.”

4 The Hero

The distinguished Sam Elliott headlined the 2017 comedy-drama The Hero, in which the seasoned performer portrays the aging Western icon Lee Hayden, who spends his days yearning for his golden years while lazing around smoking marijuana with his close friend and dealer; Hayden’s laid-back lifestyle is completely upended when he discovers he has terminal cancer.

Krysten Ritter appears as the former star’s estranged daughter Lucy, whom he tries to reconnect with while desperately searching for a late-career comeback that would permanently establish his Hollywood legacy. The poignant picture debuted at the Sundance Film Festival where it earned acclaim from critics, with the San Francisco Chronicle noting that the dramedy is “about renewal, about an unexpected rebirth that doesn’t come easy and can never be complete but that represents a recommitment to life, nonetheless.”

3 Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23

Krysten Ritter starred as the free-spirited, irresponsible titular character in the ABC sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, portraying New York party-girl Chloe, who keeps a constant rotation of roommates that she ultimately drives away through her outrageous antics and behavior. Chloe finds a worthy challenger in Indiana transplant June Colburn (Dreama Walker), with the new roomie determined to make the fun-loving lady her friend.

James Van Der Beek also appeared in the gone-too-soon series, in which the Dawson’s Creek alumstars as a hilarious fictionalized version of himself; despite being well-received by critics and earning multiple award nominations, the sitcom was canceled after just two seasons. Regardless, Ritter shined in the entertaining role and showcased her outstanding comedic capabilities.

2 Jessica Jones

Adapted from the Marvel Comics character of the same name, the critically-acclaimed Netflix crime-drama series Jessica Jones follows the eponymous former superhero as she becomes a private investigator and opens up a New York City detective agency that specializes in people with exceptional abilities.

Related: Jessica Jones Rumored to Join Daredevil and Kingpin in Marvel’s Echo Series

Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg had long envisioned Ritter as the crime fighting heroine, with the actress describing her character as “very rough around the edges, and dry and sarcastic and a total a**hole sometimes. But I think at her core she’s a good person.” The show ran for three successful seasons and featured Ritter reprising the role in the companion miniseries The Defenders, with Jessica Jones going on to win a Peabody Award and Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award during its thrilling tenure.

1 Breaking Bad

Heavily lauded as one of the greatest television series of all time, the AMC neo-Western crime drama Breaking Bad centers on the cancer-diagnosed chemistry teacher Walter White as he teams up with former student and drug dealer Jesse Pinkman to manufacture and distribute crystal meth in an effort to secure his family’s financial future.

In one of her most memorable and revered roles to date, Krysten Ritter delivered a phenomenal performance as the artistic Jane Margolis with a tumultuous history of heroin abuse who had been on the road to recovery before crossing paths with Jesse. The character’s presence and tragic death had a profound impact on the series, and is largely attributed to Jesse’s heartbreaking downward spiral; Ritter stated that the pivotal scene was “…intense, and I will never forget it” and called the award-winning program “the gift that keeps on giving.”