Embeth Jean Davidtz (born August 11, 1965) is an American-born South African actress and director. She has appeared in movies such as Schindler's List, Matilda, Bridget Jones's Diary, and The Amazing Spider-Man, and in the television series In Treatment, Californication, and Mad Men.
In 2024 Davidtz made her directorial debut with Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, an adaptation of the best-selling memoir of the same name by Alexandra Fuller about growing up on a farm in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. The film had its Canadian premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Davidtz was born on August 11, 1965, in Lafayette, Indiana, to South African parents John and Jean, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. The family later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then to South Africa when Davidtz was nine years old
Davidtz has Dutch, English, and French ancestry. She had to learn Afrikaans before attending school classes in South Africa, where her father took up a teaching post at Potchefstroom University. Davidtz graduated from The Glen High School in Pretoria in 1983 and studied at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.
In 1992, Davidtz played the part of Sheila in Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness alongside Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. The third movie in the Evil Dead franchise would eventually become a big cult classic worldwide. In 1993, Davidtz played the role of Helen Hirsch in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List.
In 1995, Davidtz had a central role in the fact-based film Murder in the First, and the Merchant Ivory Productions Feast of July.
Known For
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
Nicola Fuller
2025
Retribution
Heather Turner
2023
Tales of the Walking Dead
Amanda · (1 episode)
2022
Not Okay
Judith
2022
Old
Adult Maddox
2021
Love, Victor
Mrs. Campbell · (1 episode)
2020
The Morning Show
Paige Jacobs · (5 episodes)
2019
Schindler's List: 25 Years Later
Self
2018
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe
Natasha Lytess · (2 episodes)
2015
Nelson Mandela Redrawn
Self
2014
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Mary Parker
2014
Paranoia
Judith Bolton
2013
Ray Donovan
Sonia Kovitzky · (3 episodes)
2013
Europa Report
Dr. Samantha Unger
2013
Miracle Rising: South Africa
Self
2013
The Amazing Spider-Man
Mary Parker
2012
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Annika Blomkvist Giannini
2011
3 Backyards
The Actress
2010
Winged Creatures
Lydia Jaspersen
2009
In Treatment
Amy · (8 episodes)
2008
Californication
Felicia Koons · (10 episodes)
2007
Mad Men
Rebecca Pryce · (8 episodes)
2007
Fracture
Jennifer Crawford
2007
Junebug
Madeleine
2005
Matilda's Movie Magic: The Making of 'Matilda'
Herself
2005
My Movie About Making 'Matilda' by Mara Wilson
Self
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Nancy Shepherd (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Nancy Shepherd · (1 episode)
2005
The Emperor's Club
Elizabeth
2002
Shackleton
Rosalind Chetwynd · (2 episodes)
2002
Thir13en Ghosts
Kalina Oretzia
2001
Scrubs
Maddie · (1 episode)
2001
Citizen Baines
Ellen Baines Croland · (9 episodes)
2001
The Hole
Dr. Philippa Horwood
2001
Bridget Jones's Diary
Natasha
2001
Bicentennial Man
Little Miss / Portia
1999
Mansfield Park
Mary Crawford
1999
Last Rites
Dr. Lauren Riggs
1999
Simon Magus
Leah
1999
The Gingerbread Man
Mallory Doss
1998
Fallen
Gretta Milano
1998
The Garden of Redemption
Adriana
1997
Matilda
Miss Honey
1996
Feast of July
Bella Ford
1995
Murder in the First
Mary McCasslin
1995
Schindler's List
Helen Hirsch
1993
Deadly Matrimony
Dianne Masters
1992
Army of Darkness
Sheila
1992
Till Death Us Do Part
Katherine Palliko
1992
Nag van die 19de
Tessa van Dyk
1991
Sweet Murder
1990
A Private Life
Older Karen
1989
Mutator
Jennifer
1989
The Venery of Samantha Bird
Carol Minot · (1 episode)