Constance Zimmer
Constance Zimmer (born October 11, 1970) is an American actress best known for roles in Entourage, Boston Legal, UnREAL, and House of Cards. Explore her biography, career trajectory, awards, and influence.
Introduction
Constance Alice Zimmer (born October 11, 1970) is a versatile American actress with a long career in television, film, and voice acting.
She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Quinn King in the Lifetime series UnREAL, earning critical acclaim and award nominations.
Over decades, she has moved flexibly across genres—from drama to satire to voice work—building a reputation for strength, presence, and character depth.
Early Life and Background
Constance Zimmer was born in Seattle, Washington to parents of German heritage, originally from East Prussia.
Her parents divorced when she was young, and she has an older sister.
Although her parents spoke English to her, Zimmer spent summers in Germany with her grandmother, learning German. She is fluent in German.
In high school, she developed a love for acting, and after graduation she was accepted to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena.
Career & Achievements
Early Career & TV Guest Roles
Zimmer got her start in commercials (notably Duracell) before moving into television guest appearances, including on shows like Seinfeld, The X-Files, Ellen, The Wayans Bros., Babylon 5, and The King of Queens.
She landed her first regular TV role in Good Morning, Miami as Penny Barrington.
She also had recurring roles in Joan of Arcadia and Out of Practice.
Breakthrough & Recurring Roles
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From 2005 to 2011, she played Dana Gordon in Entourage, an entertainment-industry executive role.
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In Boston Legal (2006-2007), she portrayed Claire Simms.
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She appeared in House of Cards as Janine Skorsky (2013–2018).
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In UnREAL (2015–2018), she starred as Quinn King, a cutthroat showrunner. This role earned her a Critics’ Choice Television Award and a Primetime Emmy nomination.
She has also done voice acting, e.g. Strongarm in Transformers: Robots in Disguise.
Film & Other Media
Zimmer’s film work includes Chaos Theory, Demoted, Results, Entourage (film version), The Babymakers, and Run the Tide.
She has also produced and directed episodes of television in recent years.
Personal Life
Zimmer was first married to special effects artist Steve Johnson in the late 1990s, but that ended in divorce.
On January 5, 2008, she gave birth to her daughter Colette Zoe, whose father is director Russ Lamoureux. The two got engaged in 2010 and married in October of that year.
She supports various causes, such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Heifer International.
Zimmer lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.
She also has creative hobbies like making handmade jewelry, candles, greeting cards, etc.
Awards & Recognition
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In 2016, she won Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for UnREAL.
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She received a Primetime Emmy nomination the same year for UnREAL.
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She has also been nominated for ensemble and supporting awards for Boston Legal and Entourage.
Influence & Legacy
Constance Zimmer’s career exemplifies persistence, adaptability, and depth. She navigated decades of television work, gradually moving from character and guest roles toward stronger, more central and complex parts (UnREAL being a turning point).
Her portrayal of Quinn King is often held up as an example of a female antihero—ambitious, morally ambiguous, and sharply intelligent. That role broadened her visibility and critical respect.
Her ability to move between drama, satire, legal thrillers, political series, and voice work shows versatility. She’s also taken up directing, expanding her influence behind the camera as well.