Leading American actress Camryn Manheim has won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on The Practice, the hit ABC legal drama. She brought depth and emotion to her portrayal of Eleanor Fruit, drawing praise from critics and fans in equal measure. Since then she has further cemented her reputation with a central role in CBS’s Ghost Whisperer, while playing Gladys Presley in the 2005 mini-series Elvis, a role for which she was recognised with a Golden Globe nomination.

Manheim’s other TV credits include high-profile shows such as Ally McBeal, Family Guy, Two and A Half Men and How I Met Your Mother amongst many other popular programmes over the last two decades. The big screen has also come calling for her versatile skills, with parts in films like Dark Water, Scary Movie 3 and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion adding to her already impressive filmography. Manheim has also performed on stage in shows such as Spring Awakening: this unique production featured cast members that were hard-of-hearing. This is a topic close to Manheim’s heart, as she used to work in hospitals as a sign language interpreter: this experience was later drawn upon in Law & Order and 1998 thriller Mercury Rising, in which Manheim portrayed a behavioural psychologist. Outside of acting, Manheim has worked with Los Angeles-based charity The House of Justice, serving as a co-chair of their annual fundraiser, The Justice Ball.