Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Biography
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Deirdre Quinn(I)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
DEIRDRE QUINN at the American Cinematheque Gala where George Clooney was presented with the 21st Annual American Cinematheque Award.
This Red-Headed beauty, from Philadelphia's Main Line, got discovered by a photographer at a friends Bat-Mitzvah at the age of 12. From there she was immediately signed as one of Wilhelmina Models youngest talents, traveling from Japan to Europe, to New Zealand shooting fashion covers and commercials all over the world. By her late teens Deirdre's resume already included leads in several National Commercials, countless Modeling campaigns, Billboards, and Starring Roles in Theatrical and Musical Theatre Productions. Selected in 1997 as the first ever female spokeswoman for Irish Spring (doing a spot-on Irish accent) it was obvious to many in the industry, that Deirdre was a star on the rise.

Although entering the work force early, Deirdre's emphasis on education earned her a college degree in Theatre and acceptance to the prestigious NYU Tisch program at the Column Theatre. Continued discipline and focus would earn Deirdre the honor of graduating from the two-year Master's program at the renowned Sanford Meisner Center.

Only two weeks after arriving in Hollywood, Deirdre landed the coveted role of Sandra Bullock's roommate (Mary Jo Wright "Miss Texas") in the mega comedy hit Miss Congeniality, directed by Donald Petrie. Masterful with southern dialects Deirdre would be called upon again to conjure up some southern for the western, Aces 'N Eights. Starring alongside, Casper Van Dien and the-late-great Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine. As well as the straight Texas-talk of "Texas Tina", in her memorable role during the entire 1st season of the award winning Sci-Fi drama, Heroes. Down in the Big Easy, Deirdre also had a recurring role on FOX's short-lived K-Ville.

Chosen and taught by Marlon Brando. Deirdre was privileged to participate in his last known work before his death, a documentary called "Lying for a Living" Working alongside the late Robin Williams, Leonardo Dicaprio, Sean Penn, Edward James Olmos and Whoopi Goldberg (to name a few).

Deirdre's extensive range spans from predatory roles: New Suit, CSI, CSI-NY, E-Ring, Diagnosis Murder, Jane Doe and her starring role in Steven King's thriller, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. To her gritty indie film, Spare Change, which exposes a ruthless abandon and the actresses subtle yet moving vulnerability. All contrasting Quinn's elegant portrayal of a young Maureen O'Hara and war bride in CBS' , The Last Dance.

Off camera, Deirdre Quinn is even more multi-faceted. As an athlete, she's been a golfer since childhood and learned to ski at the age of three on the Italian Alps of Cervinia. Private schooling and travel molded Deirdre's panache in other forms of entertaining as well...she plays classical piano and sings, everything from Opera, to Jazz, to Country. Recording "You Light Up My Life" at Capital records for the Miss Congeniality soundtrack. As an interior designer, style maker, author of published essays, avid foodie, wine collector, and antique enthusiast, Deirdre's lifestyle reflects a passion for curating beauty. In fact, when Deirdre is not on film she is immersed in Interior Design, Party Planning (her wedding, which she single handily planned, was featured in: Inside Weddings) Home Renovations, and Mom-hacks. All of which appear on her well received Lifestyle Blog, TheNestingBird or on her Instagram Design Site @Deirdre.Quinn

But there's more than just style here... Deirdre stepped away from the limelight in 2009 with the pregnancy and subsequent loss of her first child. There would be more pregnancies & more losses along the way to Motherhood, keeping Deidre out of the spotlight for years. However, Deirdre and her husband persisted. Putting their focus solely on creating a family, they finally welcomed a daughter in 2013. During that time Deirdre committed to community service as well. Along with her husband, they ran a Toys-for-Tots Campaign, recently helped organize an event for Tree People LA (replanting trees lost in the recent wild fires), adopted a family through M.E.N.D., work closely with the Interfaith Food Pantry and are dedicated members of Heal-The-Bay... a non-profit organization that focuses on cleaning up our Oceans.

Deirdre and her husband have also teamed-up as renovators & designers in their residential/multi-residential development company, WKProperties & Brett D. Karns Designs. All while Deirdre relished in the most important role of her lifetime...as stay-at-home-MOM! So whether it's through her parenting, philanthropic endeavors, her design aesthetic, or her passionate acting, Deirdre is doing what she aspires to do in all aspects of her life...be present, be creative, and make a profound, meaningful difference!

A Daughter & 2 Cats share their Los Angeles home, hikes, and happiness.
BornSeptember 16
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornSeptember 16
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Photos22

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 15
    View Poster

    Known for

    Miss Congeniality (2000)
    Miss Congeniality
    6.4
    • Mary Jo 'Texas'
    • 2000
    Ali Larter, Hayden Panettiere, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka, Noah Gray-Cabey, and James Kyson in Heroes (2006)
    Heroes
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Tina
    Aces 'N' Eights (2008)
    Aces 'N' Eights
    5.4
    TV Movie
    • Jo Tanner
    • 2008
    Gary Sinise and Sela Ward in CSI: NY (2004)
    CSI: NY
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Elle Jeffries

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Aces 'N' Eights (2008)
      Aces 'N' Eights
      5.4
      TV Movie
      • Jo Tanner
      • 2008
    • Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser in K-Ville (2007)
      K-Ville
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Sarah Napier
      • 2007
    • Lea Thompson, Bruce French, and Joe Penny in Jane Doe: Ties That Bind (2007)
      Jane Doe: Ties That Bind
      6.1
      TV Movie
      • Jessica
      • 2007
    • Ali Larter, Hayden Panettiere, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka, Noah Gray-Cabey, and James Kyson in Heroes (2006)
      Heroes
      7.5
      TV Series
      • Tina
      • 2006
    • Gary Sinise and Sela Ward in CSI: NY (2004)
      CSI: NY
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Elle Jeffries
      • 2006
    • Dennis Hopper, Benjamin Bratt, and Leonor Varela in E-Ring (2005)
      E-Ring
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Sharon Starkey
      • 2005
    • The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2003)
      The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer
      5.4
      TV Movie
      • Fanny
      • 2003
    • Marisa Coughlan and Jordan Bridges in New Suit (2002)
      New Suit
      5.9
      • Big Agency Receptionist
      • 2002
    • Miss Congeniality (2000)
      Miss Congeniality
      6.4
      • Mary Jo 'Texas'
      • 2000
    • Ted Danson, Marg Helgenberger, Jorja Fox, and William Petersen in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
      CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Shannon the Flight Attendant
      • 2000
    • Eric Stoltz and Trini Alvarado in The Last Dance (2000)
      The Last Dance
      7.2
      TV Movie
      • Young Helen Parker
      • 2000
    • Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke in Diagnosis Murder (1993)
      Diagnosis Murder
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Teri Deegan
      • 2000
    • Jason Sklar and Randy Sklar in Apt. 2F (1997)
      Apt. 2F
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Hot Video Girl
      • 1997
    • Morgan Fairchild in The City (1995)
      The City
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Natasha
      • 1996

    Soundtrack



    • Miss Congeniality (2000)
      Miss Congeniality
      6.4
      • performer: "You Light Up My Life"
      • 2000

    Personal details

    • Official sites
      • Fan page
      • LifeStyle Blog
    • Height
      • 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
    • Born
      • September 16
    • Spouse
      • Brett KarnsApril 4, 2004 - present (1 child)
    • Other works
      Infusium 23 Shampoo (1/2003), national commercial
    • Publicity listings
      • 2 Interviews
      • 1 Pictorial

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      A Graduate (theatre major) of Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virginia.

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.