Rhea Seehorn is a 53-year-old American actor and director who’s quietly become one of television's most respected performers – and now the leading face of one of the year’s buzziest new dramas, Pluribus.
Born Deborah Rhea Seehorn on May 12, 1972 in Norfolk, Virginia, she grew up moving between Virginia, Arizona, Washington, D.C. and Japan due to her parents’ careers. While she dabbled in visual arts as a child – studying painting and drawing – her growing passion for performance pushed her into theatre in college, planting the seeds for a long and eclectic screen career.
© Getty ImagesA steady rise through stage and screen
Rhea cut her teeth in theatre and independent film before landing a string of television roles. Early parts included guest spots and supporting turns across comedies and dramas – from sitcoms to cult faves – but it was her nuanced, subtle work as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul (2015–2022) that turned heads. In the acclaimed AMC legal drama, she played a fiercely intelligent, morally complex lawyer opposite Bob Odenkirk’s Jimmy McGill, earning multiple Emmy nominations and a Television Critics Association Award along the way.
© The Hollywood Reporter via GettyDirector moves
She also expanded into directing during Better Call Saul’s final season, helming the episode "Hit and Run," and co-created the comedy web series Cooper’s Bar, further proving her versatility behind as well as in front of the camera.
© Getty ImagesBreaking out with Pluribus
In 2025, Rhea took a major leap into headline-grabbing stardom with Apple TV+’s sci-fi drama Pluribus – created by Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul mastermind Vince Gilligan.
She plays lead character Carol Sturka, a bestselling fantasy romance novelist who’s one of the few people on Earth immune to a mysterious alien virus that sweeps humanity into a strangely content hive mind. Audiences and critics alike have praised her performance – a complex blend of sharp wit, emotional depth and defiance – with Pluribus quickly emerging as a standout in a crowded TV landscape.
Vince has even said he wrote the series specifically for Rhea, marking a rare move where a creator builds a major sci-fi series around an actor known for dramatic depth rather than blockbuster comedy or action roles – a testament to her craft and reputation.
© WireImageWhat makes her compelling
Unlike many leading TV stars who ascend via blockbuster franchises, Rhea’s rise has been slow-burn and performance-centred – built on intelligence, precision and a willingness to explore flawed, fascinating characters. In Pluribus, her portrayal of Carol – cynical yet deeply human in a world gone eerily peaceful – has become a conversation piece in its own right, with scenes and character choices sparking fan theories and emotional response across social media.
© Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagOutside the spotlight
Off screen, Seehorn keeps a relatively private personal life. She’s long-engaged to real estate agent and former producer Graham Larson, and lives in Los Angeles.
With award season just around the corner, Rhea is already a frontrunner for the Golden Globes, with many critics predicting this will be the role that finally secures her the 'Leading Actress' trophy that eluded her during the Saul era.
