You probably know her as the woman who can take down a room full of dudes without breaking a sweat. Most fans first really saw Jennifer Holland when she stepped onto the screen as Emilia Harcourt in The Suicide Squad. She was the no-nonsense A.R.G.U.S. agent who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else but babysitting a bunch of super-villains.
But honestly? If you think her career started and ended with a glock in her hand and a scowl on her face, you’re missing the weird, wild, and surprisingly long road she took to get there.
Jennifer Holland has been around way longer than the DC Universe. She’s done the "scream queen" thing. She’s done the teen comedy thing. She even survived a stint in a mental asylum. Seeing the full list of Jennifer Holland movies and TV shows is like looking at a map of how Hollywood actually works for an actor who refuses to quit.
The Harcourt Era: Breaking Into the DCU
Let's get the big one out of the way. Jennifer Holland movies and TV shows reached a fever pitch in 2022. That was the year Peacemaker dropped on HBO Max. Suddenly, Harcourt wasn't just a background agent; she was the emotional anchor of a show featuring a guy who wears a toilet seat on his head.
In the first season, she was the "straight man" to John Cena's chaotic energy. By the time the 2025-2026 season of Peacemaker rolled around, things got even weirder. Holland actually had to play two versions of the character thanks to some multiverse shenanigans. There’s the battle-hardened Harcourt we know, and then "Harcourt 2"—a version who is softer, gigglier, and wears skirts.
Holland mentioned in recent interviews that playing the alternate version was terrifying because she didn't want it to turn into a "comedy routine." She wanted to keep it grounded. It’s that dedication to the craft that makes her stand out in a genre that often values capes over character development.
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Her DC streak is honestly impressive:
- The Suicide Squad (2021) – The debut.
- Peacemaker (2022–2025/2026) – The breakout.
- Black Adam (2022) – A quick but vital cameo.
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) – Recruiting for the Justice Society.
- Superman (2025) – A voice role as a Superman robot.
The "Scream Queen" Roots You Forgot
Before she was trading quips with Peacemaker, Holland was a staple in the direct-to-video horror world. It’s a rite of passage for many actors, and she leaned into it.
Back in 2008, she was in a movie called Zombie Strippers. Yeah, it’s exactly what it sounds like. She played Jessy. It’s campy, it’s bloody, and it’s a far cry from the high-budget sets of a James Gunn production.
She also appeared in House of the Dead 2 and The Sisterhood. People often look back at these roles and cringe, but for Holland, it was the training ground. She was learning how to handle physicality and gore long before she was fighting "butterflies" in a suburban trailer park.
Television Journey: From Drake & Josh to American Horror Story
If you’re a 2000s kid, you might have seen her without even realizing it. She had a tiny guest spot on Drake & Josh. She was just "Girl" in the episode "Drew & Jerry."
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But the real turning point for her TV career—the moment people realized she had serious dramatic chops—was American Horror Story: Asylum (2012). She played Nurse Blackwell for a couple of episodes. It wasn't a huge role, but it was Asylum. You don't get on that show unless you can handle high-intensity, psychological weirdness.
Then came Sun Records in 2017.
This is the one she often cites as her true "breakout." She played Becky Phillips, the wife of Sam Phillips (the guy who discovered Elvis). It was a period piece. No superpowers. No zombies. Just a woman in the 1950s trying to keep a family and a business together while her husband struggled with his mental health. Holland actually met the real Becky’s son to prepare for the role. It showed a side of her that fans of her action work might never have seen: the quiet, resilient, and deeply human side.
The Physicality of the Work
One thing you’ve gotta respect about Holland is that she does a huge chunk of her own stunts.
She’s a former gymnast. That background is why her fight scenes in Peacemaker look so fluid. In the season 2 premiere, she had this brutal bar fight where she was taking on guys three times her size. She’s talked about how much pain she was in after those shoots, but she refuses to dial it back. Even Frank Grillo (who knows a thing or two about action) told her she’s one of the best women he’s ever seen do an action sequence.
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A Quick Look at Her Diverse Filmography
- Brightburn (2019): She played Ms. Espenschied in this "evil Superman" horror flick. It was a small but memorable role that reunited her with the Gunn-produced universe.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023): She showed up as Administrator Kwol. It was a fun "blink and you'll miss it" moment for eagle-eyed fans.
- Bones and CSI: Miami: Like every working actor in the 2010s, she did her time in the procedural salt mines.
Why the "Director's Wife" Narrative is Lazy
It’s no secret that Jennifer Holland is married to James Gunn. Critics love to point this out, but it’s a lazy take. If you watch her performance in Peacemaker, it’s clear she isn't there as a favor. She brings a specific kind of "burnt-out professional" energy to Harcourt that is incredibly hard to pull off without becoming a caricature.
She’s stated that she and Gunn keep their personal and professional lives strictly separate. On set, she’s just another actor hitting her marks. The shorthand they have helps, sure, but the talent is all hers.
What’s Next for Jennifer Holland?
With the DCU transitioning into a new era under DC Studios, Holland’s role as Emilia Harcourt seems to be the "connective tissue." She’s the Nick Fury of this world—showing up in mid-credit scenes and crossovers to remind everyone that a larger story is happening.
But beyond the capes? She’s expressed a major interest in doing a full-on, gritty action movie. Think Atomic Blonde or John Wick. Given how she’s "leveled up" her stunt work recently, it feels like only a matter of time before she’s the lead in her own franchise.
If you want to truly appreciate her work, don't just stick to the blockbusters. Go back and find Sun Records. Watch her guest spots in American Horror Story. You’ll see an actress who spent fifteen years in the trenches before becoming an "overnight success."
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan of her action style, start following the stunt coordinators she works with, like Wayne Dalglish. Seeing the behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage of her bar fights gives you a whole new appreciation for the athleticism required for these Jennifer Holland movies and TV shows.