Honestly, if you watched Succession and didn't want to crawl into a hole during that ATN audition tape scene, you might be made of stone. We all know Zoë Winters as Kerry Castellabate. She was the one with the aggressive bangs and that terrifying, toothy grin that made "child abduction" news sound like a trip to Disneyland.
But here is the thing. Winters didn't just drop out of the sky and into Logan Roy’s private jet. She’s been a staple of the New York stage and gritty indie films for years. If you only know her as the woman who threatened to turn Cousin Greg into "human string cheese," you’re missing out on some of the best character work in modern acting.
Beyond the Roy Empire: The Films
Most people are currently hunting for Zoe Winters movies and TV shows because of her breakout on HBO, but her filmography is actually getting pretty stacked with high-concept projects.
Take the 2023 film Jules. It's this quiet, weirdly beautiful sci-fi comedy starring Ben Kingsley. Winters plays Denise, the daughter of a man who finds an alien in his backyard. It is about as far from the high-stakes corporate warfare of Waystar RoyCo as you can get. She brings this grounded, frustrated humanity to the role that reminds you she can do "normal person" just as well as she does "scary power-player."
Then there's Cold Wallet, which hit the festival circuit and showcased her in a much darker, thriller-adjacent light. She plays Eileen in a story about crypto-vigilantes. It's sharp, cynical, and feels very "of the moment."
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If you’re looking for her upcoming work, keep an eye out for Materialists. This is a big one. Directed by Celine Song—the mastermind behind Past Lives—it stars Winters alongside heavy hitters like Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. It’s a rom-com set in the world of high-end matchmaking, and Winters playing Sophie is likely going to be a highlight.
The Succession Effect: Why Kerry Sticked
We have to talk about Kerry. It's unavoidable.
Winters joined Succession in season 2 as a background assistant. By the final season, she was the unofficial gatekeeper to the most powerful man in the world. What’s wild is that Winters basically invented Kerry’s personality. She told interviewers she decided to make Kerry rude to Shiv from day one just to see what would happen.
That "point of view" is what caught the writers' attention. They saw her in the off-Broadway play Heroes of the Fourth Turning (where she played a terrifyingly articulate alt-right intellectual) and realized she could handle the most complex, "poisonous" dialogue they could throw at her.
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TV Credits You Probably Missed
While Succession is the crown jewel, she’s popped up in a ton of procedural and prestige TV. You’ve likely seen her face without even realizing it:
- Flatbush Misdemeanors: She played Nancy, showing off some comedy chops in a show that is way more "indie" and relaxed than her usual stuff.
- The Good Fight: She appeared as Gretchen Mackie. If you know that show, you know they only hire the best New York theater actors.
- Command Z: A weird, experimental Steven Soderbergh series where she plays a character named Christina Martin.
- Hunters: She had a stint as Congresswoman Elizabeth Handelman.
- Elementary & Law & Order: The classic "New York Actor Rite of Passage." She’s done them both.
The "Secret" Theater Career
If you want to know why she’s so good, you have to look at her stage work. Before she was on camera, she was an Obie Award-winning powerhouse. She’s been in 4000 Miles at Lincoln Center and Small Mouth Sounds.
There is a specific kind of intensity she brings to her roles—a sort of athletic, high-wire act where she’s always a little bit "too much" in the best way possible. Critics have called her "pitch perfect" and "stentorian." Basically, she’s the person directors call when they need a character who is smart, dangerous, and a little bit broken.
What to Watch Next
If you are just starting your deep dive into her work, don't just re-watch the ATN audition (though it is hilarious).
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Start with Jules to see her softer side. Then, hunt down clips of Heroes of the Fourth Turning if you can find them—it explains exactly how she became the "scary ghost" of the Roy household.
The trajectory of Winters’ career is moving from "that one guest star" to a genuine leading force in independent cinema and prestige drama. With Materialists coming up, she’s about to be a household name for people who don't even have an HBO subscription.
Next Steps for You:
To get a true sense of her range, start by streaming Jules on your preferred VOD platform to see her break away from the "Kerry" persona. You should also set an alert for Materialists (2025/2026), as it marks her biggest jump into the Hollywood A-list circle alongside Pedro Pascal.