Annie Baker

Annie Baker is an American playwright, film director, and teacher, acclaimed for her naturalistic dialogue and keen observations of everyday life. Baker earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University and a Master of Fine Arts from Brooklyn College.

Her notable works include the “Shirley, Vermont” plays—Body Awareness (2008), Circle Mirror Transformation (2009), and The Aliens (2010)—all set in the fictional town of Shirley. In 2014, she received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for The Flick (2013), a play that explores the lives of three employees in a run-down movie theatre. Baker’s other significant works include John (2015) and The Antipodes (2017).

In 2017, she was named a MacArthur Fellow, recognising her contributions to contemporary theatre. Expanding her artistic repertoire, Baker made her feature film directorial debut with Janet Planet (2023), a coming-of-age drama set in 1990s Western Massachusetts. The film premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival and received critical acclaim for its nuanced storytelling and character development.

Baker’s work is celebrated for its authentic dialogue, deep character exploration, and subtle yet profound examination of human relationships and societal norms.