Greta Gerwig

Gerwig in 2011, photo by PR Photos

Birth Name: Greta Celeste Gerwig

Place of Birth: Sacramento, California, United States

Date of Birth: August 4, 1983

Ethnicity: German, Irish, English, Cornish

Greta Gerwig is an American actress, screenwriter, and director. She has directed Lady Bird, Little Women (2019), and Barbie (2023), and co-directed Nights and Weekends. She wrote the first two mentioned films, and co-wrote the others, as well as Hannah Takes the Stairs, Northern Comfort, Frances Ha, and Mistress America. She also starred in the last five stated films. Her other acting roles include the films LOL (2006), Baghead, The House of the Devil (2009), Greenberg, The Dish & the Spoon, No Strings Attached, Damsels in Distress, Arthur (2011), Lola Versus, To Rome with Love, Eden (2014), The Humbling, Maggie’s Plan, Wiener-Dog, Jackie, 20th Century Women, The Meyerowitz Stories, Isle of Dogs, in voice performance; and White Noise (2022); and, in voice-over, the show China, IL.

Greta is the daughter of Christine, an OB-GYN nurse, and Gordon Gerwig, who worked on small business loans for a credit union. Her parents played her character’s parents in her semi-autobigraphical film Frances Ha, also depicted by actors in Lady Bird. She was raised in River Park, Sacramento. She has two children with her partner, filmmaker Noah Baumbach. Greta and Noah have often collaborated, with her having starred in most of his films since the mid-2010s, and the two co-writing Frances Ha, Mistress America, and Barbie.

Greta’s paternal grandfather was Roger Wesley Gerwig (the son of Louis/Lewis George Gerwig and Amelia Issac Rogers). Greta’s grandfather Roger was born in Colorado. Louis was born in Indiana, the son of German parents, George Henry Gerwig, from Alsace-Lorraine, and Elizabeth Maria Barth, from Huffenhardt, Baden. Amelia was born in Morro de St. Anna, Brazil, the daughter of Nicholas Rogers and Mary Ann Issac/Isaacs, who were from Cornwall, England.

Greta’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Genevieve Fox (the daughter of Medford/Marion Rush Fox and Rebecca Mae/Maye/May “Mary” Anthony). Ruth was born in Washington. Medford was the son of Egbert Ansel/Ansil Fox and Martha Frances Magill.

Greta’s maternal grandfather was Ralph William Sauer (the son of John D. Sauer and Viola Grace Davenport). Ralph was born in California. John was the son of John D. Sauer, who was German, and of Nancy Jane Dark. Viola was the daughter of James William Davenport and Rebecca Jane Lawrence.

Greta’s maternal grandmother was Betty Jane Foley (the daughter of James B. Foley and Edith Hatfield). Betty was born in Illinois.

Sources: Greta’s paternal grandparents, Roger Wesley Gerwig and Ruth Genevieve Fox, on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Greta’s paternal grandfather, Roger Wesley Gerwig, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Greta’s paternal great-grandfather, Louis/Lewis George Gerwig, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Greta’s paternal grandmother, Ruth Genevieve Fox, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Ruth Genevieve Fox on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Greta Gerwig (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Greta’s maternal grandfather, Ralph William Sauer, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Greta’s maternal grandmother, Betty Jane Foley, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Greta’s maternal grandmother, Betty Jane (Foley) Sauer – http://www.alamedasun.com