1. Early Life and Family
Nina Siemaszko was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Konstanty Siemaszko, was a Polish-born Roman Catholic who endured significant hardship during World War II. He was a survivor of the Polish Underground resistance movement and was held in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Following his escape, he made his way to the United Kingdom, where he met Nina's mother, Collette McAllister. Nina comes from a family with ties to the entertainment and media industries; her brother, Casey Siemaszko, is also an actor, and her other brother, Corky, is a writer for the Daily News and a reporter at NBC News.
2. Education
Siemaszko pursued her academic and theatrical training at The Theatre School at DePaul University, a renowned institution for performing arts located in Chicago.
3. Acting Career
Siemaszko's acting career spans a wide range of productions, from feature films to television series and voice work in video games. She has appeared in numerous feature films, taken on various roles, including an undercover police officer in the film Reservoir Dogs (though her scene was ultimately cut, making it a rare instance of a film with no dialogue delivered by an actress), portrayed Mia Farrow in the CBS miniseries Sinatra, and held a leading role in Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue. Her career also includes extensive television appearances and voice work in video games.
3.1. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | One More Saturday Night | Karen Lundahl | |
| 1988 | License to Drive | Natalie Anderson | |
| 1988 | Tucker: The Man and His Dream | Marilyn Lee Tucker | |
| 1989 | Lost Angels | Merilee | |
| 1991 | Bed & Breakfast | Cassie Wellesly | |
| 1991 | Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue | "Blue" McDonald | |
| 1991 | Little Noises | Dolores | |
| 1993 | The Saint of Fort Washington | Tamsen | |
| 1994 | Floundering | Gal | |
| 1994 | Airheads | Suzzi | |
| 1995 | Power of Attorney | Maria | Video |
| 1995 | Love and Happiness | Nina | |
| 1995 | The American President | Beth Wade | |
| 1996 | Johns | Tiffany | |
| 1997 | Runaway Car | Jenny Todd | |
| 1997 | Suicide Kings | Jennifer | |
| 1998 | Goodbye Lover | Newscaster | |
| 1997 | Kiss & Tell | Shelly | |
| 1999 | Jakob the Liar | Rosa | |
| 1999 | The Big Tease | Betty Fuego | |
| 2000 | Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Holly Proudfit | |
| 2008 | The Haunting of Molly Hartley | Dr. Amelia Emerson | |
| 2011 | Lily Look Here | Delia | Short |
| 2017 | The Hatred | Miriam |
3.2. Television Appearances
Siemaszko has an extensive list of credits in television series, miniseries, and television films.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Lonesome Dove | Janey | Miniseries |
| 1990 | An Enemy of the People | Polly Stockman | Television film |
| 1992 | Sinatra | Mia Farrow | Miniseries |
| 1992 | Red Shoe Diaries | Trudy | "Just Like That" |
| 1993 | Tales from the Crypt | Stella Bishop | "Creep Course" |
| 1994 | Baby Brokers | Leeanne Dees | Television film |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | Gloria McKinnon | "You Gotta Have Heart" |
| 1995 | Sawbones | Jenny Sloan | Television film |
| 1997 | Runaway Car | Jenny Todd | Television film |
| 1998 | More Tales of the City | Mona Ramsey | Miniseries |
| 1999 | Sports Night | Holly | "What Kind of Day Has It Been?" |
| 1999 | Cold Feet | Bob | "How Much Is That Sex Act in the Window" |
| 2000 | The Huntress | Dorinda Patterson | "Springing Tiny" |
| 2000 | The Darkling | Marla Obold | Television film |
| 2001 | NYPD Blue | Debra | "Family Ties" |
| 2001 | The Guardian | Suzanna Clemons | "The Men from the Boys" |
| 2001 | Philly | Teresa Wyatt | "Fork You Very Much" |
| 2001-2006 | The West Wing | Eleanor Bartlet | Recurring role 9 episodes |
| 2003 | A Carol Christmas | Roberta Timmins | Television film |
| 2004 | Judging Amy | Christy Wolinsky | "Baggage Claim" |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Linley Parker | "Bloodlines" |
| 2005-2007 | Mystery Woman | Cassie Hillman | Television film |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Claudia Duffy | "Maltese Cross" |
| 2006-2010 | Cold Case | Julie Vera | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Without a Trace | Celia | "Clean Up" |
| 2007 | Private Practice | Kathleen | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Eli Stone | Katie Bochner | "Sonoma" |
| 2009 | Grey's Anatomy | Kate Carlson | "No Good at Saying Sorry (One More Chance)" |
| 2009 | Mental | Mimi Peters | "Obsessively Yours" |
| 2009 | Saving Grace | Heather | "That Was No First Kiss" |
| 2010 | Past Life | Sharon Moody | "Running on Empty" |
| 2011 | Prime Suspect | Peggy | "Underwater" |
| 2016 | Togetherness | Lindsay | "Everybody Is Grownups" |
| 2017 | American Crime | Laura | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Hailey Dean Mystery: A Will to Kill | Olivia | Television film |
3.3. Video Game Voice Acting
Siemaszko has also lent her voice to video game characters.
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Pedestrian |
| 2009 | Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier | Computer / Aeropan Female / Pirate Female |