# Krysten Ritter
**Krysten Ritter** (born 1981) is an American actress, director, author, and producer known for playing Jane Margolis on AMC's *Breaking Bad*, the title character in the ABC sitcom *[Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23](https://www.edgepedia.org/dont-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23)*, and the superhero private investigator [Jessica Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessica-jones) in the Netflix Marvel series and, since 2026, in *Daredevil: Born Again*.[1](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/) • [2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) She is also the author of two novels, *Bonfire* (2017) and *Retreat* (2025).[3](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/97273-i-love-to-play-with-bad-girls-pw-talks-with-krysten-ritter.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981, United States; full name Krysten Alyce Ritter[1](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/) |
| Breakthrough role | Jane Margolis, Jesse Pinkman's girlfriend, on *Breaking Bad* (2009–2010, 10 episodes); reprised in the film *El Camino* (2019)[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) |
| Signature role | Jessica Jones in *Marvel's Jessica Jones* (2015–2019, 39 episodes), *The Defenders* (2017), and *Daredevil: Born Again* (2026–)[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) |
| Sitcom lead | Chloe in *Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23* (ABC, 2012–2013, 26 episodes)[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) |
| Books | *Bonfire* (2017), a legal mystery; *Retreat* (2025), a thriller about a con artist, Liz Dawson[3](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/97273-i-love-to-play-with-bad-girls-pw-talks-with-krysten-ritter.html) |
| Production company | Silent Machine, launched in 2012 to develop projects centered on complex female protagonists[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/) |
| Recent work | Mia Lapierre in *Dexter: Resurrection* (2025); Jessica Jones in *Daredevil: Born Again* seasons 2 and 3 (2026, 2027)[5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/dexter-resurrection/releases/?view=111082-krysten-ritter-to-guest-star-in-showtime-original-series-dexter-resurrection) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/?showAllCredits=true) |
## Early life and modeling
Ritter grew up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania and began her career in front of the camera as a model at 15 years old.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/?showAllCredits=true) In interviews she has described the modeling years as alienating: she spent her days on go-sees being judged solely on appearance, with no interest shown in her personality or sense of humor.[7](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a19481933/krysten-ritter-jessica-jones-season-2-interview/) Her booker began sending her to commercial auditions instead, and a response to a comic audition prompt gave her what she has called her "eureka moment" for acting.[7](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a19481933/krysten-ritter-jessica-jones-season-2-interview/)
Her first screen work came with small parts, including an art-history student in *Mona Lisa Smile* (2003) and a speaking scene in *Tanner on Tanner* (2004), for which director [Robert Altman](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-altman) cast her directly after a meeting rather than through auditions.[8](https://www.avclub.com/don-t-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23-star-krysten-ritt-1798230774)
## Television breakthrough
**Early series roles.** Ritter's first substantial television part was Gia Goodman, the mayor's daughter, in eight episodes of *Veronica Mars* (2005–2006), followed by Lucy in *Gilmore Girls* (2006–2007).[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) • [8](https://www.avclub.com/don-t-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23-star-krysten-ritt-1798230774) Film work in this period included the romantic comedies *27 Dresses* (2007), *What Happens in Vegas* (2008), *Confessions of a Shopaholic* (2009), and *She's Out of My League* (2010).[1](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/)
**Breaking Bad.** In 2009 she was cast as Jane Margolis, a recovering drug addict and tattoo artist who becomes [Jesse Pinkman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jesse-pinkman)'s girlfriend, on AMC's *Breaking Bad*.[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) • [9](https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a2748/krysten-ritter-interview-breaking-bad/) Jane's death in the second season became one of the series' pivotal events, and Ritter has called it "the best role ever," crediting the part with opening later opportunities.[8](https://www.avclub.com/don-t-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23-star-krysten-ritt-1798230774) She reprised Jane in flashbacks and in the 2019 sequel film *El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie*.[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/)
**Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.** After the *Breaking Bad* exposure made her one of the most in-demand actors heading into the 2011 pilot season, she was cast in January 2011 as the title character of [Nahnatchka Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/nahnatchka-khan)'s ABC sitcom *Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23*, playing Chloe, a scamming New York roommate.[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/krysten-ritter-explains-her-breaking-133500903.html) The show ran two seasons, 26 episodes, from 2012 to 2013.[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/)
## Jessica Jones and the Marvel years
In November 2015 Ritter began starring as Jessica Jones, a super-strong former superhero with PTSD who works as a private investigator, in the Netflix series *Marvel's Jessica Jones*, based on the Marvel Max comic *[Alias](https://www.edgepedia.org/alias-comics)*.[11](https://www.vogue.com/article/jessica-jones-krysten-ritter-interview) The audition was conducted under Marvel secrecy: she read for a character named "Julia," and only later read the first two scripts in a locked room at Marvel's headquarters with her phone confiscated.[11](https://www.vogue.com/article/jessica-jones-krysten-ritter-interview) The show ran three seasons, 39 episodes, through June 2019, and Ritter also played the character in the crossover series *Marvel's The Defenders* (2017, 8 episodes).[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/)
The series won Peabody, Hugo, and [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards), and Ritter's performance earned a Critics Choice nomination, a Saturn nomination, a Webby Award, and a Glamour Best International TV Actress Award.[12](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/bio/) Season 2 hired an all-female directing team, which Ritter publicly championed.[7](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a19481933/krysten-ritter-jessica-jones-season-2-interview/) She also directed one episode herself, the second episode of season 3 in 2019.[13](https://www.filmstarts.de/personen/117933/filmo/)
**Return to the character.** In 2026 Ritter reprised Jessica Jones in season 2 of the Disney+ series *Daredevil: Born Again*, her first appearance as the character in the [Marvel Cinematic Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-cinematic-universe) proper; showrunner [Dario Scardapane](https://www.edgepedia.org/dario-scardapane) said bringing her back was "top of the checklist" for the season.[14](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-tv-shows/daredevil-born-again-season-2-exclusive-showrunner-talks-reuniting-the-defenders-for-the-first-time-in-7-years-bringing-jessica-jones-back-in-this-season-was-top-of-the-checklist/) She is credited for three episodes of season 2 and is set for further episodes in the third season, expected in 2027.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/?showAllCredits=true) In the new continuity, Jessica has a daughter, Danielle, with [Luke Cage](https://www.edgepedia.org/luke-cage).[15](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-tv-shows/daredevil-born-again-season-2-finales-major-defenders-cameo-was-a-whisper-of-an-idea-until-jessica-jones-star-called-the-actor/)
## Film and other television
Ritter's film credits include the horror comedy *[Vamps](https://www.edgepedia.org/vamps-film)* (2012), Alex Ross Perry's *Listen Up Philip* (2014), the *Veronica Mars* continuation film (2014), [Tim Burton](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-burton)'s *Big Eyes* (2014), *The Hero* (2017), and the dark fantasy *Nightbooks* (2021), in which she played the witch Natacha.[1](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/) She wrote, co-produced, and starred in the comedy *Life Happens* (2011).[1](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/) In 2024 she played Director Rockwell in *Sonic the Hedgehog 3*.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/?showAllCredits=true)
On television she played Lucy, a clone, in *Orphan Black: Echoes* (AMC, 2023, 10 episodes), also serving as an executive producer, and Sherry Cleckler, a real-life friend of [Candy Montgomery](https://www.edgepedia.org/candy-montgomery), in the [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) limited series *Love & Death* (2023, 7 episodes).[2](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/) • [16](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Krysten-Ritter/) In March 2025 Showtime announced she would guest star as Mia Lapierre, known as "Lady Vengeance," in *Dexter: Resurrection*, which launched in summer 2025; she appeared in three episodes, and her character's apparent death in the season 1 finale left room for a reported return in season 2.[5](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/dexter-resurrection/releases/?view=111082-krysten-ritter-to-guest-star-in-showtime-original-series-dexter-resurrection) • [17](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/crime-shows/jessica-jones-star-krysten-ritter-set-to-return-for-dexter-resurrection-season-2-despite-her-characters-fate-in-season-1/)
## Writing, directing, and production
Ritter launched her production company, Silent Machine, in 2012, with the stated objective of highlighting complex female protagonists, and she has held a first-look production deal with Universal TV.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/) • [18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJx0Rj-dYFk) She directed all four episodes of the first season of the Peacock series *The Girl in the Woods* in 2021, in addition to her *Jessica Jones* episode.[13](https://www.filmstarts.de/personen/117933/filmo/)
Her fiction debut, the legal mystery *Bonfire*, was published in 2017 and received a Publishers Weekly starred review.[3](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/97273-i-love-to-play-with-bad-girls-pw-talks-with-krysten-ritter.html) • [19](https://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm/author_number/x20039/krysten-ritter) Her second novel, *Retreat* (2025), follows the con artist Liz Dawson, who seizes an unexpected chance to start a new life on the Mexican coast; Ritter has said she wrote it with the intention of "reverse-engineering" it for television.[3](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/97273-i-love-to-play-with-bad-girls-pw-talks-with-krysten-ritter.html) • [20](https://www.thepopverse.com/literary-krysten-ritter-novels-acting-the-retreat-screen-adaptation-la-times-festival-of-books-2025) In March 2026 it was announced that she would executive produce and star in a series adaptation of *Retreat*, developed with writer-producer Steve Yockey (*The Flight Attendant*) and Berlanti Productions.[21](https://www.inkwellmanagement.com/news/retreat-author-krysten-ritter-is-set-to-executive-produce-and-star-in-the-n) • [22](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65758348/)
Outside acting and writing, she is a singer and guitarist in the indie rock duo Ex Vivian, and she co-designed a dress with designer Corey Lynn Calter.[1](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/) • [23](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/31094/krysten-ritter)
## Personal life
Ritter's son, Bruce, was born in 2019, one month after the *Jessica Jones* series finale aired; his father is musician [Adam Granduciel](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-granduciel).[24](https://www.aol.com/articles/krysten-ritter-shares-becoming-mom-202815000.html) She has said motherhood changed how she approaches her roles, bringing what she describes as "mama bear energy" into her return as Jessica Jones.[24](https://www.aol.com/articles/krysten-ritter-shares-becoming-mom-202815000.html)
## References
1. [Films starring Krysten Ritter, Letterboxd](https://embed.letterboxd.com/actor/krysten-ritter/upcoming/)
2. [Trayectoria profesional de Krysten Ritter, FormulaTV](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/krysten-ritter/trabajos/)
3. ['I Love to Play with Bad Girls': PW Talks with Krysten Ritter, Publishers Weekly](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/97273-i-love-to-play-with-bad-girls-pw-talks-with-krysten-ritter.html)
4. [Krysten Ritter, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/)
5. [Krysten Ritter to Guest Star in Showtime Original Series Dexter: Resurrection, Paramount Press Express](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/dexter-resurrection/releases/?view=111082-krysten-ritter-to-guest-star-in-showtime-original-series-dexter-resurrection)
6. [Krysten Ritter credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/?showAllCredits=true)
7. [Krysten Ritter Is the Face of Female Vengeance, Harper's Bazaar](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a19481933/krysten-ritter-jessica-jones-season-2-interview/)
8. [Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23 star Krysten Ritter on playing a sociopath and a shopgirl, The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/don-t-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23-star-krysten-ritt-1798230774)
9. [Woman to Watch: Krysten Ritter, Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a2748/krysten-ritter-interview-breaking-bad/)
10. [Krysten Ritter Explains How Her 'Breaking Bad' Death Paved the Way for 'Orphan Black: Echoes', Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/krysten-ritter-explains-her-breaking-133500903.html)
11. [Krysten Ritter Talks Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Those Risqué Sex Scenes, Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/jessica-jones-krysten-ritter-interview)
12. [Krysten Ritter Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/bio/)
13. [Filmografie von Krysten Ritter, FILMSTARTS.de](https://www.filmstarts.de/personen/117933/filmo/)
14. [Daredevil: Born Again season 2 showrunner talks reuniting the Defenders, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-tv-shows/daredevil-born-again-season-2-exclusive-showrunner-talks-reuniting-the-defenders-for-the-first-time-in-7-years-bringing-jessica-jones-back-in-this-season-was-top-of-the-checklist/)
15. [Daredevil: Born Again season 2 finale's major Defenders cameo, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-tv-shows/daredevil-born-again-season-2-finales-major-defenders-cameo-was-a-whisper-of-an-idea-until-jessica-jones-star-called-the-actor/)
16. [Krysten Ritter, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Krysten-Ritter/)
17. [Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter set to return for Dexter: Resurrection season 2, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/crime-shows/jessica-jones-star-krysten-ritter-set-to-return-for-dexter-resurrection-season-2-despite-her-characters-fate-in-season-1/)
18. [Conversations with Krysten Ritter of Jessica Jones, SAG-AFTRA Foundation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJx0Rj-dYFk)
19. [Krysten Ritter author biography, BookBrowse](https://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm/author_number/x20039/krysten-ritter)
20. [Krysten Ritter novels and the Retreat screen adaptation, Popverse](https://www.thepopverse.com/literary-krysten-ritter-novels-acting-the-retreat-screen-adaptation-la-times-festival-of-books-2025)
21. [Retreat author Krysten Ritter set to executive produce and star in the novel's series adaptation, InkWell Management](https://www.inkwellmanagement.com/news/retreat-author-krysten-ritter-is-set-to-executive-produce-and-star-in-the-n)
22. [Krysten Ritter To EP & Star In Series Based On Her Book 'Retreat', IMDb News](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65758348/)
23. [Krysten Ritter, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/31094/krysten-ritter)
24. [Krysten Ritter Shares How Becoming a Mom Influenced Her Acting Career, PEOPLE via AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/krysten-ritter-shares-becoming-mom-202815000.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames R to Ri*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license