Britt Lower is an American actress known for playing Helly R. in the science-fiction thriller series Severance. She is also known for her roles as Liz Greenberg in Man Seeking Woman and Tanya Sitkowsky in Unforgettable, as well as her Primetime Emmy-winning performance in Severance.
Personal life
Britt Lower married British hairstylist Kenna Kennor in 2024. They met when Kennor styled her hair for the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony.
Lower and Kennor live in Brooklyn with his two children from a previous marriage.
Illinois upbringing and Northwestern training
Lower was born in Bloomington, Illinois, and grew up in Heyworth. Her parents are Steven and Mickey Lower, and she has an older brother named Brugh. Her mother worked as a home economics teacher and also ran a local face-painting business known as The Zoo Lady.
Lower graduated as valedictorian from Heyworth High School in 2004. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Northwestern University in 2008 and trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade and ImprovOlympic. Her exposure to circus performers through her mother's business helped develop her interest in performance art.
Unforgettable and Man Seeking Woman
Lower began building her television career with a seven-episode role as Meg in Big Lake in 2010. From 2011 to 2014, she played technology expert Tanya Sitkowsky in the crime drama series Unforgettable.
Her breakout role came in 2015, when she joined the FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman as Liz Greenberg. She played the sister of Jay Baruchel's character and remained with the series through 2017. She also had a recurring role as Sarah Finn in the second season of Hulu's Casual.
Severance and other projects
Lower began starring as Helena Eagan and her identity within Lumon Industries, Helly R., in Apple TV+'s psychological science-fiction series Severance in 2022. Her performance earned a Hollywood Critics Association Award and a Critics' Choice Super Award, followed by a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2025.
Her other screen work includes Future Man, High Maintenance, Ghosted, American Horror Stories, Mr. Roosevelt, Holly Slept Over, and Darkest Miriam. She wrote, directed, starred in, and executive produced the 2020 short film Circus Person, and spent a month performing in Circus Flora's Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask during the hiatus between the first and second seasons of Severance. She also appeared as the central character in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs music video for "Wolf."
Quick facts
- Lower graduated as valedictorian from Heyworth High School in 2004.
- Her mother ran a face-painting business called The Zoo Lady, which exposed Lower to circus performers and influenced her interest in performance art.
- Lower trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade and ImprovOlympic.
- She played technology expert Tanya Sitkowsky in 13 episodes of Unforgettable.
- Her breakout role was Liz Greenberg in the FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman.
- Lower wrote, directed, starred in, and executive produced the 2020 short film Circus Person.
- She spent a month performing in Circus Flora's Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask during the hiatus between the first and second seasons of Severance.
- Lower plays both Helena Eagan and Helly R. in Severance.
- Her performance in Severance won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2025.
- Lower won a Hollywood Critics Association Award and a Critics' Choice Super Award for her work in Severance.
- She portrayed the central character in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs music video for "Wolf."
- Lower met hairstylist Kenna Kennor when he styled her hair for the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony.
FAQs about Britt Lower
How many children does Britt Lower have?
Britt Lower lives with her husband Kenna Kennor's two children from his previous marriage.
What is Britt Lower's real name?
Britt Lower's full name is Brittney Leigh Lower.
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