Film In her first feature film role, Nicholson starred opposite
Michael Caine and
James Spader in the
Peter Yates film
Curtain Call. Later she won what proved to be both her breakthrough and favorite role as a headstrong young feminist in
Peter Chan's
The Love Letter. She has worked with other international directors in films such
Alain Berliner's
Passion of Mind, and
Nick Hurran's
Little Black Book. Nicholson's domestic drama credits include
William Vincent,
Staten Island,
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men,
Tully,
Kinsey, and
August: Osage County, for which the
ensemble cast was nominated for several awards. Her domestic comedy credits include
Seeing Other People,
Puccini For Beginners, and Disney's
Togo opposite Willem Dafoe. She also stars in the American espionage thriller,
The Amateur.
Television Among Nicholson's television credits are a supporting role in the television
miniseries Storm of the Century and guest-starring roles in
ER and
Law & Order. She was tapped by
Steven Spielberg for the lead role in the paranormal drama
The Others. In late 2001, Nicholson became one of the main cast members of the hit show
Ally McBeal, portraying Jenny Shaw for 13 episodes. She worked on the medical drama
Presidio Med and the HBO pilot
Marriage. Julianne worked on the short-lived
NBC television drama,
Conviction and in what is her best known role, as
Megan Wheeler, in the sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons of
Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Nicholson has said her favorite
Criminal Intent episode was "
Weeping Willow". As of the
Criminal Intent episode "
Major Case", Nicholson departed the series when she went on maternity leave for the birth of her second child (which was written into the show as the birth of her first child). In 2011, she guest-starred on
Royal Pains as "Jess", one of Dr. Lawson's patients, who has panic attacks. She also appeared on
Boardwalk Empire as the recurring character of U.S. Assistant Attorney General Esther Randolph (a character based on the real life
Mabel Walker Willebrandt) that same year. In 2012, she guest-starred on
The Good Wife as Callie Simko, an attorney who has an interest in Will Gardner. On October 16, 2016, Nicholson played the lead role of Sheriff Helen Torrance in
USA Network's 10-episode police drama,
Eyewitness. In 2021, Nicholson starred in the HBO series
Mare of Easttown as Lori Ross, best friend of the titular Mare Sheehan, played by
Kate Winslet. The series proved to be a ratings hit for HBO, breaking viewership records. Her role in the series brought her critical acclaim, with critics especially highlighting her harrowing performance in the series finale. The role won Nicholson her first Primetime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. She also earned a nomination at the Critics Choice Awards for the same role. In 2025, Nicholson earned Emmy nominations in the
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category for her role as Mary "Dance Mom" Alice in
Hacks, and
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for her role as Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond in
Paradise, winning the former.
Theater Nicholson has been in a number of plays in New York. Her work in theater includes plays written by
Craig Lucas,
Adam Rapp, and
Sam Shepard. ==Personal life==