New York native Katie Lowes is a powerhouse talent, showcasing her versatility as both an actress and director across theater, television, and film. With a rich acting portfolio, Lowes has an impressive knack for portraying complex roles across various genres. Her influence, however, extends far beyond the entertainment industry; she inspires fans by openly discussing her personal struggles, successfully balancing her professional and family life, and demonstrating an unwavering dedication to her craft. Find out more below on queens-trend.
Childhood and Education
Katie Quinn Lowes was born on September 22, 1982, in Queens, into a multicultural family. Her father is of Irish Catholic descent, and her mother is Ashkenazi Jewish (one of the largest Jewish sub-ethnic groups, originating from medieval Germany and Eastern Europe). These family roots provided Katie with a rich cultural foundation that later influenced her artistic pursuits.
Lowes grew up in Port Washington, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She further honed her skills at the prestigious Stella Adler Studio of Acting—an NYU affiliate. The studio has mentored a vast number of American actors and is one of the city’s richest cultural environments. The studio’s mission is to prepare theatrical artists for a career where humanity is prioritized above all other qualities.
A Thriving Theater Career
Katie Lowes began her acting journey in theater with the play 4 Saints In/Mexico in 2004. Three years later, she co-founded the IAMA Theatre Company with other Los Angeles theater artists. The company presents diverse, contemporary plays that receive critical acclaim from influential publications like the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly. Many plays created by the IAMA Theatre Company make it to Off-Broadway, which refers to professional theaters in Manhattan that seat only 100 to 499 people—fewer than their Broadway counterparts.
The IAMA Theatre Company creates art that shapes the city, state, country, and even the world. The troupe boasts a dedicated audience, which is a difficult feat to achieve in the cradle of the entertainment industry—Los Angeles. In 2016, the company became a beneficiary of the Rhimes Family Foundation, led by television icon and producer Shonda Rhimes.
Katie Lowes actively performs on stage and has directed numerous productions. She is also involved in supporting “black box” theaters—small performance spaces that are typically square, with black walls and a flat floor.
Beyond the Stage
2004 marked not only Katie Lowes’s theater debut but also her first screen appearance. That year, she starred in the comedy-drama series Rescue Me about a woman navigating a divorce while writing relationship articles for a women’s magazine. Over the next few years, the actress appeared in guest roles on popular television series like The Sopranos, a crime and psychological drama about a fictional Italian-American Mafia family in northern New Jersey. The Queens native also appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, a medical drama about the lives of interns, residents, and their mentors at a Seattle hospital.
Perhaps her most famous role, however, was as Quinn Perkins in the series Scandal, which followed public relations specialist Olivia Pope, who worked for the US President before starting her own crisis management firm. This role brought Lowes popularity and recognition from critics and colleagues alike, thanks to her masterful performance. The actress gained additional fame after appearing as Rachel in the drama series Inventing Anna, which is based on a true story. It’s the tale of a Russian woman who conned almost half of Manhattan. For quite some time, she posed as a wealthy German heiress, taking advantage of the kindness and hospitality of affluent people. For this scheme, Anna Delvey (as she called herself) was incarcerated. A young and ambitious journalist took on the task of covering her case in the media, aiming to uncover the mystery of the swindler’s identity.
Katie Lowes has also made a name for herself as a voice actress; for example, her voice can be heard in Frozen and Zootopia. She has also declared herself an activist. Lowes uses her own experience to inform the public about living with psoriasis, promoting awareness of the disease.
Personal Life
In 2012, Katie Lowes married Adam Shapiro, who is also an actor and director. The couple met through mutual friends and share a deep love for the theater. The pair are raising two children together. Lowes and Shapiro made their Broadway debut together in 2018 in the musical Waitress. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress suffering in a difficult relationship with her husband, Earl. After Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant by Earl, she begins an affair with her obstetrician, Dr. Jim Pomatter. Following her friends’ advice, Hunterson enters a pie baking contest, hoping the grand prize will be her chance to escape her small town and end her unhappy marriage.
