Henny Russell

Henny Russell is an American actress, known for her performances on various Broadway productions. On television, she starred as Carol Denning in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black.

Life and career
Russell was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to Norwegian mother. She grew up on the Northwest Side and in Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights. She attended the Prospect High School and began perform in Goodman Theatre Young People's Drama Workshop alongside Jennifer Beals. She graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She later received MFA from the University of San Diego. Russell married actor R. Ward Duffy, they lives in New York City.

Theater
During her career, Russell performed on Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatres. She made her Broadway debut starring in the 2001 revival of Todd Haimes Theatre's Major Barbara. She later performed in Impressionism, The Royal Family, Lombardi, The Other Place, The Winslow Boy, Machinal and The Audience. She starred in both off-Broadway and Broadway productions of play Oslo from 2016 to 2017. As a part of the cast, Russell received Obie Award in 2017. In 2024 she played Barbara Fordham in The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of August: Osage County.

Film and television
Russell made her television debut in 1997 playing guest-starring roles on Silk Stalkings and Pensacola: Wings of Gold. She later made guest appearances in Law & Order, Gossip Girl, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Leftovers, Elementary and Chicago Med. She also appeared in films Corn (2004), Revolutionary Road (2008), You Don't Know Jack (2010), Kilimanjaro (2013), Freeheld (2015) and Bikini Moon (2017). In 2018, Russell starred as inmate Carol Denning in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black during the show' sixth season. She later guest-starred in Blue Bloods, The Good Fight, FBI: Most Wanted and The Other Two. Russell also had recurring roles in the crime drama Hightown and the drama series Three Women. In 2023 she had a supporting role in the drama film The Magnificent Meyersons starring opposite her Orange Is the New Black co-star, Kate Mulgrew.