Strength, Vulnerability, Humor & Honesty - in all her work

Patricia Bethune is an Emmy Award-winning actor, novelist, screenwriter, director, and

producer whose career spans television, theater, film, and the written word.

Audiences may remember her as the deliciously evil Nurse Mary Pat on *General Hospital*, a

role that earned her an Emmy Award, as Dr. Edna Keener on AMC's Emmy-winning drama

*Mad Men*, or as Jane Bodehouse, whom she played for seven seasons on HBO's hit series

*True Blood*.

With more than 100 television episodic credits to her name, Patricia has guest starred in an

extraordinary range of series, including *Seinfeld*, *Everybody Loves Raymond*, *Gilmore

Girls*,*Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, *Grey's Anatomy*, *NCIS*, “Bosch,” among many others.

Her love of the craft began onstage, where her performances earned two Drama-Logue

Awards for the play *MoonPuppies* and *Gynecomedy*, an all-female sketch comedy show

she also directed. She received additional Ovation recognition for her portrayal of Mildred in

Dorothy Parker's *Ladies of the Corridor*. From stand-up comedy and improvisation to murder

mysteries and dramatic theater, Patricia has explored the many dimensions of performance.

She considers herself fortunate to have studied with the legendary actor and teacher Jeff

Corey, whose influence helped shape her respect for the craft.

But acting is only one chapter of Patricia's creative life. As a writer, she has completed six

screenplays and seen her work produced onstage and in film. She has also produced live arts

events, including an all-star reading of Paddy Chayefsky's *Marty* at the Academy of Television

Arts & Sciences.

Raised in a large Irish Catholic family in Chicago, Patricia has deep roots in Ireland, with family

connections to County Mayo, Offaly, and Limerick. Her connection to Ireland inspired her novel

*Take Me Home: Ashes, Clover & Cré*, a work of magical realism exploring family, ancestry,

and the mysterious pull of home.

Her latest novel, *Prairie Mermaid*, takes readers in a different direction, transporting them to

Dakota Territory in 1880. Against the backdrop of pioneer life and the struggle for women's

independence, two sisters find themselves navigating very different worlds. Through both

novels, Patricia explores the ties that bind us to our families, our histories, and the places that

shape us.

Beyond her work in entertainment, Patricia has devoted herself to raising awareness about the

challenges faced by family caregivers. Drawing on personal experience, she co-wrote *What

Can I Do? A Guide for Family and Friends of Caregivers* with Barbara Sweeney. She has also

served as a spokesperson for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving and directed and

produced a public service announcement she co-wrote with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Whether bringing a character to life on screen, exploring history and imagination through

fiction, or helping others tell their stories, Patricia Bethune continues to find new ways to put

her creativity to work.