Trivia

Daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, and the second of seven children.

Did not learn English until she was six.

Older sister of Taissa Farmiga.

Grew up in a Ukrainian-speaking enclave in New Jersey.

Is a highly skilled pianist. She has played the piano for many of her acting roles, including Orphan (2009), At Middleton (2013), and Bates Motel (2013).

Can speak some French and Spanish, in addition to being fluent in English and Ukrainian.

Though both her parents are Ukrainian-born, her mother grew up in the United States from infancy and her father was raised in Argentina.

Counts boxing and knitting among her hobbies.

Her role in Roar (1997) paid off her college student loans.

Used a body double for her nude scene in Up in the Air (2009) as she had just recently given birth. However, she has appeared nude herself in Down to the Bone (2004), Iron Jawed Angels (2004), Never Forever (2007), In Transit (2008), and The Vintner's Luck (2009).

Found her love of acting after being benched during a high school soccer match. She auditioned for the drama department's production of "The Vampire" and won the lead role.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 35, son Fynn Hawkey (Fynn McDonnell Hawkey) on January 13, 2009. Child's father is her 2nd husband, Renn Hawkey.

Began studying Muay Thai boxing during the second season of Bates Motel (2013). She previously studied the sport as a 20-year-old.

Is referred to as a "Scream Queen" after her starring roles in The Devil's Child (2007), Orphan (2009), Bates Motel (2013), The Conjuring (2013), and The Conjuring 2 (2016).

Last name is pronounced far-MEE-guh.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 37, daughter Gytta Hawkey (Gytta Lubov Hawkey) on November 4, 2010. Child's father is her 2nd husband, Renn Hawkey.

Placed the People's Choice Award she won for Bates Motel (2013) in a scene in the series finale, as an "Easter egg" for the supportive fans of the show.

Plays the guitar and piano.

Practices the Japanese martial art of Jujitsu, in which she has earned an orange belt (March 2017).

Flashed Jude Law on the set of Breaking and Entering (2006). She said, "It was just me and Anthony Minghella messing with Jude and his reaction [was] priceless -- embarrassed and amused and giddy".

Freddie Highmore is godfather to her son, Fynn Hawkey.

Her father was a soccer player in his youth and was scouted for Argentina's national team.

Had to go to the emergency room after sustaining an injury during the filming of Bates Motel (2013)'s third season finale.

Played the older version of her sister Taissa Farmiga's character in Higher Ground (2011), and her mother in At Middleton (2013).

Auditioned for the role of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale (2006), but Eva Green was cast instead.

The set of The Conjuring (2013) was allegedly haunted. Farmiga apparently received an unexplained claw-shaped scratch on her thigh, and a similarly-shaped mark also appeared on her laptop screen.

Owns three angora goats named Zoshya, Fruzia and Sofika, and a dog named Muppet.

Earlier in her career, Farmiga would send self-taped auditions to casting directors instead of auditioning in person.

Is good friends with Peter Sarsgaard, who shares the same manager, and his wife Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Counts Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball among her idols.

Was originally cast as Wallis Simpson in W.E. (2011). She met with Madonna for tea to discuss the role, but ultimately dropped out due to her second pregnancy. Andrea Riseborough was then cast instead.

Her six siblings are named Victor, Stephan, Nadia, Alexander, Laryssa, and Taissa. They all share the same parents.

Once played her agent, Tracy Brennan, in a video for CAA. She was so good in the role that other agents began recommending her to casting directors for roles.

Returned to work two months after giving birth to her son Fynn in order to begin filming Up in the Air (2009).

Her sister Laryssa was born with spina bifida.

Met her 2nd husband, Renn Hawkey, on the set of Touching Evil (2004) in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Met with Darren Aronofsky to discuss her taking a role in The Wrestler (2008). Farmiga could not envision herself coupled with Mickey Rourke and passed on the project. Marisa Tomei was eventually cast.

Has starred in two films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: The Departed (2006) (which won) and Up in the Air (2009).

Attended Syracuse University with actor Taye Diggs and producer Terry Dinan.

Has made two films with sister Taissa Farmiga: Higher Ground (2011) and At Middleton (2013).

Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005.

Attended St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School.

Owns homes in Hudson Valley, New York and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Was five months pregnant with her daughter Gytta when she completed filming on Higher Ground (2011).

Good friends with George Clooney.

Good friends with Dagmara Dominczyk and Patrick Wilson.

Landed her first agent immediately after graduating from Syracuse University.

Was a semi-professional Ukrainian folk dancer in the troupe Syzokryli, instructed by dancer and choreographer Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky.

Before acting professionally, she worked in customer service for an air conditioning company.

Has sung in four of her projects: Iron Jawed Angels (2004), Higher Ground (2011), Bates Motel (2013), and Special Correspondents (2016).