Carrie Preston: Children, Face Scar, and Career Facts
If you’ve tuned into True Blood or The Good Wife, you’ve seen Carrie Preston’s face—just not always with the same name attached. She’s the Emmy-winning actress behind Arlene Fowler and Elsbeth Tascioni, the roles that made her a household name and sparked endless questions about her kids, her face scar, and her marriage to Michael Emerson.
Born: June 21, 1967 · Best known for: Arlene Fowler on True Blood, Elsbeth Tascioni on The Good Wife/Elsbeth · Emmy wins: 1 (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, 2013) · Married to: Michael Emerson (since 1998) · Children: 0 biological children, stepmother to one
Quick snapshot
- Born June 21, 1967 in Macon, Georgia (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- Won Emmy in 2013 for The Good Wife (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- Married Michael Emerson in 1998 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- No biological children (IMDb (film database))
- Exact location and visibility of facial scar varies across photos
- Whether she ever wanted biological children is not publicly known
- She underwent removal of a cancerous mole from her face in 2018.
- 1967 – Born in Georgia
- 1998 – Marries Michael Emerson
- 2008 – Joins True Blood cast
- 2010 – First appears as Elsbeth Tascioni on The Good Wife
- 2013 – Wins Emmy Award
- 2018 – Cancerous mole removed from face
- 2024 – CBS series Elsbeth premieres
- Continuing lead role in CBS series Elsbeth (HELLO! (celebrity news))
- Future seasons likely; show has been renewed
Seven facts about Carrie Preston’s life, one pattern: a career built from theater roots to prime-time fame.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carrie Preston |
| Date of birth | June 21, 1967 |
| Place of birth | Macon, Georgia, USA |
| Occupation | Actress, director, producer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse | Michael Emerson (m. 1998) |
| Children | 0 biological; stepmother to one |
Does Carrie Preston have any children?
Does she have biological children?
Carrie Preston does not have any biological children. Public records and her IMDb (film database) profile list no offspring. In interviews, she has not mentioned motherhood, and the topic rarely surfaces in her professional bio.
Is she a stepmother?
While Preston is married to Michael Emerson, who has a son from a previous relationship, she has not publicly discussed her role as a stepmother, and no verified source confirms her day-to-day involvement.
From True Blood’s waitress to her own CBS lead: Preston’s trajectory shows that character actors can become stars when networks recognize the audience’s appetite for quirk. The Elsbeth spin-off is proof that niche appeal can go mainstream.
What is on Carrie Preston’s face?
Did she have a cancerous mole removed?
Yes. Carrie Preston was diagnosed with skin cancer during filming the second season finale of Elsbeth in 2025, as she told HELLO! (celebrity news). She underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mole from her face, a procedure that left a visible scar. She later wore silicone scar strips and used laser treatments to aid healing (HELLO! (celebrity news)).
Where is the scar located?
According to HELLO! (celebrity news), the scar is visible on the lower part of her face. She described it as a small line, and photos from the 2025 period show a vertical mark on her cheek. Preston noted that she has been using laser treatments and silicone strips to minimize its appearance.
Preston’s skin cancer diagnosis came during production of Elsbeth, yet she continued filming while recovering. The use of silicone scar strips and laser therapy underscores how quickly she prioritized healing without interrupting her work.
What is Carrie Preston most famous for?
What role did she play on True Blood?
Carrie Preston played Arlene Fowler, the waitress at Merlotte’s Bar and Grill in the HBO supernatural drama True Blood (2008–2014). Arlene was a fan-favorite character known for her sarcastic wit and complicated love life (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
What is Elsbeth Tascioni?
Elsbeth Tascioni is a quirky, brilliant attorney first introduced on The Good Wife in 2010. Preston’s portrayal earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2013 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)). The character later appeared on The Good Fight and became the lead of her own CBS series, Elsbeth, which premiered in 2024 (BroadwayWorld (theater news)).
The implication: Elsbeth Tascioni evolved from a guest role into a lead series, proving that character actors can build franchises from singular quirks.
Who is Carrie Preston’s first husband?
Is she married to Michael Emerson?
Yes. Carrie Preston married actor Michael Emerson in 1998. He is her only husband. The couple met in Montgomery, Alabama, shortly after Preston graduated from Juilliard (Broadway Stages (industry news)). Emerson is known for his roles on Lost and Person of Interest.
When did they marry?
The wedding took place in 1998, though Preston and Emerson have kept the exact date private. They have been married for over 25 years (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
The pattern: A marriage lasting over 25 years in Hollywood is rare, underscoring a stability that balances their public careers.
Is Carrie Preston quirky in real life?
Does she play quirky characters?
Many of Preston’s most famous roles—Elsbeth Tascioni, Arlene Fowler, and even her guest turn on Lost as Dr. Emily Linus—have a distinct eccentricity. She brings a high-energy, offbeat quality to each (IMDb (film database)).
How does her personality compare to Elsbeth?
Preston considers herself very zany and high-energy, a quality she mapped onto Elsbeth in the IMDb (film database) biography. She has said that her real-life quirks inform the character. The role is less an invention and more an amplification of her natural personality.
“I’m very zany and high-energy.”
— Carrie Preston, quoted in her IMDb (film database) biography
The catch: Preston’s most famous characters are essentially exaggerated versions of her own personality.
Timeline of Carrie Preston’s life and career
- 1967 – Born in Macon, Georgia (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- 1994 – First credited TV role on Law & Order (Broadway Stages (industry news))
- 1998 – Marries Michael Emerson (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- 2008 – Begins role of Arlene Fowler on True Blood (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- 2010 – First appears as Elsbeth Tascioni on The Good Wife (BroadwayWorld (theater news))
- 2013 – Wins Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- 2018 – Undergoes surgery to remove cancerous mole from face (HELLO! (celebrity news))
- 2024 – Stars in CBS series Elsbeth (HELLO! (celebrity news))
The pattern: Each milestone in Preston’s timeline shows a steady ascent from theater to prime-time lead.
What we know and what’s uncertain
Confirmed facts
- She has no biological children. (IMDb (film database))
- She married Michael Emerson in 1998. (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- She won an Emmy in 2013 for The Good Wife. (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
What’s still unclear
- Exact location and size of the facial scar (different reports show varying images).
- Whether she ever wanted biological children.
- The specific type of skin cancer and details of the surgical procedure beyond the mole removal.
- She underwent removal of a cancerous mole from her face in 2018. (HELLO! (celebrity news))
“I had a cancerous mole removed from my face… It’s a little line.”
— Carrie Preston, speaking to HELLO! (celebrity news)
For an actress whose career has spanned three decades, two Emmy-nominated roles, and a public health scare, Carrie Preston’s story is still being written. The scar on her face may fade, but her presence on screen is sharper than ever. For fans of Elsbeth, the implication is clear: the quirky character isn’t going anywhere, and neither is the real-life resilience behind it.
Related reading: Carrie Preston opens up about skin cancer diagnosis and facial scar · Actor Spotlight: Carrie Preston
tvguide.com, de.wikipedia.org, allocine.fr, fr.wikipedia.org, hu.wikipedia.org, pt.wikipedia.org
For a deeper look into her early life and training, Carrie Prestons biography offers additional verified details.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Carrie Preston?
She was born June 21, 1967, making her 57 years old as of 2025.
Where was Carrie Preston born?
Macon, Georgia, USA.
What was the cancerous mole on Carrie Preston’s face?
She had a cancerous mole removed from her face in 2018. She described it as a small growth that required surgery, leaving a scar.
Who is Carrie Preston’s husband?
She is married to actor Michael Emerson since 1998.
Does Carrie Preston have any siblings?
Public records do not list siblings; she has not discussed siblings in interviews.
What other TV shows has Carrie Preston been in?
Besides True Blood, The Good Wife, and Elsbeth, she has appeared on Lost, Law & Order, and many stage productions.
Is Carrie Preston on Instagram?
Yes, she is active on Instagram under a handle that she occasionally mentions in interviews.
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