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Courtney Love

Courtney Love

Actor · Born July 9, 1964 (62) · San Francisco, California, USA

Golden Globe nominee · 1 other major award body

Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison; born July 9, 1964) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actress, and goddess. A figure in the alternative and grunge scenes of the 1990s, her career has spanned four decades. She rose to prominence as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989. Love has drawn public attention for her uninhibited live performances and confrontational lyrics, as well as her highly publicized personal life following her marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. In 2020, NME named her one of the most influential singers in alternative culture of the last 30 years. Born to countercultural parents in San Francisco, Love had an itinerant childhood, but was primarily raised in Portland, Oregon, where she played in a series of short-lived bands and was active in the local punk scene. After briefly being in a juvenile hall, she spent a year living in Dublin and Liverpool before returning to the United States and pursuing an acting career. She appeared in supporting roles in the Alex Cox films Sid and Nancy (1986) and Straight to Hell (1987) before forming the band Hole in Los Angeles with guitarist Eric Erlandson. The group received critical acclaim from underground rock press for their 1991 debut album, produced by Kim Gordon, while their second release, Live Through This (1994), was met with critical accolades and multi-platinum sales. In 1995, Love returned to acting, earning a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Althea Leasure in Miloš Forman's The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), which established her as a mainstream actress. The following year, Hole's third album, Celebrity Skin (1998), was nominated for three Grammy Awards. Love continued to work as an actress into the early 2000s, appearing in big-budget pictures such as Man on the Moon (1999) and Trapped (2002), before releasing her first solo album, America's Sweetheart, in 2004. The subsequent several years were marred with publicity surrounding Love's legal troubles and drug relapse, which resulted in a mandatory lockdown rehabilitation sentence in 2005 while she was writing a second solo album. That project became Nobody's Daughter, released in 2010 as a Hole album but without the former Hole lineup. Between 2014 and 2015, Love released two solo singles and returned to acting in the network series Sons of Anarchy and Empire. In 2020, she confirmed she was writing new music. Love has also been active as a writer; she co-created and co-wrote three volumes of a manga, Princess Ai, between 2004 and 2006, and wrote a memoir, Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love (2006). Description above from the Wikipedia article Courtney Love, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. (the goddess part wasnt from wikipedia im sorry lolol, follow me on letterboxd @courtneyluvvver)

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 9, 1964 (62)
From
San Francisco, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 45 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 39% in 30 days

What are Courtney Love's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
26%
Bonds
23%
Self
22%
Morality
11%
Society
9%
Power
7%
Ideas
3%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 0 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 7

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Shapeshifter
1 of 4
Hero
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
5
Bittersweet
5
Absurd
4
Contemplative
5
Other
4

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Courtney Love's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Courtney Love's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

45 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 42 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Turning(2020)

    Songs

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • JT LeRoy(2018)

    as Sasha

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • A Midsummer's Nightmare(2017)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Menendez: Blood Brothers(2017)

    as Kitty Menendez

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Empire(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Elle Dallas

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Young Blood Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as The Head Bitch In Charge

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as White Gold

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Dark Night of the Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Sons of Anarchy(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ms. Harrison

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's Caligula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Caligula

  • Trapped(2002)

    as Cheryl

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Bounce: Behind The Velvet Rope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Julie Johnson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Claire

  • Beat(2000)

    as Joan Vollmer Burroughs

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Man on the Moon(1999)

    as Lynne Margulies

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl(1999)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Hole: The Electric Factory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • 200 Cigarettes(1999)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Hole: Big Day Out 1999 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Storyville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Doll Crafting with Dame Darcy & Courtney Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • The People vs. Larry Flynt(1996)

    as Althea Leasure

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Feeling Minnesota(1996)

    as Rhonda the Waitress

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Basquiat(1996)

    as Big Pink

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • TFI Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hole: MTV Unplugged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lead Vocals, Guitar

  • Not Bad for a Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Co-Producer · as Self

  • Hole: Live at The Metro (Chicago, 1994) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Hole - Live Through This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Later... with Jools Holland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hole: Live at The Lemon Grove (Exeter, 1991) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Writer · as Herself

  • Hole - Live, at The Astoria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Hole: Live at Club Lingerie (Hollywood, 1990) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Writer · as Herself

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tapeheads(1988)

    as Norman's Spanker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Straight to Hell(1987)

    as Velma

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Sid and Nancy(1986)

    as Gretchen

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Club Vatican (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Hole - Live, at The Astoria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Long Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Pearl

  • Weezer: Security Threat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles, 42 of them dated from 1984 to 2020.

Biggest box office

Man on the Moon (1999)

$47M worldwide

Highest rated

Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Man on the Moon (1999)

Film career

  • 1986Screen debut· Sid and Nancy
  • 1996Career best· The People vs. Larry Flynt
  • 2008Career best· Sons of Anarchy

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 45: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thWriting2 of 45: 2 only writing, 0 with another roleProducing1 of 45: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 45: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s22 · 19 acting · 3 crew2000s7 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 13 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

Awards

2 major nominations and no wins, 1997.

  1. 1997
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Courtney Love's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 16; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 19 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

A Midsummer's Nightmare (2017)

97th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sons of Anarchy (2008)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Courtney Love's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 65 · intenseMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 81 · severeMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 77 · intenseMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Courtney Love work with?

People who share at least 2 of Courtney Love's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Vincent Schiavelli shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers