Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is a Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actressAn actor or actress is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, perhaps best known for her roles in the television series
NYPD BlueNYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
,
Judging AmyJudging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
and
Private Practice.
Brenneman was born in
New London, ConnecticutNew London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut.The city is home to Connecticut College, Mitchell...
, the daughter of Frederica S., a judge of the Connecticut State
Superior CourtIn common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
, and Russell L. Brenneman, an environmental lawyer. Brenneman was raised in
Glastonbury, ConnecticutGlastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the English Glastonbury. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, south east from Hartford. The town center is also defined by the U.S...
, where she participated in theatre as a teenager, both in school and with a local theater group.
Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is a Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actressAn actor or actress is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, perhaps best known for her roles in the television series
NYPD BlueNYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
,
Judging AmyJudging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
and
Private Practice.
Early life
Brenneman was born in
New London, ConnecticutNew London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut.The city is home to Connecticut College, Mitchell...
, the daughter of Frederica S., a judge of the Connecticut State
Superior CourtIn common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
, and Russell L. Brenneman, an environmental lawyer. Brenneman was raised in
Glastonbury, ConnecticutGlastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the English Glastonbury. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, south east from Hartford. The town center is also defined by the U.S...
, where she participated in theatre as a teenager, both in school and with a local theater group. She graduated from
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and currently comprises ten separate academic units...
, where she majored in
comparative religionComparative religion is a field of religious study that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
, in 1987. While at Harvard, she co-founded Cornerstone Theatre Company, which she traveled with for several years after graduation.
Career
In her first major television role, Brenneman played
mobThe Mafia is a Sicilian criminal society which is believed to have emerged in late 19th century Sicily, and the first such society to be referred to as a mafia . It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct...
-connected uniform officer
Janice LicalsiJanice Licalsi was a fictional character portrayed by Amy Brenneman on the television series NYPD Blue. She appeared in 18 episodes during the first two seasons of the show. The character was written out of the show after technical advisor and producer Bill Clark became uneasy with the thought of...
on the police
dramaDramatic programming is television content that is scripted and fictional. This excludes, for example, sports, news, reality and game shows, stand-up comedy and variety shows...
NYPD BlueNYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
. Her
story arcA story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
, which included a romantic relationship with
David Caruso'sDavid Stephen Caruso is an American film and television actor and producer. He is currently known to audiences for his role of Lieutenant Horatio Caine on the TV series CSI: Miami.-Early life:...
character, ran through the show's first season (1993–1994) and the first few episodes of the second season. She was nominated for an
Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThis is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series-Award winners:1950s*1959: Barbara Hale – Perry Mason1960s*1960: no award*1961: no award*1962: Pamela Brown – Victoria Regina...
in 1994 and for
Outstanding Guest ActressThis is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Guest Supporting Actress.-Award winners and nominations:1970s* 1974: Zohra Lampert – Kojak* 1975: no award...
the following year.
After leaving
NYPD Blue, Brenneman appeared in a number of films, including
CasperCasper is a 1995 live-action feature film starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman and based on the Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons and comic strips. The ghosts featured in the film were created through computer-generated imagery.- Synopsis :...
(1995),
Heat (1995),
FearFear is a 1996 thriller film directed by James Foley, starring Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, and William Petersen. The film also features Amy Brenneman and Alyssa Milano.-Plot:...
(1996),
DaylightDaylight is a 1996 disaster film, starring Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, and Danielle Harris. It was directed by Rob Cohen and released in theaters on December 6, 1996.-Plot:...
(1996) and
Nevada- Plot :Brennan plays "Chrysty", a woman with a past who arrives on foot to the small town of Silver City, Nevada. There, she meets the women of the town, all but one of whom accept her...
(1997). She had a brief recurring role on
FrasierFrasier is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993 to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Paramount Television.A spin-off from Cheers, Frasier stars Kelsey Grammer as psychiatrist...
in its 1998-1999 season.
In 1999, Brenneman became creator and
executive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the filmmaking or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production. Typically an executive producer handles business and legal issues. See also associate producer, co-producer, line producer...
of the television series
Judging AmyJudging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
, in which she played the title character. Brenneman portrayed a divorced single mother working as a Family Court Judge in
Hartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located in Hartford County on the Connecticut River, north of the center of the state, south of Springfield, Massachusetts. Its 2006 population of 124,512 ranks Hartford as the state's second-largest city, after Bridgeport. New...
. The show's concept was based on the real-life experiences of her mother, Frederica Brenneman, as a
superior courtIn common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge in the state of Connecticut.
Judging AmyJudging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
ran on
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
for six seasons and 138 episodes from September 19, 1999 to May 3, 2005 to good ratings. Frederica Brenneman was one of
Harvard Law SchoolHarvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. HLS typically ranks among the top law...
's first female graduates and became a
juvenile courtA juvenile court or young offender court is a court of law having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority...
judge in Connecticut when Amy was 3 years old. Amy has said, "I play my mother's job, not my mother."
In March 2007, Brenneman was cast to co-star in the
Grey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series. It follows the lives of five surgical interns, later residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital in Seattle, Washington. The pilot episode, "A Hard Day's Night" premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC...
spinoff,
Private Practice.
In 2007, Brenneman played "Sylvia Avila" in
The Jane Austen Book ClubThe Jane Austen Book Club is a 2004 novel by American author Karen Joy Fowler. The story, which takes place near Sacramento, California, centers around a book club consisting of five women and one man who meet once a month to discuss Jane Austen's six novels...
In 2008, Brenneman was cast to co-star in
88 Minutes88 Minutes is a American thriller film directed by Jon Avnet starring Al Pacino, Benjamin McKenzie, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Deborah Kara Unger, Amy Brenneman and Neal McDonough. Filming began in the Vancouver area on October 8, 2005 and wrapped in December 2005...
alongside
Al PacinoAlfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is best known for his roles as Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, Tony Montana in Scarface, Carlito Brigante in the 1993 film Carlito's Way, Frank Serpico in Serpico,...
.
Personal life and political activity
In 1995, Brenneman married
directorA film director, or filmmaker is a person who directs the making or production of a film. Some also consider a film producer to be a filmmaker....
Brad SilberlingBradley Mitchell Silberling is an American television and film director. He is married to the actress Amy Brenneman, whom he met on the set of NYPD Blue and with whom he has two children, Charlotte Tucker and Bodhi Russell .Silberling studied film directing at the UCLA Film School...
in the garden at the home of her parents. They have two children: Charlotte Tucker (b. March 20, 2001) and Bodhi Russell (b. June 5, 2005).
Brenneman, who is very actively
pro-choicePro-choice describes the political and ethical view that a woman should have complete control over her fertility and the choice to continue or terminate a pregnancy. This entails the guarantee of reproductive rights, which includes access to sexual education; access to safe and legal abortion,...
, signed the "We Had Abortions" petition which appears in the October 2006 issue of
Ms. MagazineMs. is an American feminist magazine co-founded by American feminist and activist Gloria Steinem and founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin together with founding editors Patricia Carbine, Joanne Edgar, Nina Finkelstein, and Mary Peacock, that first appeared in 1971 as an insert in New York magazine...
.
The petition contains signatures of over 5,000 women declaring that they had had an
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
and were "unashamed of the choice they made".
In the February 28, 2007 all-star
benefitA benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, she portrays an entrepreneur, alongside actors
Ed AsnerEdward Asner is an American film and television actor and former President of the Screen Actors Guild, primarily known for his role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off series, Lou Grant...
,
Barbara BainBarbara Bain is an American actress.Bain was born into a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and moved to New York City where she was a dancer and high fashion model. Bain studied with Martha Graham, thus cementing...
,
George CoeGeorge Coe is an American actor who has appeared in many films, television shows and on the stage.He portrayed Ben Cheviot, the eventual head of Network 23, in Max Headroom...
,
Wendie MalickWendie Malick is an American actress and former fashion model.-Early life:Malick was born Wendy Malick in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Gigi, a former model, and Ken Malick, who worked in sales. She is Jewish...
, and
James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr. is an American actor notable for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC drama television series Grey's Anatomy and also for his supporting role as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on later seasons of The X-Files.- Early life :Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio and did...
. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of
U.S. HouseThe United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
ResolutionA resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...
808, which sought to establish a
CabinetA Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or Executive Committee.- Overview :...
-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, funded by a two percent diversion of
The PentagonThe Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself....
's annual budget.
In July 2008, Brenneman was nominated as a candidate on the 'Unite for Strength' slate for a place on the national governing board of the
Screen Actors GuildThe Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
(SAG) in elections scheduled for 18 September 2008. The bid was successful.
Feature films
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1995 |
Bye Bye Love Bye Bye Love is a 1995 comedy-drama that deals with the central issue of divorce. It was directed by Sam Weisman and written by Gary David Goldberg and Brad Hall...
|
Susan |
|
| Casper Casper is a 1995 live-action feature film starring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman and based on the Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons and comic strips. The ghosts featured in the film were created through computer-generated imagery.- Synopsis :...
|
Amelia |
|
| Heat |
Eady |
|
| 1996 |
FearFear is a 1996 thriller film directed by James Foley, starring Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, and William Petersen. The film also features Amy Brenneman and Alyssa Milano.-Plot:...
|
Laura Walker |
aka No Fear |
DaylightDaylight is a 1996 disaster film, starring Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, and Danielle Harris. It was directed by Rob Cohen and released in theaters on December 6, 1996.-Plot:...
|
Madelyne Thompson |
|
| 1997 |
Lesser Prophets |
Annie |
aka The Last Bet (UK: video title) |
| Nevada - Plot :Brennan plays "Chrysty", a woman with a past who arrives on foot to the small town of Silver City, Nevada. There, she meets the women of the town, all but one of whom accept her...
|
Chrysty |
|
| 1998 |
Your Friends & NeighborsYour Friends & Neighbors is a 1998 comedy-drama film written and directed by Neil LaBute and starring Amy Brenneman, Aaron Eckhart, Catherine Keener, Nastassja Kinski, Jason Patric, and Ben Stiller in an ensemble cast. This film was the first to be reviewed on the website Rotten Tomatoes...
|
Mary |
|
| 1999 |
The Suburbans The Suburbans is a 1999 drama that satirizes the 1980s revival hype around the turn of the century. It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Donal Lardner Ward, who also co-wrote and directed the movie....
|
Grace |
|
| 2000 |
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her is a film written and directed by Rodrigo García Barcha starring an ensemble cast. The plot focuses on different women dealing with their life problems. Garcia's debut film was shown at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and won the Un Certain Regard Award...
|
Detective Kathy Faber (segment "Love Waits For Kathy") |
|
| 2003 |
Off The Map Off the Map is a 2003 drama film directed by Campbell Scott. The play and screenplay were written by Joan Ackermann.An eccentric family lives in separate existence from the outside world. The family continues to thrive and survive self sufficiently. Bo uses her imagination and creativity to...
|
Adult Bo Grodin |
|
| 2005 |
Nine Lives Nine Lives is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Rodrigo García. The screenplay, an example of hyperlink cinema, relates nine short, loosely intertwined tales with nine different women at their cores. Their themes include parent-child relationships, fractured love, adultery,...
|
Lorna |
|
| 2007 |
The Jane Austen Book Club The Jane Austen Book Club is 2007 American romantic drama film written and directed by Robin Swicord. The screenplay, adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by Karen Joy Fowler, focuses on a book club formed specifically to discuss the six novels written by Jane Austen...
|
Sylvia Avila |
|
| 88 Minutes 88 Minutes is a American thriller film directed by Jon Avnet starring Al Pacino, Benjamin McKenzie, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Deborah Kara Unger, Amy Brenneman and Neal McDonough. Filming began in the Vancouver area on October 8, 2005 and wrapped in December 2005...
|
Shelly Barnes |
|
| 2008 |
Downloading Nancy Downloading Nancy is a drama film directed by Johan Renck, starring Maria Bello and Jason Patric. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival., where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize.-Plot:Tagline: How late is too late?...
|
Carol |
|
| 2010 |
Mother and Child Mother and Child is an upcoming drama film directed and written by Rodrigo García. The film stars Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Kerry Washington and Shareeka Epps...
|
Dr. Stone |
|
Television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Other notes |
| 1993-1994 |
NYPD BlueNYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
|
Officer Janice Licalsi |
Nominated – Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series-Award winners:1950s*1959: Barbara Hale – Perry Mason1960s*1960: no award*1961: no award*1962: Pamela Brown – Victoria Regina...
Nominated - Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesThis is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Guest Supporting Actress.-Award winners and nominations:1970s* 1974: Zohra Lampert – Kojak* 1975: no award...
|
| 1998-1999 |
FrasierFrasier is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993 to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Paramount Television.A spin-off from Cheers, Frasier stars Kelsey Grammer as psychiatrist...
|
Faye Moskowitz |
Episodes: "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz", "When a Man Loves Two Women", "Shutout in Seattle: Part 1", "Shutout in Seattle: Part 2" |
| 1999-2005 |
Judging AmyJudging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
|
Amy Madison Gray |
Nominated – Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.-Award winners:1950s*1952: Helen Hayes*1953: no award*1954: Loretta Young - The Loretta Young Show*1955: no award...
(3 times)
Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Nominated - Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series (3 times) |
| 2007 |
Grey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series. It follows the lives of five surgical interns, later residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital in Seattle, Washington. The pilot episode, "A Hard Day's Night" premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC...
|
Dr. Violet Turner Dr. Violet Turner is a character on the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice. She is portrayed by Amy Brenneman.-Storylines:Violet is a psychiatrist at the Oceanside Wellness Centre. Though she tells her patients that happiness can be attained with focus, she fails to find any happiness in her...
|
Episodes: The Other Side of This Life: Part 1/Part 2"The Other Side of This Life", which aired as the 22nd and 23rd episodes of season 3 of the TV series Grey's Anatomy, is a backdoor pilot episode for the spin-off show, Private Practice. The episode was written by Shonda Rhimes, the creator of both of the series, and the episode was directed by...
(Private Practice backdoor pilot) |
| 2007-present |
Private Practice |
Dr. Violet Turner Dr. Violet Turner is a character on the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice. She is portrayed by Amy Brenneman.-Storylines:Violet is a psychiatrist at the Oceanside Wellness Centre. Though she tells her patients that happiness can be attained with focus, she fails to find any happiness in her...
|
|
Awards
Awards nominated:
Emmy Awards
-
- 2002 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
- 2001 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
- 2000 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
- 1995 - Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series - NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
- 1994 - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
Golden Globe Awards
-
- 2002 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
- 2001 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
- 2000 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
Screen Actors Guild AwardsThe Screen Actors Guild Awards are an annual award given by the Screen Actors Guild to recognize outstanding performances by members.SAG Awards have been one of the major awards events in Hollywood since 1995. Nominations for the awards come from 4200 randomly selected members of the union, with...
-
- 2003 - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series - Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that aired from September 19, 1999 until May 3, 2005 on CBS. The show stars Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
- 1995 - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan....
External links
- Frederica/Amy Brenneman article at Harvard Law School alumni
An alumnus according to the American Heritage Dictionary is "a graduate or former student of a school, college, or university." In addition, an alumna An alumnus (pl. alumni) according to the American Heritage Dictionary is "a graduate (JC) or former student of a school, college, or university."...
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