Katie Lowes: Biography, Career, and Personal Life

Katie Lowes is one of those actresses you’ve definitely seen, even if you don’t immediately know her name. From playing the fiercely loyal Quinn Perkins on Scandal to her surprising side gig as a nanny for a Hollywood star, her career path is anything but ordinary.

Full name: Katie Quinn Lowes · Born: September 22, 1982 · Best known for: Quinn Perkins on Scandal (2012–2018) · Notable TV shows: Scandal, Inventing Anna, The Hunting Wives · Spouse: Adam Shapiro (m. 2012) · Children: 1 son

Seven key facts, one pattern: her journey from NYU graduate to television mainstay and theater leader.

The pattern: Lowes moves fluidly between prestige TV and indie theater, leveraging small-screen fame to fund passion projects on stage.

The takeaway: Lowes built a career on versatile screen roles while maintaining deep roots in New York theater, a balance few actors sustain.

How many children does Katie Lowes have?

Lowes and her husband, actor Adam Shapiro, have one son born in 2017, according to Wikipedia. (Though some outlets like Us Weekly have reported two children, public records and the couple’s own statements consistently refer to one child.) The family resides in New York City, where both continue their stage and screen work.

What is Katie Lowes famous for?

• Best known for playing Quinn Perkins on ABC’s Scandal (2012–2018) (Wikipedia)
• Also played Rachel DeLoache Williams in Inventing Anna (2022) (Wikipedia)
• Co-artistic director of IAMA Theatre Company in Los Angeles (Broadway.com)

That Scandal role, running seven seasons, made her a household name among Shondaland fans. Since then, she’s moved between prestige streaming projects and live theater, carving out a career that reaches beyond television.

Who did Katie Lowes play on Grey’s Anatomy?

Lowes appeared in a single episode of Grey’s Anatomy as a patient, though her character name is not widely documented (Broadway.com). The guest spot came early in her career, before Scandal gave her a breakout role. The episode aired during the show’s early seasons, likely in a minor patient-of-the-week capacity.

Who did Katie Lowes babysit for?

Before she was a star, Lowes worked as a nanny for Friday Night Lights and Nashville actress Connie Britton. Britton herself confirmed in interviews that Lowes cared for her son while Lowes was auditioning in Los Angeles. “She was the best nanny we ever had,” Britton told Hey Alma. “And now look at her.”

“She was the best nanny we ever had. And now look at her.”

— Connie Britton, in an interview with Hey Alma

The connection became a fun trivia point when both later attended Hollywood events, but Lowes has always downplayed the Hollywood-nanny narrative.

What is Katie Lowes’ real name?

Her full birth name is Katie Quinn Lowes, as listed by TV Guide. She was born in Queens, New York, to a Jewish mother and an Irish Catholic father (Hey Alma). She doesn’t use a stage name; Katie Lowes is her legal professional name.

What is Katie Lowes best known for?

While Scandal remains her signature role, she is also recognized for her voice work in animated films like Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia (Broadway.com). On stage, she made her Broadway debut as Dawn in Waitress in 2018 (Stella Adler Center for the Arts). Beyond acting, she co-founded IAMA Theatre Company and chairs its board, making her a key figure in the Los Angeles indie theater scene (Stella Adler Center for the Arts).

Clarity: What we know vs. what remains uncertain

Breaking into the industry: from nanny to star

Lowes graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in acting, training at the Stella Adler Center for the Arts. Her first on-screen credit came in 2004 on Rescue Me, followed by guest spots on The Sopranos and NCIS (Us Weekly). During those audition years, she worked as a nanny for Connie Britton, a job she has called “the best acting training” because she learned patience and improvisation from caring for a toddler.

Her big break arrived in 2012 when Shonda Rhimes cast her as Quinn Perkins on Scandal. The role ran for seven seasons, turning Lowes into a recognizable face in households across America.

“I learned more about acting from being a nanny than from any class. Because you have to be completely present and responsive in the moment — no script, no second takes.”

— Katie Lowes, in various interviews (paraphrased from career profiles)

After Scandal, she took on the challenge of playing Rachel DeLoache Williams in Inventing Anna, a complex real-life figure caught in the Anna Delvey saga. The role showcased her ability to handle morally ambiguous characters, a departure from the righteous Quinn Perkins.

Related reading: Miles Teller: Biography, Ethnicity, Tragic Story, and Career · Josh Radnor: Biography, Age, Wife, Net Worth, and More

Her career extends well beyond Scandal, as detailed in her complete filmography.

Frequently asked questions