This Maine actor’s career has taken her from Camden to London

Camden Actress Caitlin FitzGerald Finds Maine Everywhere, Even on TV

CAMDEN, Maine — When actress Caitlin FitzGerald travels the globe for work, a piece of her home state never seems far away. The 43‑year‑old performer, who grew up in Camden after a brief stint in Lincolnville, has built a career that spans Broadway, television and film, yet Maine remains a constant thread in her personal and professional life.

FitzGerald’s connection to the Pine Tree State began early. Her father, Des, founded DuckTrap River Fish Farm, which became a nationally recognized smoked‑fish producer, while her mother, Pam, edited a knitting magazine and later launched Quince & Co., a yarn line. “I was always told I was a little Maine‑person,” she said in a recent interview while filming the second season of the Prime drama We Were Liars in Nova Scotia.

The love of acting sparked in a kindergarten play of Rudyard Kipling’s “How the Elephant Got His Trunk.” She continued to perform in local productions, including at the Camden Civic Theatre, before enrolling at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. There she chose a program that blended classroom study with hands‑on stage training, a decision she says set her apart from many peers who headed straight for Los Angeles.

After graduation, FitzGerald’s résumé quickly accumulated notable credits. She landed a role as Meryl Streep’s daughter in the 2009 romantic comedy It’s Complicated, describing the experience as both intimidating and rewarding. “She was my hero, so I was definitely nervous to work with her, I had no idea what I was doing,” FitzGerald recalled. “She was very generous.”

Her television career continued with recurring parts on Succession (as Tabitha Hayes) and a four‑season stint as Libby Masters in Showtime’s Masters of Sex. In 2024, she took on the role that feels closest to home: the mother of Donn Fendler in the film adaptation of Lost on a Mountain in Maine. The movie premiered at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, where FitzGerald attended a screening that drew numerous teachers who had used the book in their classrooms. “It was such a lovely homegrown moment and I was really proud to be a part of it,” she said. “It was an honor to tell that story.”

Now, FitzGerald is starring as one of the adult sisters in Prime’s We Were Liars, a period piece about a wealthy family hiding secrets on a private island off the Massachusetts coast. The show’s first season debuted in the summer of 2025, and the second season, which flashes back two decades, is slated for release next year. In a twist of Maine‑related coincidence, the younger version of her character, Penny Sinclair, is portrayed by Elysia Roorbach, a 26‑year‑old actress from Farmington who also grew up in the western mountains of the state.

Roorbach, who studied acting at NYU and spent a semester abroad in London focusing on Shakespeare, made her television debut earlier this year playing an emergency‑room patient in two episodes of the hit HBO Max series The Pitt. When FitzGerald first met Roorbach, she noted how rare it was to see two Maine natives sharing the same role. “There aren’t a lot of people from Maine in this industry, so it’s great that she’s here,” she said. “I’m so pleased I get to work with her.”

The two actresses share more than a hometown; they both honed their craft at NYU and spent time in London, creating a bond that extends beyond the screen. “I love Maine so much, it feels like such a part of who I am and it’s such a special place,” FitzGerald added while filming in Nova Scotia this summer. “So it’s wonderful to meet people who understand.”

FitzGerald’s career trajectory has always been a mix of steady work and quieter periods. Besides her acting, she recently starred as Desdemona in a West End production of Shakespeare’s Othello, which was filmed and released to theaters in March. The role provided a new artistic challenge after years of television and film.

Looking ahead, FitzGerald remains grounded by her Maine roots, even as she navigates a fast‑moving industry. “I wanted to study the craft of acting, instead of just driving to Los Angeles and looking for work, like many people do,” she explained. “Being from Maine, living in New York City during college was also an education.”

For Roorbach, the opportunity to work alongside a veteran actress who shares her heritage feels like a stepping stone. “Seeing someone from Maine succeed gives me hope that there’s a place for us in this business,” Roorbach said in a separate interview. “I want to keep learning and growing, maybe one day I’ll be doing the same for the next generation.”

As both actresses prepare for the upcoming season of We Were Liars, their story underscores a broader narrative: Maine’s cultural influence extends far beyond its borders, shaping the lives of those who call it home and finding its way into the entertainment world at every turn.