From ‘Desperate Housewives’ to Jailbird: Felicity Huffman’s Surprising Transformation

Role of a Lifetime

The mom of two was cast in Sports Night — a television comedy — which aired in 1998. “When there is a good pilot script, the drumbeat goes out in town and you can tell what the hot pilots are, and this was one of them,” she said in an interview.

All Black

Huffman walked the carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles in 2003. The Hollywood starlet sported a tight black dress with sunglasses.

Girl Gang

Huffman played Lynette Scavo on Desperate Housewives in 2004 and starred opposite Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Nicollette Sheridan.

Night Out

She dressed to impress at the Desperate Housewives film premiere party in Los Angeles in October 2004.

#Winning

The Emmy winner made an appearance at the 22nd Annual William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles in 2005. Huffman went on to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on the ABC hit show that same year.

Glam and Glitz

Huffman stunned in a white dress at an industry soirée in July 2005.

Starring Role

The New York native starred in Transamerica in 2005 and collaborated with her husband on the project.

Keeping Warm

She bundled up in New York before her appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman in 2006.

Star Power

In 2007, Huffman starred in Georgia Rule alongside Jane Fonda and Lindsay Lohan. “It’s a brilliantly written role and a brilliantly written movie, so that always makes it easier for an actor,” she said in an interview about her role. “The scenes were difficult.”

Tickled Pink

Huffman was pretty in pink at the 2007 Emmy Awards.

Cool and Casual

She walked the red carpet in jeans and a black coat at the How Cissy Grey play opening in Hollywood in 2008.

Busy Day

In 2009, Huffman kept it cool and casual while she was out and about in New York.

Friends ‘Til the End

Huffman attended her good pal Eva’s fragrance launch party in 2010. The two are still close, and the brunette beauty even defended Huffman after the scandal broke. “I can’t tell you how many times she was the only one who would physically show up to help me with the kids with cancer, or children with special needs,” the 44-year-old wrote in a letter earlier this year.

Looking Good

Huffman showed off her curves in a black dress at an event in Santa Monica in 2011.

Big Award

Family affair! Huffman and her husband posed with their star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. “I thought it was so cool,” the Shameless actor, 69, said about the big day. “It was wonderful,” Huffman echoed. “It was the first celebrity, I don’t know, industry thing that our girls ever went to. So, that was great we could make it a family affair.”

Rocking Out

Rocker chic! Huffman wore jeans and a leather jacket to the Trust Me film premiere in New York in 2013.

Say Cheese

Huffman smiled for the photographers at an event in Los Angeles in 2014.

A-List Names

She starred alongside Jennifer Aniston in Cake in 2014.

Out and About

In 2015, Huffman attended the Inspiration Awards. The Sports Night alum wore a black tank top with jeans for a casual night out.

Foreshadowing?

Huffman and John Ridley promoted their series American Crime in New York in 2016.

Winter Chic

In 2017, Huffman was all smiles as she rocked a white coat, boots and black pants in the Big Apple.

So Stylish

Huffman wore a black pantsuit the Krystal film premiere in 2018.

Star of the Show

Huffman starred in Otherhood alongside Angela Bassett and Patricia Arquette. However, the movie release was pushed back due to the scandal.

Trouble Begins

A different look! Huffman left the courthouse in Boston in September 2019 after she pleaded guilty for her involvement in the college admissions scandal.

First Sighting

Huffman was spotted for the first time back in Los Angeles after the hearing while out and about with her family on September 14, 2019.

November 2019

She was photographed outside of a teen rehab center, where she began her community service in November 2019.

Community Service

Huffman was seen leaving the facility several days later.

February 2020

The actress was spotted at Fryman Canyon while taking her dog Tucker out for a hike.

Breaking Her Silence

In December 2023, Huffman addressed the college admissions scandal for the first time and said that she couldn’t believe what was happening when FBI agents arrested her in her home.

“I thought it was a hoax. I literally turned to one of the FBI people, in a flak jacket and a gun, and I went, ‘Is this a joke?’” Felicity said in an interview with ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

Return to Work

Huffman landed the part of the protagonist in the Taylor Mac play, Hir, in February 2024, her first major role since her conviction. However, she admitted things were different.

“It’s been hard,” Felicity told The Guardian. “Sort of like your old life died and you died with it. I’m lucky enough to have a family and love and means, so I had a place to land.”

An Attempt to Make Friends

In May 2024, a source exclusively told In Touch that Felicity was determined to return to the world of acting, but it wasn’t as easy as expected.

“Felicity wasn’t good at making friends before the admissions scandal made her a villain and a pariah in Hollywood, and it’s gotten a lot worse in the aftermath, where her inner circle has been whittled down to family members and her paid employees,” the insider shared.