From Sterling Cooper To The Holiday Hotline: Everything You Need To Know About The Actress In The New Macy's Commercial

The actress currently captivating audiences in the latest Macy's commercials is the acclaimed Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated star, Alison Brie. As of the current date, December 12, 2025, Brie is the face of the retailer’s massive “Macy’s Gift Guide” campaign, a role that sees her embodying the spirit of effortless holiday and seasonal gifting across television and digital platforms. Her presence brings a blend of sharp wit, familiar charm, and A-list recognition to the department store's most important marketing push of the year, cementing her status as one of the most recognizable commercial faces of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The campaign, which launched for the Holiday 2024 season and has extended into 2025 for key moments like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, capitalizes on Brie's versatile acting background. She is best known for her iconic roles in three of the most critically praised television shows of the last two decades: the period drama *Mad Men*, the cult-favorite sitcom *Community*, and the Netflix wrestling comedy *GLOW*. Her ability to transition seamlessly from a 1960s housewife to a hyper-organized college student to a passionate professional wrestler makes her the perfect, dynamic choice to represent the wide variety of products available at Macy's.

Alison Brie: A Comprehensive Biography and Career Profile

Alison Brie Schermerhorn, professionally known as Alison Brie, has established herself as a powerhouse in Hollywood, excelling as an actress, writer, and producer. Her career is marked by a series of critically acclaimed performances that showcase her remarkable range and comedic timing.

• Full Name: Alison Brie Schermerhorn
• Date of Birth: December 29, 1982
• Place of Birth: Hollywood, California, U.S.
• Education: California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) – BFA in Theater; studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.
• Spouse: Dave Franco (m. 2017)
• Notable Roles (Television):
  • Trudy Campbell in *Mad Men* (2007–2015)
  • Annie Edison in *Community* (2009–2015)
  • Ruth Wilder in *GLOW* (2017–2019)
  • Sarah in *BoJack Horseman* (Voice Role)
• Notable Roles (Film):
  • *Scream 4* (2011)
  • *The Five-Year Engagement* (2012)
  • *The Lego Movie* (2014) – Voice of Unikitty
  • *How to Be Single* (2016)
  • *The Disaster Artist* (2017)
  • *Horse Girl* (2020) – Also co-wrote and produced.
• Major Nominations:
  • Two Golden Globe Award nominations (for *GLOW*).
  • Five Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominations, including a win for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (for *Mad Men*).

Her early career saw her performing in community theater in Southern California before attending the prestigious CalArts. Her breakout role as Trudy Campbell, the charming and long-suffering wife of Pete Campbell on the AMC drama *Mad Men*, brought her initial acclaim. Simultaneously, she won the hearts of a different audience as the hyper-focused, overachieving Annie Edison on Dan Harmon’s meta-comedy *Community*. The dual success of these wildly different roles solidified her reputation as a versatile and multifaceted performer.

The "Macy's Gift Guide" Campaign: Alison Brie as the Ultimate Gifting Expert

The current series of Macy's advertisements, which began airing heavily in late 2024, introduces Alison Brie not just as a celebrity endorser, but as a character: the physical embodiment of the "Macy's Gift Guide." This creative concept is a clever way for the department store to showcase its extensive product range and position itself as the one-stop shop for every occasion and person on a shopper's list. Brie’s character is portrayed as an ultra-organized, quick-witted, and stylish expert who has a gift solution for every "someone" in your life, no matter how difficult they are to shop for. The campaign’s primary setting is a sophisticated, high-tech version of a gift-planning headquarters, often featuring a vibrant red jacket adorned with the iconic Macy's star motif—a subtle nod to the brand’s heritage.

Key Commercial Concepts and Celebrity Cameos

To keep the campaign fresh and engaging, Macy's introduced a few memorable sub-themes and co-stars. One of the most popular concepts is the "Holiday Hotline," where Brie fields frantic gift-seeking calls from shoppers. This format allows for rapid-fire comedic delivery, a talent Brie perfected during her years on *Community*. The campaign has also leveraged the power of celebrity cameos to enhance its appeal and reach different demographics. Notable figures who have called the "Holiday Hotline" include:

• Conan Gray: The singer-songwriter, who is popular with younger audiences, adds a touch of Gen Z appeal.
• Baker Mayfield: The NFL quarterback, who brings in the sports and mainstream entertainment crowd.

Another recurring co-star is actor Matt Bush, who often plays Brie's slightly overwhelmed mentee or assistant, providing a comedic foil to her highly competent "Gift Guide" persona. This dynamic duo helps to ground the fantastical concept in relatable, workplace-style humor. The ads are designed to be fast-paced, colorful, and packed with product shots, ensuring that the message of Macy's wide selection—from Calvin Klein fashion to KitchenAid appliances and Dior fragrances—is delivered effectively.

From Cult Comedy to Commercial Star: Alison Brie's Topical Authority

Alison Brie's casting is a masterful move in modern advertising, leveraging her extensive topical authority built over years of diverse roles. Her work on three highly influential television shows provides a strong foundation of goodwill and recognition that few actors can match. Her role as Ruth Wilder in the Netflix series *GLOW* earned her the most critical praise, including her Golden Globe nominations. *GLOW* explored the lives of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, requiring Brie to undergo intense physical training and deliver a nuanced performance that balanced comedy, drama, and athleticism. This role showcased her dedication and ability to lead a series, making her a bankable star. The enduring popularity of *Community*, where she played the ambitious and sometimes neurotic Annie Edison, means she is instantly recognizable to a massive, dedicated fanbase that spans all ages. Similarly, her eight-season run as Trudy Campbell on the Emmy-winning drama *Mad Men* introduced her to a more mature, affluent, and discerning audience. By tapping into this trifecta of iconic characters—the 60s housewife, the college student, and the professional wrestler—Macy's ensures their "Gift Guide" campaign resonates across multiple demographics. She’s not just a pretty face; she’s an established actress whose presence implies quality and a sense of sophisticated, yet accessible, humor. Her recent foray into screenwriting and producing with the film *Horse Girl*, which she also starred in, further demonstrates her creative control and depth as an artist. This behind-the-scenes work adds a layer of intellectual curiosity to her public persona, aligning her with the modern, multi-talented celebrity sought after by major brands like Macy's. The campaign is a clear success, not only driving sales but also sparking conversation online, with countless searches for "Who is the actress in the Macy's commercial?" proving the effectiveness of casting a star of Alison Brie's caliber.