Cristin Milioti: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know

How I Met Your Mother

After eight seasons of How I Met Your Mother, fans finally met “The Mother,” played by Cristin Milioti.

After eight seasons of How I Met Your Mother, fans of the CBS sitcom have watched Ted date girl after girl, wondering which one will actually be The Mother. But during season eight’s finale that aired on Monday, viewers finally got their first glimpse at Ted’s bride-to-be. Here’s what you need to know about The Mother on HIMYM, Cristin Milioti.

How I met your mother

Cristin Milioti plays “The Mother” on “How I Met Your Mother.”

1. Cristin Milioti is a Broadway Actress

Among other things, Cristin Milioti has had a successful career on Broadway. She’s known for her role as “Girl” in the musical Once, which earned her a Tony nomination last year. Milioti made her Boradway debut in the comedy The Lieutenant of Inishmore and starred in Coram Boy.


2. She’s Also Appeared in Many TV Shows and Movies

The actress has made her mark on both the big and small screens, too. She’s played in movies like the 2012 comedy Sleepwalk With Me and has had roles in popular television shows such as The Sopranos, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie and most notably, 30 Rock.


How I Met Your Mother, Once, Cristin Milioti Once

Cristin Milioti in “Once” on Broadway.

3. Her Latest Production is The Wolf of Wall Street

Milioti will be seen next in her latest work, The Wolf of Wall Street, a film directed by Martin Scorsese. The movie, which is currently in post-production, stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey.


4. She’s 27-Years-Old


5. She’s a Jersey Girl

Milioti was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and graduated from Cherry Hill High School East in 2003. She went on to study acting at New York University and started out in the industry by obtaining roles in ad campaigns.

6. The Casting for the Role Was Low Profile

The actress secured the coveted role as The Mother through the help of casting director Marisa Ross. Co-creators of HIMYM Carter Bays and Craig Thomas told Entertainment Weekly that the more they got to know Milioti the more they realized she was perfect for the role. They also said that the didn’t want to do a huge casting call for the part.

“We didn’t want to do a big casting cattle call — we were going to make it ‘come audition for Barney’s cousin’ or something,” Bays said.


7. Right Now She’s Only Known as ‘Woman With Umbrella’

Cristin Milioti, How I Met Your Mother

The big reveal of Milioti’s character as The Mother came at the very end of season eight’s finale epsode, just as Barney and Robin are about to get married and after Ted announces that he plans on moving to Chicago. Milioti’s character is shown walking to the train station carring a yellow umbrella and wearing brown boots, one of the episode’s foreshadow when Lily tells Ted he’ll meet the love of his life in New York wearing great boots that she can borrow. A name is not yet known for The Mother, as she is only known in the credits as “Woman With Umbrella.”


8. Milioti’s Character is a Band Member at Barney and Robin’s Wedding

Barney and Robin, Cristin Milioti

Barney and Robin, played by Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders.


The episode ends after Milioti’s brief appearance, but her character is known to be a band member at Barney and Robin’s wedding. Bays said that musical ability was a prerequisite for the role, which Milioti qualified.

“We’re big fans of music, as I think the show has demonstrated, and we’ve already established that she’s a bass player in a band. I think there will be a musical component to her character, and that was definitely a little bonus feature,” Bays said.


9. Two Other Women Were Up For the Part

Bays told Entertainment Weekly that two other women were up for the part, but in the end they decided on Milioti.

“There were other two very lovely wonderful actresses coming in to read for it but ultimately we really believed in Cristin for it,” Bays said. “The right choice.”


10. The 2013-14 Season of How I Met Your Mother Will be the Last