Jennifer Beals
Jennifer Beals | |
---|---|
![]() Beals at a fan convention for The L Word in November 2008 | |
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Actress Model (former) |
Years active | 1980–present |
Spouse(s) | Alexandre Rockwell (m. 1986–1996; divorced) Ken Dixon (m. 1998–present; 1 child) |
Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963) is an American actress and a former teen model. She played the role of Alexandra "Alex" Owens in the 1983 film Flashdance, and as Bette Porter on the Showtime drama series The L Word. She earned an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination for the former. She has appeared in more than 50 films.
Early life
Beals was born on the southside of Chicago,[1] the daughter of Jeanne (née Anderson), an elementary school teacher, and Alfred Beals, who owned grocery stores.[2][3] She is biracial,[4] as her father was African American and her mother is Irish American.[5] She has two brothers, Bobby and Gregory.[6] Her father died when Beals was nine years old,[7] and her mother married Edward Cohen in 1981.[8] Beals has said her biracial heritage had some effect on her, as she "always lived sort of on the outside", with an idea "of being the other in society".[5] She got her first job at age 13 at an ice cream store, using her height at the time (she is now nearly 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)), to convince her boss she was 16.[7]
Beals was inspired to become an actress by two events: doing a high school production of Fiddler on the Roof and seeing Balm in Gilead with Joan Allen while volunteer-ushering at the Steppenwolf Theatre.[9]
She graduated from the progressive Francis W. Parker School.[10] Beals also was chosen to attend the elite Goodman Theatre Young People's Drama Workshop.[11] Beals attended Yale University, receiving a B.A. in American literature in 1987;[12] she deferred a term so she could film Flashdance.[10] While at Yale, Beals was a resident of Morse College.[12]
Career
Film
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Jennifer_Beals.jpg/170px-Jennifer_Beals.jpg)
Beals had a minor role in the 1980 film My Bodyguard,[13] then came to fame with her starring part in Flashdance. The third-highest grossing U.S. film of 1983, Flashdance is the story of 18-year-old Alex, a welder by day and exotic dancer by night, whose dream is to be accepted someday at an illustrious school of dance. Beals was cast for this key role while still a student at Yale. She was nominated for a Golden Globe and the film received an Academy Award for Best Song. Many of Beals' elaborate dance moves were actually performed by stunt double Marine Jahan.[14]
After she filmed Flashdance, she resumed her studies, making only one film during that time: playing the titular character The Bride with singer-actor Sting, a gothic horror film loosely based on the 1935 classic Bride of Frankenstein[15] shot during her summer break,[16] and also appearing in the Cinderella episode of Faerie Tale Theatre.[13] She was asked by Joel Schumacher to do St. Elmo's Fire but turned it down preferring to stay at Yale.[17]
Starring opposite Nicolas Cage, the actress portrays a lusty and thirsty vampire in 1989's Vampire's Kiss.
In 1995, Beals and Denzel Washington co-starred in Devil in a Blue Dress, a period film based on a Walter Mosley novel featuring L.A. private detective, Easy Rawlins. Beals plays a biracial woman passing for white. That same year she appeared with Tim Roth in two segments of the four-story anthology Four Rooms, one of which was directed by her then-husband, Alexandre Rockwell.
Rockwell had previously directed her in the 1992 independent film In the Soup, which was a Grand Prize winner at the Sundance Film Festival.[18] In 2003, she played one of the sequestered jury members in the film adaptation of Runaway Jury.
She had a leading role in 2006's The Grudge 2, sequel to the hit horror film of two years earlier. In 2010, Beals reunited with Denzel Washington in the post-Apocalyptic action drama, The Book of Eli, where she played a blind woman who is the mother of Mila Kunis' character and a servant of Gary Oldman's.[19]
Television
In 1992, she appeared in 2000 Malibu Road as attorney Perry Quinn. It was her first ongoing television series; she said she had been leery as she previously had not "found a character I wanted to live with for several years".[11]
Beals made a brief cameo in the final episode of Frasier. In 2007, she appeared in the small TV drama My Name Is Sarah, in which she plays Sarah Winston, a sober woman who joins Alcoholics Anonymous to conduct research for her book but finds herself falling in love with a recovering alcoholic and - as a result - having to deal with her original deception in joining the group.[citation needed]
Beals starred in Showtime Network's The L Word, where she played Bette Porter, an Ivy League educated lesbian. At Beals' request, Bette was made biracial, enabling Pam Grier's Kit Porter character to become Bette's half-sister.[20] She initially researched the part more in that the woman is the director of an art museum rather than a lesbian;[21] "I was much more obsessed by the work that Bette did, because she was so obsessed by the work that she did."[22] The series ran for six seasons and ended in March 2009.
She also appears alongside Tim Roth in Lie To Me, as Cal Lightman's ex-wife, Zoe Landau.
Beals is the female lead in Fox's TV drama The Chicago Code. Her character Teresa Colvin is Chicago's first female police superintendent.[23] The series was canceled after its first season.[24]
Beals turned down an offer to appear on Dancing with the Stars, saying: "I am not a dancer. They asked me and I said 'no.' You could back up a truck to my door filled with cash and I wouldn't do it."[25]
Personal life
Beals was married to Alexandre Rockwell from 1986 to 1996.[5] In 1998, she married Ken Dixon, a Canadian entrepreneur.[26] On October 18, 2005, Beals gave birth to their daughter. She is also stepmother to Dixon's two children from a previous marriage.[27]
Beals has described herself as a "spiritual person".[28] She has expressed interest in the Holy Bible, Catholicism, and is a practicing Buddhist.[29][30]
She has been a vocal advocate for gay rights saying "I think after playing Bette Porter on The L Word for six years I felt like an honorary member of the community."[31] Beals was a Celebrity Grand Marshal at the 2006 San Francisco Pride Parade.[32]
She is a photographer, who has had shows of her work under her married name, Dixon.[33] She has a book about her time on The L Word featuring her own photographs.[34] In 1989, she spent some time in Haiti photographing the elections.[35]
She is also a triathlete.[36][37]
In 2010, Beals served as the Grand Marshal of the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago.[38] Beals spoke about two charities that she holds dear in her heart, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Pablove.[39]
Filmography
Film | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||
1980 | My Bodyguard | Clifford's Friend | |||
1983 | Flashdance | Alex Owens | |||
1985 | The Bride | Eva | |||
1988 | The Gamble | Lady Olivia Candioni | aka La Partita | ||
Split Decisions | Barbara Uribe | ||||
1989 | Vampire's Kiss | Rachel | |||
Sons | Transvestite | ||||
1990 | Dr.M | Sonja Vogler | |||
1991 | Blood and Concrete | Mona | |||
1992 | In the Soup | Angelica Pena | |||
Day of Atonement | Joyce | ||||
Indecency | Ellie Shaw | TV movie | |||
Terror Stalks the Class Reunion | Virginia | TV movie | |||
1993 | Caro diario | Herself | |||
The Princess and the Cobbler | Princess YumYum (voice) | ||||
Night Owl | Julia | TV movie | |||
1994 | Dead on Sight | Rebecca Darcy | |||
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle | Gertrude Benchley | ||||
The Search for One-eye Jimmy | Ellen | ||||
1995 | Four Rooms | Angela | |||
Let It Be Me | Emily Taylor | ||||
Devil in a Blue Dress | Daphne Monet | ||||
Arabian Knight | Princess YumYum (voice) | Miramax version | |||
1997 | Wishful Thinking | Elizabeth | |||
The Twilight of the Golds | Suzanne Stein | ||||
1998 | Body and Soul | Gina | |||
The Prophecy II | Valerie Rosales | ||||
The Last Days of Disco | Nina | ||||
The Spree | Xinia Kelly | TV movie | |||
1999 | Something More | Lisa | |||
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying | Jessica | ||||
2000 | Militia | Julie Sanders | |||
Without Malice | Samantha Wilkes | TV movie | |||
A House Divided | Amanda Dickson | TV movie | |||
2001 | Out of Line | Parole Officer Jenny Capitanas | |||
The Anniversary Party | Gina Taylor | ||||
The Big House | Lorraine Brewster | TV movie | |||
After the Storm | Mrs. Gavotte | TV movie | |||
The Feast of All Saints | Dolly Rose | TV movie | |||
2002 | 13 Moons | Suzi | |||
Roger Dodger | Sophie | ||||
They Shoot Divas, Don't They? | Sloan McBride | TV movie | |||
2003 | Runaway Jury | Vanessa Lembeck | |||
2004 | Catch That Kid | Molly | |||
2005 | Break a Leg | Juliet | |||
''Desolation Sound'' | Elizabeth Storey | ||||
2006 | The Grudge 2 | Trish | |||
Troubled Waters | Special Agent Jennifer Beck | ||||
2007 | My Name Is Sarah | Sarah Winston | TV movie | ||
2009 | Queen to Play | L'Américaine | |||
2010 | The Book of Eli | Claudia | |||
A Night for Dying Tigers | Melanie | ||||
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas | Angela Fox | TV movie |
Television | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||
1985 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Cinderella | Episode: "Cinderella" | ||
1990 | Tinikling ou 'La madonne et le dragon | Patty Meredith | |||
1992 | 2000 Malibu Road | Perry Quinn | 6 episodes | ||
1997 | The Outer Limits | Robin Dysart | Episode: "Bodies of Evidence" | ||
1997–1998 | Nothing Sacred | Justine Madsen Judd | 2 episodes | ||
1999 | The Hunger | Jane | Episode: "And She Laughed" | ||
2001 | The Feast of All Saints (TV Miniseries) | Dolly Rose | |||
2004–2009 | The L Word | Bette Porter | Main role | ||
2004 | Frasier | Dr. Anne Ranberg | 2 episodes | ||
2007 | Law & Order | Sofia Archer | Episode: "Charity Case" | ||
2009–2011 | Lie to Me | Zoe Landau | Recurring role[40][41] | ||
2011 | The Chicago Code | Teresa Colvin | Main role | ||
2012 | Castle | CIA Agent Sophia Turner | 2 episodes[42] |
References
- ^ Mike Thomas (2010-10-24). "'Ride-along' creator, cast case life on street with cops". suntimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
- ^ Jennifer Beals Biography (1963–)
- ^ "Article on Beals" March 1990, Ebony
- ^ Gregg Shapiro (2003-05-21). "Television: The L Word's Jennifer Beals Flashdance Star in Town for HRC Gala". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ a b c Sarah Warn (2003). "Jennifer Beals Tackles Issues of Race, Sexuality on The L Word". AfterEllen. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Jennifer Beals Biography | TVGuide.com
- ^ a b Nancy Mills (2011-02-31). "Jennifer Beals relies on her masculine side for new series". readingeagle.com. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "With Some Fancy Footwork—not All Her Own—yale Freshman Jennifer Beals Gets Top Marks for Flashdance" May 16, 1983, People Magazine
- ^ Andrew Ryan (2011-02-22). "Jennifer Beals: Bringing it all back home". theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ a b Bob Thomas (1987-06-19). "Actress-Yale Grad returns to films". The Day (New London). Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ a b Jerry Buck (1992-08-23). "Character lured Beals to TV role". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ a b Mitchell Hoffman (2004-01-23). "TV show may increase lesbian awareness at 'Gay Ivy'". Yale Herald.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b James Brady (1987-11-29). "In Step With: Jennifer Beals". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Mandi Bierly (2007-10-01). "Maniac on the Floor". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Flashdancer Jennifer Beals off to meet Frankenstein". Edmonton Journal. 1984-06-11. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ James Ryan (1995-10-03). "Jennifer Beals dons blue dress". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Wendy Wallace (1992-08-21). "Four women rebuild their lives and dreams on "2000 Malibu Road"". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Susan King (1992-08-23). "Jennifer Beals Slow Dances To Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Jennifer Beals Joins Eli". www.artistdirect.com. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Jennifer Beals returns with 'The L Word'". MSNBC. 2005-02-15. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Live with Regis and Kelly". Live with Regis and Kelly. 2004-03-31.
{{cite episode}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Fresh Air". Fresh Air. 2004-04-06. National Public Radio.
{{cite episode}}
: Unknown parameter|serieslink=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Nellie Andreeva (2010-10-14). "Jennifer Beals lands role in Fox drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Chicago Code Canceled: Fox Scraps Crime Drama After One Season" May 11, 2011, Huffington Post
- ^ Monica Rizzo (2011-02-17). "Dancing with the Stars Season 12 Cast - Jennifer Beals Says No". People. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Alison Gee (2005-11-17). "Jennifer Beals Has a Baby Girl". People. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Alison Gee (2005-11-17). "Jennifer Beals Has a Baby Girl". People. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
- ^ Chauncé Hayden (2004-04-07). "Jennifer Beals Interview". Steppin' Out. Archived from the original on 2004-04-07. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Actress speaks on Buddhism and the Dalai Lama" July 18, 2011. Chicago Sin-Times
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZx8vb4XBc0
- ^ Jerry Nunn (2011-02-02). "Windy City Times - Jennifer Beals cracks the 'Code' - 2655". www.windycitymediagroup.com. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Grand Marshals". www.sfpride.org. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "DIVA Lesbian Magazine - The B Word: Jennifer Beals". www.divamag.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Jennifer Beals' Photography Book Preview is Only Highlight of L Word S6 DVD". www.autostraddle.com. 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Novid Parsi (2011-02-02). "Area Code: Jennifer Beals returns to 312 in Fox's new series". timeoutchicago.com. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "I'm a Runner: Jennifer Beals from RunnersWorld.com".
- ^ "NY Times Talk Panel: Jennifer Beals is a Perfect Human and Ilene Chaiken Talks A Lot".
- ^ "77th McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade" November 28, 2010. ABC News
- ^ "Jennifer Beals represents Pablove in the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade" November 25, 2010, Pablove web site
- ^ Michael Ausiello (2009-03-23). "'Lie to Me' scoop: Ex marks spot for Jennifer Beals". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Stefanie Lee (2010-06-22). "Lie to Me : The Ex-Wife Returns". www.tv.com. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ Adam Bryant (2012-02-13). "Jennifer Beals on Her Castle Role: I Wasn't Interested in a Catfight". TV Guide. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Actors from Chicago, Illinois
- African-American film actors
- African-American television actors
- American film actors
- American people of Irish descent
- American television actors
- Yale University alumni
- Converts to Buddhism
- American Buddhists
- GLAAD Media Award winners
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- LGBT rights activists