Jennifer Jason Leigh
Jennifer's parents divorced when she was two. Jennifer worked in her first film at the age of nine, in a nonspeaking role for the film Death of a Stranger (Tod eines Fremden(1976)). At 14 she attended summer acting workshops given by Lee Strasberg and landed a role in the Disney TV movie Disneylandia. El mágico mundo del color: The Young Runaways (1978), and received her Screen Actors Guild membership in an episode of the TV series Baretta (1975) when she was 16. Jennifer performed in several TV movies and dropped out of Pacific Palisades High School six weeks short of graduation for her major role in the film Los ojos de un extraño (1981). Her first major success came as the female lead in Aquel 'excitante' curso (1982).
Jennifer was married to writer/director Noah Baumbach from 2005 to 2013, and the two have a son.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Alex Fung <aw220@freenet.carleton.ca>
Spouse
Noah Baumbach (2 September 2005 - 17 September 2013) (divorced) (1 child)
Trivia
Daughter of actor Vic Morrow and actress-screenwriter Barbara Turner.
Won two 1990 Critic Society awards for her portrayal of Tralala in Última salida Brooklyn(1989), and as Susan Waggoner in Miami Blues (1990).
Selected as one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women" by Harper's Bazaar Magazine, 1989.
Has an older sister, Carrie Ann Morrow, and a younger half-sister, actress Mina Badie. Her ex-stepfather is director Reza Badiyi.
Well-known in Hollywood for the exhausting research she does for each of her portrayals and for her affinity of playing lurid roles.
Had a small part in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). However, when its director Stanley Kubrickasked Jennifer to do some re-shoots, she was not available to do that. Her entire part was redone by another actress.
Born at 12:33pm-PST.
Jennifer lost weight down to 86 pounds for her role as an anorexic teenager in the TV-movie Una hija casi perfecta (1981).
In 1997, Jennifer appeared in Faith No More's music video "Last Cup of Sorrow". Its plot was derived from Alfred Hitchcock's film Vértigo. De entre los muertos (1958).
Jennifer's father, actor Vic Morrow, died during the filming of the movie En los límites de la realidad (1983). He was killed in a helicopter accident.
After reading the script for the movie Llamaradas (1991), Jennifer reportedly told its director, Ron Howard, that she wished that she could be the fire because it has the best part.
Jennifer attended the strict Stagedoor Manor summer camp in upstate New York which trains teenagers in acting, singing, and dancing. Jennifer's classmates include actor Zach Braff from NBC's Scrubs (2001), writer-director Todd Graff, and actress-singer Mandy Moore.
She is of entirely Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her paternal grandparents, Harry Morozoff and Jean Kress, were immigrants from Russia. Her maternal grandfather, Alexander Turner, was an immigrant from Austria, and her maternal grandmother, Pearl Pauline Zises, was born in New York, to Austrian-born parents.
Frequently worked with maverick director Robert Altman who, before his maverick days, worked with her father, Vic Morrow on the sixties television series Hazañas bélicas (1962).
Jennifer lived with Eric Stoltz for five years during the 80s.
Jennifer chose her second middle name "Jason" from that of her and her father's friend, the actor Jason Robards.
Jennifer has acted with three of the four acting Baldwin brother in five different movies: Miami Blues (1990) and Lymelife (2005) with Alec Baldwin; Última salida Brooklyn (1989) and La Sra. Parker y el círculo vicioso (1994) with Stephen Baldwin; and Llamaradas(1991) with William Baldwin.
Member of the jury at the "Venice Film Festival" in the year 2000.
Allegedly auditioned for the role of Sarah Connor in Terminator (1984) but director James Cameron considered her too young for the part. Linda Hamilton ended up playing the part.
The song "Jennifer Jason Leigh" by the punk band J Church has lyrics made up from interview quotes.
Has become somewhat famous for alleging to have turned down many roles in some popular movies: Jodie Foster's roles in Taxi Driver (1976), Acusados (1988), El silencio de los corderos (1991), Nell (1994), Contact (1997), Plan de vuelo: Desaparecida (2005) and Plan oculto (2006); the Brooke Shields'S roles in La pequeña (1978) and El lago azul(1980); Ally Sheedy roles in El club de los cinco (1985) and St. Elmo, punto de encuentro(1985); Laura San Giacomo's role in Sexo, mentiras y cintas de vídeo (1989), Julia Roberts's role in Pretty Woman (1990); Demi Moore's role in Ghost (Más allá del amor)(1990); Lori Petty role in Ellas dan el golpe (1992); Julianne Moore 's role in Boogie Nights (1997); Lucy Liu's role in Los ángeles de Charlie (2000); Jennifer Connelly's role in Una mente maravillosa (2001); Lara Flynn Boyle role in Hombres de negro II (2002); Kyra Sedgwick's role in Solteros (1992); and Heather Graham's role in the B-movie Adrift in Manhattan (2007). She also allegedly turned down a recurring role on the TV show Perdidos (2004), which was eventually played by Cynthia Watros and the role of Bree on the TV series Mujeres desesperadas (2004), which was eventually played by Marcia Cross.
She signed on for the film American Playboy (2009) but later backed out, and was replaced by Anne Heche.
She was one of several actresses considered by Jane Campion for the Holly Hunter role in El piano (1993), but she was unable to meet with her because she was shooting Hasta el límite (1991) at the time.
Dario Argento offered her the female lead in his film El síndrome de Stendhal (1996), but she turned it down. It was eventually played by his daughter Asia Argento.
She won the role in Washington Square (1997) over Meg Ryan and Anne Heche.
She won the role in El gran salto (1994) over Winona Ryder and Bridget Fonda.
Auditioned for the Nicole Kidman role in Todo por un sueño (1995).
Auditioned for the role of Catwoman in Batman vuelve (1992).
Moved in with Jack Black and Nicole Kidman during filming Margot y la boda (2007), because they wanted to perfect their roles as a dysfunctional family.
She has received three separate career tributes - at the Telluride Film Festival in 1993, a special award for her contribution to independent cinema from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2002, and a week-long retrospective showing of her film work held by the American Cinematheque at Los Angeles' Egyptian Theatre in June 2001.
Reportedly auditioned for the role of Violet in La pequeña (1978), but the part went to Brooke Shields instead.
Ex-daughter-in-law of Jonathan Baumbach.
Returned to work five months after giving birth to her son Rohmer in order to film her guest appearance on Weeds (2005).
Announced that she had filed for divorce from husband Noah Baumbach, citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking spousal support and primary custody of their son Rohmer (24 November 2010).
Was estranged from her father, Vic Morrow, at the time of his death. He left her $100 in his will.
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 48, a son Rohmer Emmanuel Baumbach on March 17, 2010. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Noah Baumbach.
Won two 1990 Critic Society awards for her portrayal of Tralala in Última salida Brooklyn(1989), and as Susan Waggoner in Miami Blues (1990).
Selected as one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women" by Harper's Bazaar Magazine, 1989.
Has an older sister, Carrie Ann Morrow, and a younger half-sister, actress Mina Badie. Her ex-stepfather is director Reza Badiyi.
Well-known in Hollywood for the exhausting research she does for each of her portrayals and for her affinity of playing lurid roles.
Had a small part in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). However, when its director Stanley Kubrickasked Jennifer to do some re-shoots, she was not available to do that. Her entire part was redone by another actress.
Born at 12:33pm-PST.
Jennifer lost weight down to 86 pounds for her role as an anorexic teenager in the TV-movie Una hija casi perfecta (1981).
In 1997, Jennifer appeared in Faith No More's music video "Last Cup of Sorrow". Its plot was derived from Alfred Hitchcock's film Vértigo. De entre los muertos (1958).
Jennifer's father, actor Vic Morrow, died during the filming of the movie En los límites de la realidad (1983). He was killed in a helicopter accident.
After reading the script for the movie Llamaradas (1991), Jennifer reportedly told its director, Ron Howard, that she wished that she could be the fire because it has the best part.
Jennifer attended the strict Stagedoor Manor summer camp in upstate New York which trains teenagers in acting, singing, and dancing. Jennifer's classmates include actor Zach Braff from NBC's Scrubs (2001), writer-director Todd Graff, and actress-singer Mandy Moore.
She is of entirely Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her paternal grandparents, Harry Morozoff and Jean Kress, were immigrants from Russia. Her maternal grandfather, Alexander Turner, was an immigrant from Austria, and her maternal grandmother, Pearl Pauline Zises, was born in New York, to Austrian-born parents.
Frequently worked with maverick director Robert Altman who, before his maverick days, worked with her father, Vic Morrow on the sixties television series Hazañas bélicas (1962).
Jennifer lived with Eric Stoltz for five years during the 80s.
Jennifer chose her second middle name "Jason" from that of her and her father's friend, the actor Jason Robards.
Jennifer has acted with three of the four acting Baldwin brother in five different movies: Miami Blues (1990) and Lymelife (2005) with Alec Baldwin; Última salida Brooklyn (1989) and La Sra. Parker y el círculo vicioso (1994) with Stephen Baldwin; and Llamaradas(1991) with William Baldwin.
Member of the jury at the "Venice Film Festival" in the year 2000.
Allegedly auditioned for the role of Sarah Connor in Terminator (1984) but director James Cameron considered her too young for the part. Linda Hamilton ended up playing the part.
The song "Jennifer Jason Leigh" by the punk band J Church has lyrics made up from interview quotes.
Has become somewhat famous for alleging to have turned down many roles in some popular movies: Jodie Foster's roles in Taxi Driver (1976), Acusados (1988), El silencio de los corderos (1991), Nell (1994), Contact (1997), Plan de vuelo: Desaparecida (2005) and Plan oculto (2006); the Brooke Shields'S roles in La pequeña (1978) and El lago azul(1980); Ally Sheedy roles in El club de los cinco (1985) and St. Elmo, punto de encuentro(1985); Laura San Giacomo's role in Sexo, mentiras y cintas de vídeo (1989), Julia Roberts's role in Pretty Woman (1990); Demi Moore's role in Ghost (Más allá del amor)(1990); Lori Petty role in Ellas dan el golpe (1992); Julianne Moore 's role in Boogie Nights (1997); Lucy Liu's role in Los ángeles de Charlie (2000); Jennifer Connelly's role in Una mente maravillosa (2001); Lara Flynn Boyle role in Hombres de negro II (2002); Kyra Sedgwick's role in Solteros (1992); and Heather Graham's role in the B-movie Adrift in Manhattan (2007). She also allegedly turned down a recurring role on the TV show Perdidos (2004), which was eventually played by Cynthia Watros and the role of Bree on the TV series Mujeres desesperadas (2004), which was eventually played by Marcia Cross.
She signed on for the film American Playboy (2009) but later backed out, and was replaced by Anne Heche.
She was one of several actresses considered by Jane Campion for the Holly Hunter role in El piano (1993), but she was unable to meet with her because she was shooting Hasta el límite (1991) at the time.
Dario Argento offered her the female lead in his film El síndrome de Stendhal (1996), but she turned it down. It was eventually played by his daughter Asia Argento.
She won the role in Washington Square (1997) over Meg Ryan and Anne Heche.
She won the role in El gran salto (1994) over Winona Ryder and Bridget Fonda.
Auditioned for the Nicole Kidman role in Todo por un sueño (1995).
Auditioned for the role of Catwoman in Batman vuelve (1992).
Moved in with Jack Black and Nicole Kidman during filming Margot y la boda (2007), because they wanted to perfect their roles as a dysfunctional family.
She has received three separate career tributes - at the Telluride Film Festival in 1993, a special award for her contribution to independent cinema from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2002, and a week-long retrospective showing of her film work held by the American Cinematheque at Los Angeles' Egyptian Theatre in June 2001.
Reportedly auditioned for the role of Violet in La pequeña (1978), but the part went to Brooke Shields instead.
Ex-daughter-in-law of Jonathan Baumbach.
Returned to work five months after giving birth to her son Rohmer in order to film her guest appearance on Weeds (2005).
Announced that she had filed for divorce from husband Noah Baumbach, citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking spousal support and primary custody of their son Rohmer (24 November 2010).
Was estranged from her father, Vic Morrow, at the time of his death. He left her $100 in his will.
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 48, a son Rohmer Emmanuel Baumbach on March 17, 2010. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Noah Baumbach.
Personal Quotes
I could never play the ingenue, the girl next door or the very successful young doctor. That would be a bore.
I could never play the ingenue, the girl next door or the very successful young doctor. That would be a bore.
[on her best friend, Phoebe Cates] Your best friend is the only one who would tell you the person you are in love with is a sexually ambivalent man-child.
I just don't plan things. I live a month at a time.
I'm a typical middle child. I'm the mediator. The one that makes everything OK, puts their own needs aside to make sure everybody's happy. It's hard to change your nature, even with years and years of therapy.
I like a movie that the audience actively has to participate in, and not just casually observe. Whatever my part in it, just as an audience member, I find that exciting.
People can have so many ill-conceived ideas about me based on the parts that I play. I've had guys, when I've been single, come out of the woodwork to date me and I've found out very quickly that they were expecting some kind of whirlwind, some dramatic crazy person - and that's just not me.
I'd much rather be in a movie that people have really strong feelings about than one that makes a hundred million dollars but you can't remember because it's just like all the others.
When I did Vidas cruzadas (1993) with Robert Altman, I went up to him on the first day and said 'Hi', and he said 'Hi, how are you? Could you get me a cup of coffee?' When I brought it back, it turned out he thought I was the PA. For him, I come alive on film. As a person, I don't really register that much. I mean, he loves me, I don't take it as a cut, although you could. But he says that as a person I disappear in a way. On film, I'm very mysterious, but in life I'm very dull. I don't feel like I'm dull, but I don't put out a lot.
But in mainstream movies the woman's role is mostly just to prove that the leading man is heterosexual. I'm not good at that, and I'm not interested in that.
I like the comparison to Johnny Depp because with him, the way he transforms himself from role to role, he's just this miraculous changeling and people really get behind it. But with me, people sometimes have a problem.
I think I live in this mythical world where doing the parts I do is not going to hurt me, and telling people my age is not going to hurt me. And it actually does. It's a bit sick-making but, you know, I can't change who I am.
[1992, on Llamaradas (1991)] Ron Howard was incredibly generous and patient with me. He pursued me with this role. And I failed him. Everybody had been telling me for so long that I should stop playing women who go through grueling experiences, but there was no place for me in that character. It taught me that I can't take a role I don't really connect with.
When my first movie, Aquel 'excitante' curso (1982), turned out to be this big hit, I was so innocent, I thought: all movies are hits. It took a couple of years to figure out that almost every movie I made after that didn't make money. Some of them haven't made money because they're not very good movies. It's not like I look at a project and go, 'Oh, this is going to be a box-office bomb. I want it!'
[1992, on Miami Blues (1990)] Working with Alec (Baldwin) was like being on a roller coaster. He's thrilling, incredibly funny, completely free, unashamed, trustful. It was one of those rare experiences where you really believe your fellow actor is the character he's playing. We didn't screw, of course, but our love scenes felt alive.
[1982: on the death of her father, actor Vic Morrow] I always hoped we could work together and, through that, resolve whatever needed to be resolved between us. Now that chance is lost. That's the real tragedy.
I remember I once went to a nutritionist who said I come from good Russian- Jewish peasant stock, which means I can hold a potato in my body for a week, if need be.
So much of the joy of seeing Quentin [Tarantino]'s movies is just how explosively imaginative they are, and how you don't really know where things are going, and you don't really know who's who and what's what and what the truth is.
I think I am talented -- but I also think I'm very lucky.
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