Jennifer Jason Leigh

Biography

Jennifer Jason Leigh (born Jennifer Leigh Morrow) is an acclaimed American actress known for her versatility and commitment to challenging, often unconventional roles across film and television.

Biography and Early Career

Born on February 5, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, Leigh comes from a show business family: her father, Vic Morrow, was an actor, and her mother, Barbara Turner, was a screenwriter. After her parents' divorce when she was two, she later adopted the middle name "Jason" to honor actor Jason Robards, a family friend, when she began acting.

She started her career on television in the 1970s. A notable early project was the 1981 television film The Best Little Girl in the World, where she portrayed an anorexic teenager, a role for which she dramatically lost weight. Her film breakthrough came in 1982 with the classic teen film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, where she played the role of Stacy Hamilton.

Career Highlights and Notable Works

Leigh quickly established herself as a fearless actress willing to tackle dark and complex characters, often collaborating with esteemed directors in both independent and major studio films.

Key Film Performances

Breakout and Acclaim (1989-1992):

She earned significant critical praise, including the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her roles in films like Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) and Miami Blues (1990).

She gained wider mainstream recognition for her role as the disturbed roommate Hedra 'Hedy' Carlson in the surprise box-office success Single White Female (1992), for which she won an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.

Continued Critical Success (1994-Present):

Leigh was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of the legendary writer Dorothy Parker in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994).

She continued to receive praise for her work in films like Dolores Claiborne (1995), Georgia (1995), Road to Perdition (2002), and the animated feature Anomalisa (2015), where she provided a voice performance.

In 2015, she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as 'Crazy' Daisy Domergue in Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight.

Beyond Acting

In addition to her acting roles, Leigh has also worked as a producer, writer, and director. She notably co-wrote, co-directed, and co-produced the 2001 film The Anniversary Party with Alan Cumming. She also produced and co-wrote the 2010 film Greenberg, in which she co-starred.