Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh, born Jennifer Leigh Morrow on February 5, 1962, is an esteemed American actress with a diverse career spanning both television and film. She rose to prominence in the 1980s with her breakout role in the teen film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982). Throughout her career, Leigh has garnered critical acclaim for her performances in various notable films, including "Last Exit to Brooklyn" (1989), "Miami Blues" (1990), "Backdraft" (1991), "Single White Female" (1992), and "Short Cuts" (1993). Her portrayal of Dorothy Parker in "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" (1994) earned her a Golden Globe nomination.


In addition to her film work, Leigh starred in "Georgia" (1995), a film written by her mother, screenwriter Barbara Turner. She also ventured into co-writing and co-directing with Alan Cumming for the film "The Anniversary Party" (2001). Leigh continued to showcase her talent in various genres, including the crime drama "Road to Perdition" (2002) and the family drama "Margot at the Wedding" (2007). Her versatility extended to television, where she had a recurring role on the Showtime comedy-drama series "Weeds" (2009–2012).


Leigh received critical acclaim for her voice work in Charlie Kaufman's animated film "Anomalisa" (2015). Her role as fugitive Daisy Domergue in Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" (2015) earned her nominations for both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. From 2017 to 2021, she starred in the Netflix comedy-drama series "Atypical," while also appearing in science fiction films such as "Annihilation" (2018) and "Possessor" (2020). Most recently, Leigh starred in the fifth season of the crime drama series "Fargo" (2023–2024).


In addition to her screen work, Leigh has also made significant contributions to the stage. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her off-Broadway performance as Beverly Moss in Mike Leigh's "Abigail's Party." Her Broadway debut occurred in 1998 when she assumed the role of Sally Bowles in the musical "Cabaret." Throughout her career, Leigh has consistently showcased her talent and versatility, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood's most respected actresses.


Jennifer Jason Leigh was born in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Vic Morrow, was an actor, and her mother, Barbara Turner, was a screenwriter. Morrow's birth name was Victor Morozoff, and Turner was of Jewish descent, with her family originating from Russia and Austria. Leigh's parents divorced when she was two years old. She has an older sister, Carrie Ann Morrow, who worked as a technical advisor on Leigh's 1995 film "Georgia." Tragically, Carrie Ann Morrow passed away in 2016. Leigh also has a half-sister named Mina Badie, who is an actress, from her mother's second marriage to film director Reza Badiyi. Reza Badiyi became Leigh's stepfather upon marrying Barbara Turner.


Jennifer Jason Leigh's early acting career included a nonspeaking role in the film "Death of a Stranger" (also known as "The Execution") in 1973. At the age of 14, she attended acting workshops with Lee Strasberg and the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Her early film roles included "The Young Runaways" (1978) and a portrayal of an anorexic teenager in the television film "The Best Little Girl in the World," for which she underwent significant weight loss under medical supervision.


Leigh made her film debut in 1981 with a challenging role as a blind, deaf, and mute rape victim in the slasher film "Eyes of a Stranger." She left school to pursue this opportunity. Her breakthrough role came in 1982 when she played a pregnant teenager in Amy Heckerling's iconic high school film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Despite criticisms of the film's writing, Leigh's performance received praise from critics, including Roger Ebert, who recognized her as a rising star.
Following "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," Leigh continued to portray complex and often troubled characters in films such as "Easy Money" (1983) alongside Rodney Dangerfield, "Flesh and Blood" (1985), "The Hitcher" (1986), "Sister, Sister" (1987), and "Heart of Midnight" (1989). These roles established her as a versatile actress capable of portraying a wide range of emotions and personalities.


Jennifer Jason Leigh experienced a significant career breakthrough in 1990 when she received critical acclaim for her portrayals of two very different prostitutes: the tough streetwalker Tralala in "Last Exit to Brooklyn" and Susie, a prostitute who falls in love with an ex-convict in "Miami Blues." For these roles, she won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress.


Despite the success, Leigh faced criticism and praise for her portrayal of complex characters. Roger Ebert praised her performance in "Last Exit to Brooklyn," calling it brave, while also criticizing her ability to play dumb roles in "Miami Blues." Entertainment Weekly dubbed her "the Meryl Streep of bimbos," recognizing her versatility in portraying a wide range of characters.


Leigh continued to showcase her talent in a variety of roles throughout the 1990s. She starred in mainstream Hollywood films like "Backdraft" (1991) and "Single White Female" (1992), where she received further acclaim for her performances. Leigh's portrayal of Sadie Flood in "Georgia" (1995) earned her widespread praise, with critics highlighting her powerful and risk-taking performance.


Throughout the decade, Leigh collaborated with independent film directors, including Robert Altman and the Coen Brothers. She received award nominations for her roles in films like "Short Cuts" (1993), "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" (1994), and "Washington Square" (1997). Leigh's versatility and dedication to her craft solidified her reputation as one of the most talented actresses of her generation.

References

1.  "Jennifer Jason Leigh - Movies, TV Shows & Son - Biography". March 30, 2021.
2. ^ "Jennifer Jason Leigh Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
3. Tobias, Scott (November 21, 2007). "Interview: Jennifer Jason Leigh". The Onion A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
4. Williams, Zoe (March 12, 2005). "What you see and what you get". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
5. Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1999
6. ^ "Actor Eulogized For Finest Performance". The Tuscaloosa News. July 27, 1982. p. 20. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
7. ^ "Age: A State of Mind". San Jose Mercury News. August 10, 1992. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
8. ^ Donnelley, Paul (2003). Fade to Black: A Book of Movie Obituaries. Omnibus. p. 504. ISBN 0-7119-9512-5.
9. ^ Interfaith Family: "Interfaith Celebrities: Santa's Jewish Family, and Margot at the Wedding's Near-Minyan" Archived July 13, 2019, at the Wayback Machine By Nate Bloom. November 22, 2007
10. ^ Friedman, Gabe (February 26, 2016). "5 incredible Jewish stories behind this year's Oscars". JTA.org. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
11. ^ "Good Time". AMC Theatres. August 11, 2017. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Her father was of Russian Jewish descent and her mother was of Austrian Jewish ancestry.
12. ^ Sister's passing mentioned by Leigh in Marc Maron WTF Podcast interview on August 17, 2017 [1] Archived August 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
13. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1982). "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
14. ^ "New York Film Critics Circle Awards: 1990". New York Film Critics Circle. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.