Jennifer Connelly

JENNIFER CONNELLY

Date of Birth: December 12, 1970

Jennifer Connelly had a pretty normal upbringing, growing up in Brooklyn Heights where she attended Saint Ann School. However, at the age of ten, her striking beauty was already apparent and a family friend, who was an ad executive, suggested to her parents that she go into modeling.

The young Connelly signed on with the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency and began getting work in teen magazines, newspapers and eventually commercials. Her exposure on television brought her the opportunity to act. A casting agent noticed Connelly and introduced her to Sergio Leone, who was then casting the part of a young dancer in his movie Once Upon A Time in America. Soon, Connelly began landing roles in films such as Creepers, and the one that would make her a celebrity, Labyrinth, with David Bowie.

Connelly has experimented with different forms of entertainment, including appearing in a music video for Roy Orbison's I Drove All Night, with Jason Priestly. She has also recorded her own single, "Monologue of Love" in Japan, in which she sings in Japanese.

It was on the set of her movie The Rocketeer that the actress's love life got some attention. A relationship with Billy Campbell, who played the lead, resulted in a five-year engagement, followed by a painful breakup.

In 1997, Connelly had a son, Kai, with photographer David Dugan.

Connelly continues to pick unconventional roles as well as the odd mainstream movie role. She has been especially busy in the last few years, appearing in Requiem For A Dream, Pollock and the television series The $treet. In 2002, she earned her first Academy Award for her supporting role as the wife of brilliant schizophrenic John Forbes Nash, Jr. in A Beautiful Mind (2001). Some of her other notable film credits include Blood Diamond (2006), He's Just Not That Into You (2009) and Virginia (2012). She also starred in Noah (2014) alongside Russell Crowe. Following that, she starred in Aloft (2014), Noah (2014), Shelter (2014), directed by her husband Paul Bettany, and American Pastoral (2016) opposite Ewan McGregor.

Her latest credit is in the drama Only the Brave (2017) opposite Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin.

She married British actor Paul Bettany, who played Charles Herman in A Beautiful Mind, on January 1, 2003. Their son, Stellan, was born August 5, 2003. They've since worked together again, playing husband and wife in Creation (2010).

Filmography:

Only the Brave (2017)
American Pastoral (2016)
Shelter (2014)
Noah (2014)
Aloft (2014)
Winter's Tale (2014)
Stuck in Love (2012)
Salvation Boulevard (2011)
The Dilemma (2011)
Virginia (2010)
Creation (2009)
9 (2009)
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Inkheart (2008)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
Reservation Road (2007)
Blood Diamond (2006)
Little Children (2006)
Dark Water (2005)
House of Sand and Fog (2003)
Hulk (2003)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Pollock (2000)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Waking the Dead (2000)
Dark City (1998)
Inventing the Abbotts (1997)
Far Harbor (1996)
Mulholland Falls (1996)
Higher Learning (1995)
Of Love and Shadows (1994)
The Rocketeer (1991)
Career Opportunities (1991)
The Hot Spot (1990)
Étoile (1989)
Some Girls (1988)
Labyrinth (1986)
Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)
Phenomena (1985)
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)