Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963, height 5' 8½" (1,74 m)) is an American actress and a former teen model. She is known for her roles as 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. Beals was born on the South Side of Chicago, the daughter of Jeanne (née Anderson), an elementary school teacher, and Alfred Beals, who owned grocery stores. She is multiracial; her father was African American, and her mother is Irish American. She has two brothers, Bobby and Gregory.Her father died when Beals was nine years old, and her mother married Edward Cohen in 1981. 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". 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. 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. Beals graduated from the progressive Francis W. Parker School. She also was chosen to attend the elite Goodman Theatre Young People's Drama Workshop. Beals attended Yale University, receiving a B.A. in American literature ...

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The Book of Eli (2010)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Allen Hughes  •  Albert Hughes
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Gary Oldman  •  Michael Gambon  •  Mila Kunis

A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Allen Hughes  •  Albert Hughes
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Gary Oldman  •  Michael Gambon  •  Mila Kunis

Catch That Kid (2004)

Athletic 12-year-old Maddy (Kristen Stewart) shares an enthusiasm for mountain climbing with her father, Tom (Sam Robards). Unfortunately, Tom suffers a spinal injury while scaling Mount Everest, and his family is unable to afford the surgery that can save him. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bart Freundlich
CAST:  Kristen Stewart  •  Corbin Bleu  •  Max Thieriot  •  Jennifer Beals

Athletic 12-year-old Maddy (Kristen Stewart) shares an enthusiasm for mountain climbing with her father, Tom (Sam Robards). Unfortunately, Tom suffers a spinal injury while scaling Mount Everest, and his family is unable to afford the surgery that can save him. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bart Freundlich
CAST:  Kristen Stewart  •  Corbin Bleu  •  Max Thieriot  •  Jennifer Beals

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

In late 1940s Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins is an unemployed black World War II veteran with few job prospects. At a bar, Easy meets DeWitt Albright, a mysterious white man looking for someone to investigate the disappearance of a missing white woman named Daphne Monet ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carl Franklin
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Tom Sizemore  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Don Cheadle

In late 1940s Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins is an unemployed black World War II veteran with few job prospects. At a bar, Easy meets DeWitt Albright, a mysterious white man looking for someone to investigate the disappearance of a missing white woman named Daphne Monet ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carl Franklin
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Tom Sizemore  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Don Cheadle

Flashdance (1983)

Alex Owens, a teen juggling between two odd jobs, aspires to become a successful ballet dancer. Nick, who is her boss and lover, supports and encourages her to fulfil her dream.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adrian Lyne
CAST:  Jennifer Beals  •  Michael Nouri  •  Lilia Skala  •  Kyle T. Heffner

Alex Owens, a teen juggling between two odd jobs, aspires to become a successful ballet dancer. Nick, who is her boss and lover, supports and encourages her to fulfil her dream.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adrian Lyne
CAST:  Jennifer Beals  •  Michael Nouri  •  Lilia Skala  •  Kyle T. Heffner

Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)

Dorothy Parker remembers the heyday of the Algonquin Round Table, a circle of friends whose barbed wit, like hers, was fueled by alcohol and flirted with despair.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rudolph
CAST:  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Campbell Scott  •  Matthew Broderick  •  Gwyneth Paltrow

Dorothy Parker remembers the heyday of the Algonquin Round Table, a circle of friends whose barbed wit, like hers, was fueled by alcohol and flirted with despair.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rudolph
CAST:  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Campbell Scott  •  Matthew Broderick  •  Gwyneth Paltrow

My Bodyguard (1980)

InspiringClassicDramaticThought provoking

Clifford Peach, an easygoing teenager, is finding less than easy to fit in at his new high school, where a tough-talking bully terrorizes his classmates and extorts their lunch money. Refusing to pay up, Clifford enlist the aid of an overgrown misfit whose mere ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Bill
CAST:  Chris Makepeace  •  Adam Baldwin  •  Matt Dillon  •  Martin Mull

Clifford Peach, an easygoing teenager, is finding less than easy to fit in at his new high school, where a tough-talking bully terrorizes his classmates and extorts their lunch money. Refusing to pay up, Clifford enlist the aid of an overgrown misfit whose mere ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Bill
CAST:  Chris Makepeace  •  Adam Baldwin  •  Matt Dillon  •  Martin Mull

Roger Dodger (2002)

FunnyCuteEnjoyableCrude

A smooth-talking ad executive attributes his remarkable success with women to his ability to manipulate their emotions from the moment he first meets them. When his teenage nephew drops in for a visit, he soon learns that his approach isn't as foolproof as he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dylan Kidd
CAST:  Campbell Scott  •  Jesse Eisenberg  •  Isabella Rossellini  •  Elizabeth Berkley

A smooth-talking ad executive attributes his remarkable success with women to his ability to manipulate their emotions from the moment he first meets them. When his teenage nephew drops in for a visit, he soon learns that his approach isn't as foolproof as he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dylan Kidd
CAST:  Campbell Scott  •  Jesse Eisenberg  •  Isabella Rossellini  •  Elizabeth Berkley

The Anniversary Party (2001)

While celebrating their reconciliation and six years of marriage, the American actress Sally Nash and the British novelist Joe Therrian receive their close friends, some colleagues and their next door neighbors in a party. Under the effect of Ecstasy, revelations ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Alan Cumming
CAST:  Alan Cumming  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  John Benjamin Hickey  •  Parker Posey

While celebrating their reconciliation and six years of marriage, the American actress Sally Nash and the British novelist Joe Therrian receive their close friends, some colleagues and their next door neighbors in a party. Under the effect of Ecstasy, revelations ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Alan Cumming
CAST:  Alan Cumming  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  John Benjamin Hickey  •  Parker Posey

The Bride (1985)

After years of research Doctor Frankenstein finally succeeds in creating the perfect woman, whom he names Eva.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Franc Roddam
CAST:  Sting  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Anthony Higgins  •  Clancy Brown

After years of research Doctor Frankenstein finally succeeds in creating the perfect woman, whom he names Eva.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Franc Roddam
CAST:  Sting  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Anthony Higgins  •  Clancy Brown

The Grudge 2 (2006)

A young woman encounters a malevolent supernatural force while searching for her missing sister in Tokyo, a mean high school prank goes horribly wrong, and strange things begin happening in a Chicago apartment building.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Shimizu
CAST:  Sarah Michelle Gellar  •  Amber Tamblyn  •  Edison Chen  •  Arielle Kebbel

A young woman encounters a malevolent supernatural force while searching for her missing sister in Tokyo, a mean high school prank goes horribly wrong, and strange things begin happening in a Chicago apartment building.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Shimizu
CAST:  Sarah Michelle Gellar  •  Amber Tamblyn  •  Edison Chen  •  Arielle Kebbel

The Last Days of Disco (1998)

Two young women and their friends spend spare time at an exclusive nightclub in 1980s New York.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Whit Stillman
CAST:  Chloë Sevigny  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Chris Eigeman  •  Mackenzie Astin

Two young women and their friends spend spare time at an exclusive nightclub in 1980s New York.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Whit Stillman
CAST:  Chloë Sevigny  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Chris Eigeman  •  Mackenzie Astin

The Thief and the Cobbler (1993)

It is written among the limitless constellations of the celestial heavens, and in the depths of the emerald seas, and upon every grain of sand in the vast deserts, that the world which we see is an outward and visible dream, of an inward and invisible reality .. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Williams
CAST:  Matthew Broderick  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Anthony Quayle  •  Vincent Price

It is written among the limitless constellations of the celestial heavens, and in the depths of the emerald seas, and upon every grain of sand in the vast deserts, that the world which we see is an outward and visible dream, of an inward and invisible reality .. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Williams
CAST:  Matthew Broderick  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Anthony Quayle  •  Vincent Price

Vampire's Kiss (1988)

A publishing executive is visited and bitten by a vampire and starts exhibiting erratic behavior. He pushes his secretary to extremes as he tries to come to terms with his affliction. The vampire continues to visit and drink his blood, and as his madness deepens, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Bierman
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  María Conchita Alonso  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Elizabeth Ashley

A publishing executive is visited and bitten by a vampire and starts exhibiting erratic behavior. He pushes his secretary to extremes as he tries to come to terms with his affliction. The vampire continues to visit and drink his blood, and as his madness deepens, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Bierman
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  María Conchita Alonso  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Elizabeth Ashley

Four Rooms (1995)

It's Ted the Bellhop's first night on the job...and the hotel's very unusual guests are about to place him in some outrageous predicaments. It seems that this evening's room service is serving up one unbelievable happening after another.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Quentin Tarantino  •  Allison Anders  •  Robert Rodriguez  •  Alexandre Rockwell
CAST:  Quentin Tarantino  •  Antonio Banderas  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Sammi Davis

It's Ted the Bellhop's first night on the job...and the hotel's very unusual guests are about to place him in some outrageous predicaments. It seems that this evening's room service is serving up one unbelievable happening after another.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Quentin Tarantino  •  Allison Anders  •  Robert Rodriguez  •  Alexandre Rockwell
CAST:  Quentin Tarantino  •  Antonio Banderas  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Sammi Davis

Runaway Jury (2003)

GrippingSmartSuspensefulEnjoyable

A juror on the inside and a woman on the outside manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Fleder
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Rachel Weisz  •  Gene Hackman  •  Bruce McGill

A juror on the inside and a woman on the outside manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Fleder
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Rachel Weisz  •  Gene Hackman  •  Bruce McGill

That's Dancing! (1985)

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s 50s and 60s up to the break dance and the music videos from the 80s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Haley Jr.
CAST:  Mikhail Baryshnikov  •  Ray Bolger  •  Sammy Davis Jr.  •  Gene Kelly

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s 50s and 60s up to the break dance and the music videos from the 80s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Haley Jr.
CAST:  Mikhail Baryshnikov  •  Ray Bolger  •  Sammy Davis Jr.  •  Gene Kelly

13 Moons (2002)

Things aren't looking so good for television clown Banana's career, and the fact that his estranged wife, Suzi, has just been arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, Lily, just serves to compound Banana's despair.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alexandre Rockwell
CAST:  Rose Rollins  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Elizabeth Bracco  •  Steve Buscemi

Things aren't looking so good for television clown Banana's career, and the fact that his estranged wife, Suzi, has just been arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, Lily, just serves to compound Banana's despair.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alexandre Rockwell
CAST:  Rose Rollins  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Elizabeth Bracco  •  Steve Buscemi

The Prophecy II (1998)

Gabriel returns to try to destroy the human race he despises so much, with the help of a suicidal teen and the opposition of the angel Daniel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Greg Spence
CAST:  Christopher Walken  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Brittany Murphy  •  Eric Roberts

Gabriel returns to try to destroy the human race he despises so much, with the help of a suicidal teen and the opposition of the angel Daniel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Greg Spence
CAST:  Christopher Walken  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Brittany Murphy  •  Eric Roberts

Dr. M (1990)

In the not-too-distant future Berlin is shocked by a series of spectacular suicides; a policeman's investigations lead him to a beautiful, enigmatic woman and the revelation of a sinister plot to manipulate the population through mass hypnosis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Claude Chabrol
CAST:  Alan Bates  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Jan Niklas  •  Hanns Zischler

In the not-too-distant future Berlin is shocked by a series of spectacular suicides; a policeman's investigations lead him to a beautiful, enigmatic woman and the revelation of a sinister plot to manipulate the population through mass hypnosis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Claude Chabrol
CAST:  Alan Bates  •  Jennifer Beals  •  Jan Niklas  •  Hanns Zischler

The Twilight of the Golds (1996)

When Suzanne Stein has a genetic analysis done on her unborn child, she discovers that although she has a healthy baby, the child will most likely be born gay, like her brother, David. She must decide whether to keep the child, or to have an abortion. Her family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ross Kagan Marks
CAST:  Garry Marshall  •  Faye Dunaway  •  Jon Tenney  •  Jill Bernstein

When Suzanne Stein has a genetic analysis done on her unborn child, she discovers that although she has a healthy baby, the child will most likely be born gay, like her brother, David. She must decide whether to keep the child, or to have an abortion. Her family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ross Kagan Marks
CAST:  Garry Marshall  •  Faye Dunaway  •  Jon Tenney  •  Jill Bernstein
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