[Image Credit: Instagram]
Jennifer Beals is an American Actress and former adolescent model who made her film breakthrough in the 1980s My Bodyguard. She won the NAACP Image Award for Actress and was considered for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her part in Flashdance in 1983.
Learn more about her Biography, Affairs, Daughter, Weight, Films, News, and much more information.
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jennifer Beals |
| Nickname | Jennifer |
| Profession | American Actress |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 19 December 1963 |
| Age [as of 2021] | 58 years |
| Birth Place | South Side, Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Home town | South Side, Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Current City | Los Angeles, California, U.S |
| Nationality | Irish Americans |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Not known yet |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| High School | Francis W. Parker School |
| College | Yale University |
| Highest Qualification | B.A. in American Literature |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height | in centimeters- 173 cm in meters- 1.73 m in feet inches- 5'7" |
| Weight | in kilograms- 56 kg in pounds- 123 lbs |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Body Measurements | 24-27-35 inches |
| Relationships & Affairs | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | • Ex-Husband: Alexandre Rockwell • Current Husband: Ken Dixon |
| Family | |
| Parents | Father- Alfred Beals Stepfather- Edward Cohen Mother- Edward Cohen |
| Siblings | Brother- Bobby Beals & Gregory Beals |
| Children | One daughter |
| Income | |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $8 million |
| Social Media | |
| Visit Now | |
| Visit Now | |
Early Life/Biography
Beals was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 19, 1963. Beals was born and raised in Chicago, where she discovered her passion for acting while performing in her high school’s Fiddler on the Roof performance.
Beals’ first employment was working at a Baskin Robbins ice cream shop. Beals was 13 years old at the time, but she lied about her age to get the job.
Her father, Alfred Beals, was an African-American, and her mother, Jeanne, was an Irish-American. Robert and Gregory Beals are Beals’ two brothers. Beals believes that growing up; she felt like an outsider since she was of mixed race.
Jennifer’s father was a grocery shop owner who died when she was ten years old. Her mother remarried in 1981 after a career as a schoolteacher. Beals began modeling at the age of 16 to help pay for college.
She was featured in local print ads and catalogs. Beals collaborated with Victor Skrebneski, a photographer based in Chicago. Beals worked on the Illinois Teenage Institute on the Substantial Abuse board throughout her summer vacations.
Family
She was born to Alfred Beals, a grocery store owner, and Jeanne Beals, an elementary school teacher. Beals was taken to a black father and an Irish-American mother.
Bobby and Gregory, her two brothers, were her primary caregivers. When she was ten, her father died, and her mother married Edward Cohen in 1981.
Religion
Beals professes to be a spiritual being. Her mother was a Roman Catholic, but Beals is practicing Buddhism despite claiming to be a student of several religions.
In 2011, Beals met with the Dalai Lama and made a speech about the role of art in healing religious divides.
Education
Beals enrolled in the progressive Francis W. Parker School and later graduated there. After that, she was accepted into the prestigious Goodman Theatre Young People’s Drama Workshop.
She eventually attended Yale University, finishing with a B.A. in American Literature in 1987; however, she was deferred to film Flashdance. She lived at Morse College during her time at Yale.
Career
Jennifer Beals is a well-known actress. Beals’ career began while she was still completing her schooling at Yale when she was cast in films. Her debut film appearance was in the 1980 American comedy-drama ‘My Bodyguard,’ where she played a minor role.
She also starred in the romantic comedy ‘Flashdance.’ Her outstanding portrayal as Alex Owens, which earned her an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination in 1983, catapulted her to fame.
She later starred in ‘The Bride,’ a horror film based mainly on Mary Shelley’s classic novel ‘Frankenstein.’ After the film’s failure, she received a nomination for the ‘Razzie Award’ for Worst Actress.
After finishing her Yale studies, she was cast in the film ‘Split Decisions,’ a boxing film. She played the main character’s love interest in the movie, directed by David Drury.
Her performance as a ravenous vampire in the film ‘Vampire’s Kiss’ earned her praise. Robert Bierman directed the picture, and it’s about a mentally ill man who believes he was bitten by a vampire, which worsens his condition. Despite its commercial failure, the picture became a cult favorite.
‘Dr. M’ (1990), ‘In the Soup’ (1992), ‘The Thief and the Cobbler’ (1993), ‘The Search for One-Eye Jimmy’ (1994), and ‘Four Rooms’ were among the other films in which Beals appeared (1995).
She was also approached for the character of Catwoman in the 1992 picture ‘Batman Returns,’ but she turned down the position.
She later received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her role in the American mystery film ‘Devil in Blue Dress.’ Carl Franklin directed the picture based on Walter Mosley’s novel of the same name.
She also starred in several other films, including ‘Wishful Thinking’ (1997), ‘Militia’ (2000), ‘Troubled Waters’ (2006), and ‘The Book of Eli’ (2007). (2010).
She appeared in various television episodes and films, including ‘2000 Malibu Road,’ ‘Indecency,’ and ‘The Outer Limits.’ She earned the ‘Satellite Award’ for Best Actress in the 1997 TV movie ‘The Twilight of the Golds.’
She had a prominent role on television in the drama series ‘The L Word,’ which follows a group of lesbians, their friends, and their lifestyles.
The show aired on the Showtime television network (2004-2009). Her performance was well-received by the crowd, and she received two award nominations as a result.
Her achievement on ‘The L Word’ led to significant roles on other TV shows like ‘The Chicago Code,’ an American crime drama TV series, and ‘Proof,’ another American TV series.
Her most recent television role is in the action thriller drama series ‘Taken,’ which premiered in 2017. She also appeared in the 2016 American crime film ‘Manhattan Night,’ directed by DeCubellis, and the 2017 American drama film ‘Before I Fall,’ directed by Ry Russo-Young.
‘Devil in a Blue Dress,’ a considerable effort in Beals’ career, also featured her. The film is directed by Carl Franklin and is based on Walter Mosley’s novel of the same title.
The film earned a divided response from critics. Beals was nominated for her performance for an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress.
‘Manhattan Night,’ a 2016 American crime thriller, is one of Jennifer Beals’ recent notable works. The film is based on Colin Harrison’s novel ‘Manhattan Nocturne,’ published in 1996.
The movie aired on May 20, 2016, and starred Adrien Broy, Yvonne Strahovski, and Campbell Scott.
‘The L Word,’ a television drama series depicting the lives of a group of lesbians, is often recognized as Beals’ most influential television production.
The show premiered on Showtime TV Network in 2004 and continued for five years until 2009. The concert was a big success all over the world, and it also won Beals two nominations for awards.
Another notable effort in Beals’ career was her appearance in ‘The Chicago Code,’ an American crime drama series. The show premiered in February 2011 but was canceled in May due to various factors.
The show received largely positive feedback from critics. Even though it only aired briefly, it gained popularity and was broadcast in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Achievements and Awards
Jennifer Beals has garnered a slew of accolades. She has two Bravo Ottos to her credit (1983,1985).
For her portrayal in Flashdance, Beals earned an Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture in 1984.
Beals took home the Jupiter Award for Best International Actress (1983). For her portrayal in The Twilight of the Golds, Beals earned a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for TV in 1998. Beals got a GLAAD award for her portrayal in The L Word (2005).
For her portrayal in Flashdance, Beals received a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. For Flashdance, Beals was also nominated for a Golden Globe.
Relationship, Husband, and Affairs
Jennifer Rockwell married Alexandre Rockwell, an independent movie director, in a secret ceremony in New York in 1986. Later, in 1996, she divorced her husband for no apparent reason.
Jennifer Beals later ended the relationship and married Ken Dixon, an entrepreneur. After dating in 1997, the couple married on June 21, 1998.
Jennifer Beals’s Children
In 2005, the couple welcomed their first child, a girl. She has two children from a previous marriage as well.
Physical Appearance
She stands at 5 feet and 7 inches, and she has a fit body type and has maintained her figure. Her body weight is 56 kg, and her body measurements are 24-27-35. Her eyes are dark brown, and her hair is brown.
Net Worth
Jennifer Beals is a well-known actress. Beals is estimated to have a net worth of $8 million dollars.
Interesting Facts about Jennifer Beals
- In the 1980s, My Bodyguard made her film debut as an uncredited extra.
- In her 1983 blockbuster, Flashdance, she didn’t do any actual dancing.
- However, the baggy, off-the-shoulder sweatshirt appearance she wore became a trend.
- Jennifer Beals was nominated for the role of Dana Scully in The X-Files, starring David Duchovny, a Yale classmate.
- She is a passionate photographer.
- In October 2005, she gave birth to a girl with her husband Ken Dixon, who played art curator Bette Porter in the trailblazing lesbian drama The L Word.
- She authored The L Word Book, a behind-the-scenes photography journal that supports various charities.
Disabilities and Illnesses
In the 1990s, Beals was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, lupus, and thyroiditis. Beals was left with persistent weariness as a result of this.
Alternative medicine, as well as nutritional and fitness routines, have been used to treat her.
Present Days
Today, the actress’s life is full of adventures; she is a fascinating and active person who routinely participates in events promoting women’s rights protection.
The actress enjoys photography and didn’t want her acting profession to interfere with her pastime, so she showed her work underneath Jennifer Dixon’s name. Aside from that, the star enjoys triathlon and stays healthy.
Hobbies
Beals incorporates Yoga and Pilates into her exercise routine. She also likes to go hiking. Beals is also passionate about photography and has published some of her work.
Her passion for photography started in high school. Beals was in New York at the time of 9/11, and he captured the events of that day on film.
Later, Beals gave her images to a charity raising money for the victims of the assaults.
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