Jennifer Beals (born
December 19,
1963) is an
American film actress and former teen
model. She is known for her roles as Alexandra "Alex" Owens in the 1983 film
Flashdance, and as
Bette Porter on the
lesbian-themed
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 movies.
Biography
Early life
Beals was born in
Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Jeanne, an elementary school teacher, and Alfred Beals, who owned a grocery store.
[Jennifer Beals Biography (1963-)] Her father was
African-American and her mother was
Irish American.
[Soul of The L Word: we may argue about The L Word, but on this we all agree: Jennifer Beals takes our breath away. The star opens up about shooting sex scenes, being a new mom, and giving lesbians what they want | Advocate, The | Find Articles at BNET.com][Jennifer Beals's Grown-Up Sexuality][www.jewhoo.com/editor/sandler.html] She has two brothers, Bobby and Gregory.
[Jennifer Beals Biography | TVGuide.com] Her father died when Beals was ten years old and her mother re-married to Edward Cohen. Beals stated that her
biracial heritage had some impact on her, as she "always lived sort-of on the outside", with an idea "of being the other in society".
[Jennifer Beals Tackles Issues of Race, Sexuality on The L Word] She graduated from the progressive
Francis W. Parker School. During high school, she dated actor
Adam Baldwin. Beals 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, 1987.
[www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=2799] While at Yale, Beals was a resident of
Morse College.
[www.yaleherald.com/article-p.php?Article=2799]
Career
Beals had a minor role in the 1980 film
My Bodyguard, then came to fame with her starring part in
Flashdance. The third-highest grossing U.S. film of 1983, it was the story of 18-year-old Alex, a welder by day and exotic dancer by night, whose dream is to someday be accepted at an illustrious school of dance. Beals was cast for this key role while still a student at Yale. She was nominated for a Golden Globe and the film received an Academy Award for Best Song.
