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Gena Rowlands Biography

Birth Name:Virginia Cathryn Rowlands

Birth Place:Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Profession Actress, Writer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival in 2008 for her talent, contributions to film and accomplishments as an actress
Premiere Magazine ranked her performance in "A Woman Under the Influence" as number 63 in its 100 Greatest Performances of All Time list in 2006
Studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts after attending the University of Wisconsin
Quote: "There are a lot of different opinions of what improvisation means - a lot of people think it means you just say anything you want to, whereas usually it's based on a storyline: you know what the thrust of the scene is, then it's rehearsed and turned into something․"
Collaborated on many films with her husband, actor and director John Cassavetes
After Cassavetes's death, began collaborating on projects with her son
Has stated that Maggie Gyllenhaal is her favorite actress
Is a sister of the Kappa Kappa Gamma women's fraternity
Took a two-year sabbatical from her career after her husband died in 1989
Will not allow the first version of John Cassavetes's film "Shadows" to be shown, and will not even acknowledge its existence

Awards

1971NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1974NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
1974NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1975KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1975Prize San Sebastián-Best Actress: winner
1978Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actress: winner
1978Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1981Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1981BSFC Award-Best Actress: winner
1981Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1984Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): winner
1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: winner
1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
1991ACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: winner
1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actress - Drama/Romance: nominated
1999Lone Star Film & Television Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2000New American Cinema Award-Citation of Excellence for Ensemble Cast Performance: winner
2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2004Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performer in a Children/Youth/Family Special: winner
2005Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
2005Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: winner
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: winner
2006Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2006Chainsaw Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2008Movies for Grownups Award-Breakaway Accomplishment: winner
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated