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Jessica Lange Biography

Birth Name:
Jessica Phyllis Lange
Birth Place:
Cloquet, Minnesota, United States
Profession
Actor

Fast Facts

  • Won an art scholarship to the University of Minnesota, but dropped out to marry and travel with Spanish photographer Paco Grande
  • Became interested in acting through studying mime in Paris with Etienne Decroux, Marcel Marceau's teacher
  • Worked as a model for the Wilhelmina Agency and from that was asked to audition for the 1976 remake of King Kong
  • Breakthrough role was as a femme fatale opposite Jack Nicholson in The Postman Always Rings Twice in 1981
  • Became the first actress in over four decades to be nominated for Best Actress (Frances) and Best Supporting Actress (Tootsie) at the Academy Awards in the same year (1982)
  • Made Broadway debut in a 1992 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire; has memorably played Tennessee Williams' three greatest heroines: Blanche DuBois (Streetcar); Maggie (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof); and Amanda Wingfield (The Glass Menagerie)
  • Made first appearance as a TV regular on American Horror Story in 2011
  • Is an accomplished photographer and has published two books of photos (50 Photographs; In Mexico)
  • Is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF
  • Has a Celtic knot tattooed on her left wrist

Awards

  • 2019Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
  • 2017Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2015Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2015Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2014Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series: winner
  • 2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2013Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2012Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2012Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2012Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2011Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2011Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2011Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2009Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2003Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1996Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress for a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1994Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1994Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1993Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Actress: winner
  • 1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1989Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1985Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1984Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1984BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1983Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1983Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 1982Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 1982Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1982New York Film Critics Circle-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1977Golden Globe-New Star of the Year - Actress: winner

Relationships