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Jessica Lange Biography

Birth Name:Jessica Phyllis Lange

Birth Place:Cloquet, Minnesota, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

Became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2003
Was named the recipient of the 2018 Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre by the Roundabout Theatre Company
Received the 2016 Krzysztof Kieslowski Award at Poland's Camerimage Festival
Worked as a waitress at the famed Lion's Head bar in New York's Greenwich Village
Studied mime with instructor Etienne DeCroux, and trained in dance with the Opera Comique
Quote: "Though my dark side is dormant right now, it continues to play a big role in whatever capacity I have to be creative--that's the well I'm able to tap into where all the anguish, rage and sadness are stored․"
Quote: "It took Sydney Pollack a long time to get me to do 'Tootsie․' I asked myself if I wanted to play some frothy, ditzy character after I had just done 'Frances․' Obviously, I'm thrilled that I did․"
Often portrays dark characters with troubled pasts
Wrote the 2013 children's book "It's About a Little Bird․"
While an aspiring actress, she lived with actresses and models Grace Jones and Jerry Hall

Awards

1977Golden Globe-Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Female: winner
1982Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Movie Performer (Mejor intérprete extranjero): nominated
1982KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1982LAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
1982NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1982NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1983Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1983Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
1983Bambi-Film - International: winner
1983BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1983David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
1983Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture: winner
1983Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1983Prize-Best Actress: winner
1983NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1983NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
1984BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1984Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
1984Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
1985Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1986Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1986NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1990Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1991NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1993Bronze Wrangler-Television Feature Film: winner
1994LAFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
1995Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1995CFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1995NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1996Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actress (Mejor Actriz Extranjera): winner
1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1998Stinker Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1999Razzie Award-Worst Actress: nominated
1999Best Actress-: winner
1999Yoga Award-Worst Foreign Actress: winner
2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2004Gracie-Individual Achievement for Best Female Lead - Drama - Special: winner
2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2009Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actress: nominated
2009INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2009OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2009Prism Award-Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2009Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2009WIN Award-Outstanding Actress Mini-Series / Made for Television Movie: nominated
2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2010Prism Award-Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2011Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Television: winner
2011Special Achievement Award-Outstanding Performance In A TV Series: winner
2012Saturn Award-Best Actress on Television: nominated
2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2012Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year: winner
2012Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: winner
2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2012IGN Award-Best TV Actress: nominated
2012INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2012NewNowNext Award-Cause You're Hot: nominated
2012OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2012TV Guide Award-Favorite Villain: nominated
2012TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
2013Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress on Television: nominated
2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2013Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actress: winner
2013Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2013INOCA TV-Best Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2013OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2013WIN Award-Outstanding Actress Made for Television Movie / Mini-Series: nominated
2014Saturn Award-Best Actress on Television: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: winner
2014Dorian Award-TV Musical Performance of the Year: nominated
2014Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actress: winner
2014Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: winner
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2014INOCA TV-Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2014Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series: nominated
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2014Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2015Saturn Award-Best Actress on Television: nominated
2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2015Dorian Award-TV Musical Performance of the Year: nominated
2015Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
2017ACCA TV-Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2017Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
2017INOCA TV-Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: nominated
2017OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: nominated
2017TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
2018Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2018Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: nominated
2018Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actress: nominated
2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2018PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2018Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actress of the Decade: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actress of the Decade: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: winner
2019INOCA TV-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2019OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Gold Derby TV Award-Limited/Movie Actress: nominated
2025Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: nominated