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Virginia Madsen

Birth Name:
Virginia G. Madsen
Birth Place:
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Profession
Actress, Soundtrack, Producer
Virginia Madsen

Fast Facts

  • Was nominated for 27 awards for her role as Maya in "Sideways," 18 of which she won
  • Won a Saturn Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in "Candyman․"
  • Won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for "Sideways" in 2005
  • Won a Slate Award for Best Actress at the California Independent Film Festival in 2003 for her performance in "Artworks․"
  • Was born with heterochromia of the eyes, a genetic trait that results in different colored irises
  • Was inspired by her mother, an Emmy-winning poet who also worked as a PBS producer, to pursue a career in entertainment
  • Quote: "[Actors have] got to make a living․ People are going to do the pay the rent movie once in a while․ The important movies don't pay well․"
  • Quote: "Playing Lisa in 'Fire with Fire' is a perfect example of how I am, intense, impulsive, full of love and ready to risk it all if I have to․ Playing her was incredibly easy, as everything was just so natural․"
  • Became well-known in the 1980s after appearing in numerous teen cult hits including "Class" and "Hot to Trot" before transitioning to more dramatic roles in the early '90s
  • Went on to explore other avenues of filmmaking by creating her own production company, Title IX Productions, after attaining A-list status for her role in 2004's "Sideways,"
  • Admitted to being hypnotized during certain scenes of the horror film "Candyman" so that her pupils would remain dilated for lengthy periods of shooting

Awards

  • 1988ACE - Actress in a Movie or Miniseries:Nominated
  • 1988ACE - Actress in a Dramatic Series:Nominated
  • 1989ACE - Actress in a Movie or Miniseries:Nominated
  • 1992Chainsaw Award - Best Actress:Winner
  • 1993Saturn Award - Best Actress:Winner
  • 1993Best ActressWinner
  • 1996ACCA - Best Cast Ensemble:Nominated
  • 1996Chainsaw Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2002Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film:Winner
  • 2003Slate Award - Best Actress:Winner
  • 2004ACCA - Best Actress in a Supporting Role:Nominated
  • 2004ACCA - Best Cast Ensemble:Winner
  • 2004BSFC Award - Best Ensemble Cast:Winner
  • 2004CFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2004Golden Schmoes - Best Supporting Actress of the Year:Nominated
  • 2004LAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2004NYFCC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2004PFCS Award - Best Ensemble Acting:Winner
  • 2004SFFCC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2004Seattle Film Critics Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2004SEFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2004TFCA Award - Best Supporting Performance, Female:Winner
  • 2004UFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2004VVFP Award - Best Supporting Performance:Nominated
  • 2004WAFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2005Oscar - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:Nominated
  • 2005Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:Nominated
  • 2005Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:Winner
  • 2005COFCA Award - Best Ensemble:Nominated
  • 2005Chlotrudis Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2005Critics Choice Award - Best Acting Ensemble:Winner
  • 2005Critics Choice Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2005DFWFCA Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2005Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Female:Winner
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award - Ensemble Cast:Nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award - Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2005Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:Nominated
  • 2005INOCA - Best Ensemble Cast:Nominated
  • 2005INOCA - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2005IFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2005NSFC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2005OFTA Film Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2005OFTA Film Award - Best Ensemble:Winner
  • 2005OFCS Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2005Golden Satellite Award - Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical:Nominated
  • 2005VFCC Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
  • 2006Gotham Independent Film Award - Best Ensemble Performance:Nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award - Best Acting Ensemble:Nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby Film Award - Ensemble Cast:Nominated
  • 2010Chainsaw Award - Best Actress:Nominated
  • 2014Festival Award - Best Actress:Winner
  • 2022Festival Award - Best Ensemble Cast - Feature:Nominated
  • 2023Best Supporting Actress Award - Best Supporting Actress:Nominated
  • 2024Festival Prize - Best Actress:Winner
  • 2024UK Film Award - Best Supporting Actress:Winner
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