Jennifer Beals

Biography

Jennifer Beals, born in Chicago in 1963, is an American actress who first appeared on screen in My Bodyguard (1980) before gaining fame in Flashdance (1983). Her performance as Alexandra Owens brought critical acclaim, an NAACP Image Award, and a Golden Globe nomination. She studied American Literature at Yale University, graduating in 1987, and trained at the Goodman Theatre Young People's Drama Workshop. Her later films include Vampire's Kiss (1988), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Four Rooms (1995), The Last Days of Disco (1998), Roger Dodger (2002), Runaway Jury (2003), The Book of Eli (2010), Before I Fall (2017), After (2019), and Luckiest Girl Alive (2022). On television, she played Bette Porter in The L Word from 2004 to 2009, earning a Satellite Award nomination, and returned as the character while executive producing The L Word: Generation Q from 2019 to 2023. She also starred in The Chicago Code, Proof, and Taken.

62years old

Turns 63 on December 19in 68 days

Born December 19, 1963Chicago
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21

Movie Career

Films: 36
Career span: 39 years1983 to 2022

Genres

Drama61%, 22 films
Comedy33%, 12 films
Thriller22%, 8 films
Crime17%, 6 films
Mystery17%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Own stunts
In her dance scenes, Beals's elaborate moves were performed by dance double Marine Jahan, while gymnast Sharon Shapiro served as a body double for the flips.
A role that slipped away
Joel Schumacher asked Beals to do St. Elmo's Fire, but she turned it down because she preferred to stay at Yale.
A role that slipped away
Beals said no when asked to appear on Dancing with the Stars, explaining that she is not a dancer and would not do it even if a truck full of cash arrived at her door.
First role
Beals's first television series was 2000 Malibu Road in 1992, where she played attorney Perry Quinn, a job she had been leery of taking.

Jennifer Beals movies on Netflix

Luckiest Girl Alive2022IMDb rating 6.4as Lolo Vincent
After2019IMDb rating 5.3as Karen Gibson
The White Orchid2018IMDb rating 5.4as Vivian
Before I Fall2017IMDb rating 6.4as Julie Kingston
Manhattan Night2016IMDb rating 6.2as Lisa Wren
Full Out2015IMDb rating 6.3as Coach Valorie Kondos-Field
A Wife's Nightmare2014IMDb rating 5.7as Liz
Cinemanovels2013IMDb rating 5.3as Clementine
A Night for Dying Tigers2010IMDb rating 5.2as Melanie
The Book of Eli2010IMDb rating 6.8as Claudia
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas2010IMDb rating 5.6as Angela Fox
Queen to Play2009IMDb rating 6.9as L'Américaine
The Grudge 22006IMDb rating 5.1as Trish
Catch That Kid2004IMDb rating 5.2as Molly
Runaway Jury2003IMDb rating 7.1as Vanessa Lembeck
Roger Dodger2002IMDb rating 6.8as Sophie
They Shoot Divas, Don't They?2002IMDb rating 4.9as Sloan McBride
The Anniversary Party2001IMDb rating 6.3as Gina Taylor
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying1999IMDb rating 4.3as Jessica
Wishful Thinking1999IMDb rating 5.0as Elizabeth
The Last Days of Disco1998IMDb rating 6.7as Nina
The Prophecy II1998IMDb rating 5.7as Valerie Rosales
The Twilight of the Golds1996IMDb rating 6.4as Suzanne Stein
Devil in a Blue Dress1995IMDb rating 6.8as Daphne Monet
Four Rooms1995IMDb rating 6.7as Angela (segments "The Wrong Man", "The Man from Hollywood")
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle1994IMDb rating 6.4as Gertrude Benchley
The Search for One-eye Jimmy1994IMDb rating 6.0as Ellen
Caro diario1993IMDb rating 7.2as Jennifer Beals
The Thief and the Cobbler1993IMDb rating 7.1as Princess YumYum (Miramax version)
In the Soup1992IMDb rating 7.1as Angelica Pena
Blood and Concrete1991IMDb rating 5.8as Mona
Dr. M1990IMDb rating 4.9as Sonja Vogler
Vampire's Kiss1988IMDb rating 6.1as Rachel
That's Dancing!1985IMDb rating 7.2
The Bride1985IMDb rating 5.4as Eva
Flashdance1983IMDb rating 6.2as Alex Owens

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Book of Eli2010 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Claudia
IMDb rating 6.8364K votes
Four Rooms1995 Comedy, Crimeas Angela (segments "The Wrong Man", "The Man from Hollywood")
IMDb rating 6.7118K votes
Flashdance1983as Alex Owens
IMDb rating 6.265K votes
Before I Fall2017as Julie Kingston
IMDb rating 6.461K votes
Devil in a Blue Dress1995as Daphne Monet
IMDb rating 6.828K votes
Vampire's Kiss1988as Rachel
IMDb rating 6.125K votes
Manhattan Night2016as Lisa Wren
IMDb rating 6.215K votes
Roger Dodger2002as Sophie
IMDb rating 6.818K votes

Most often with

Alexandre Rockwell directed two of these films, Terry Miles two. James Le Gros appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

James Le Gros

Campbell Scott

Steve Buscemi

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Denzel Washington

Kevin Kline

Alexandre RockwellDirector, 2 films Terry MilesDirector, 2 films

Films together

James Le Gros4 films together, 1991 to 2004
James Le Gros's page
- Catch That Kid2004IMDb rating 5.2Beals as MollyGros as Ferrell
- Wishful Thinking1999IMDb rating 5.0Beals as ElizabethGros as Max
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle1994IMDb rating 6.4Beals as Gertrude BenchleyGros as Deems Taylor
- Blood and Concrete1991IMDb rating 5.8Beals as MonaGros as Lance
Campbell Scott3 films together, 1994 to 2016
Campbell Scott's page
- Manhattan Night2016IMDb rating 6.2Beals as Lisa WrenScott as Simon Crowley
- Roger Dodger2002IMDb rating 6.8Beals as SophieScott as Roger Swanson
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle1994IMDb rating 6.4Beals as Gertrude BenchleyScott as Robert Benchley
Steve Buscemi2 films together, 1992 to 1994
Steve Buscemi's page
- The Search for One-eye Jimmy1994IMDb rating 6.0Beals as EllenBuscemi as Ed Hoyt
- In the Soup1992IMDb rating 7.1Beals as Angelica PenaBuscemi as Aldolpho Rollo
Jennifer Jason Leigh2 films together, 1994 to 2001
Jennifer Jason Leigh's page
- The Anniversary Party2001IMDb rating 6.3Beals as Gina TaylorLeigh as Sally Therrian
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle1994IMDb rating 6.4Beals as Gertrude BenchleyLeigh as Dorothy Parker
Denzel Washington2 films together, 1995 to 2010
Denzel Washington's page
- The Book of Eli2010IMDb rating 6.8Beals as ClaudiaWashington as Eli
- Devil in a Blue Dress1995IMDb rating 6.8Beals as Daphne MonetWashington as Easy Rawlins
Kevin Kline2 films together, 2001 to 2009
Kevin Kline's page
- Queen to Play2009IMDb rating 6.9Beals as L'AméricaineKline as Kröger
- The Anniversary Party2001IMDb rating 6.3Beals as Gina TaylorKline as Cal Gold
Alexandre RockwellDirector, 2 films, 1992 to 1995
All films by Alexandre Rockwell
- Four Rooms1995IMDb rating 6.7Beals as Angela (segments "The Wrong Man", "The Man from Hollywood")
- In the Soup1992IMDb rating 7.1Beals as Angelica Pena
Terry MilesDirector, 2 films, 2010 to 2013
All films by Terry Miles
- Cinemanovels2013IMDb rating 5.3Beals as Clementine
- A Night for Dying Tigers2010IMDb rating 5.2Beals as Melanie
Also two films together14 more actors
- John Carroll LynchThe White Orchid (2018) and Catch That Kid (2004)
- Matthew BroderickMrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) and The Thief and the Cobbler (1993)
- Peter GallagherAfter (2019) and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
- Lili TaylorFour Rooms (1995) and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
- Viv LeacockCinemanovels (2013) and A Night for Dying Tigers (2010)
- Mila KunisLuckiest Girl Alive (2022) and The Book of Eli (2010)
- Jane AdamsThe Anniversary Party (2001) and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
- Andrew McCarthyMrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) and Dr. M (1990)
- David ThorntonThe Last Days of Disco (1998) and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
- Sam RobardsCatch That Kid (2004) and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
- Steven RandazzoDevil in a Blue Dress (1995) and In the Soup (1992)
- Lauren Lee SmithCinemanovels (2013) and A Night for Dying Tigers (2010)
- Gage MunroeLuckiest Girl Alive (2022) and The Night Before the Night Before Christmas (2010)
- Mina BadieRoger Dodger (2002) and The Anniversary Party (2001)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.