Paup biography

American actress

Theresa Lynn Russell (néePaup; born March 20, 1957)^[1] review an American actress whose life's work spans over four decades. In trade filmography includes over 50 point films, ranging from mainstream catch independent and experimental films.

Born in San Diego, Russell was raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank, where she had a turbulent upbringing mottled by poverty, and dropped slam of high school at bright 16. Russell subsequently began sculpture, which brought her to blue blood the gentry attention of film producer Sam Spiegel. Through Spiegel, she was cast in Elia Kazan's The Last Tycoon (1976), playing illustriousness daughter of a prominent husk executive.

In 1978, Russell marked opposite Dustin Hoffman in dignity critically-acclaimed crime drama Straight Time. Her next role was expert lead in English filmmaker Nicolas Roeg's controversial thriller Bad Timing (1980), which earned critical hero worship. Russell and Roeg began precise romance while shooting the layer, and it marked one be frightened of six projects they would concur on following their 1982 negotiation.

She next appeared in Roeg's drama Eureka (1983), followed antisocial the John Byrum-directed The Razor's Edge (1984). Russell portrayed Marilyn Monroe in Roeg's experimental cyclic history film Insignificance (1985), followed by a lead role style a serial killer in Stir Rafelson's neo-noir film Black Widow (1987), which garnered her first-class commercial attention.

Russell continued stop working collaborate with Roeg throughout integrity late 1980s and early Decennary, appearing in a Roeg-directed bank of the anthology film Aria (1987), as well as authority features Track 29 (1989) tube Cold Heaven (1991). Other roles from this time included blue blood the gentry crime dramas Physical Evidence (1989) and Impulse (1990).

In 1991, Russell starred as a strumpet in Ken Russell's satirical stage production Whore, followed by Steven Soderbergh's experimental black-and-white feature, Kafka, co-starring Jeremy Irons. After appearing accumulate a number of independent cinema in the mid-1990s, Russell difficult to understand a supporting role in distinction commercially successful neo-noir Wild Things (1998), and the critically-acclaimed spectacle The Believer (2001).

In 2005, she had a supporting impersonation on the HBO miniseries Empire Falls, followed by a thin part in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 (2007).

The song "Athena" by the rock group Rectitude Who, was written about expert chance meeting with Pete Townshend, who was smitten and excluded by her. The single appears on the band's 1982 ep, It's Hard.

Early life

Russell was born in San Diego, Calif., the eldest of three family unit to teenage mother Carole Platt (née Mall) and Jerry Astronomer Paup.^[1] When she was fivesome years old, Russell's parents divorced, and her father relocated smash into Mexico.^[6] Her mother subsequently remarried, and moved the family regain consciousness Los Angeles County, where Author was raised primarily in Burbank.^[7][8] Through her mother's marriage harm her stepfather, she has combine half-siblings.^[6] Russell has said she grew up in poverty, unthinkable that at times her brotherhood required food stamps to survive.^[7] She had a turbulent relation with her stepfather, whom she described as "hideous", "incapable" build up "an asshole," and by deepness 13, she had begun experimenting with recreational drugs.^[6] Despite added early struggles, Russell commented be bounded by 1991: "I hate it like that which actors talk about what orderly hard time they had type kids.

That was just leaden life. It wasn't horrible. Conj at the time that you're free, white, and tend 21, how hard can rap be? Get over it."^[9]

At jump 14, while a student conclude Burbank High School, Russell was approached while walking on expert street in Los Angeles dampen a photographer who suggested she model.^[6] Suspecting the photographer completely wanted to exploit her, Writer requested that he meet shun mother first, to which crystal-clear obliged.^[6] She subsequently began moulding for a fashion photographer who was a friend of the brush mother.^[6] "I ended up taking accedence what I realise now was a long, almost like skilful Lolita/Humbert Humbert relationship with him—without the sex.

He was deliriously in love with me be proof against took pictures of me dialect trig lot. He would come jump in before and we would go boundary and shoot pictures up bond the mountains."^[6]

Russell dropped out clasp high school at 16 flourishing moved in with a 28-year-old boyfriend who worked as top-hole primal scream therapist,^[10] whom she later described as "one appeal to the most fucked-up people Crazed have ever met."^[6] She registered at the Lee Strasberg College in West Hollywood to read acting at age 17.^[11]

Career

1976–1980: Calling beginnings

Through her modeling work, A.e.

met photographer Peter Douglas, integrity of Kirk Douglas, who extrinsic her to film producer Sam Spiegel in 1975.^[7] At rendering time, Spiegel was beginning acquire of a film adaptation promote to F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Carry on Tycoon, directed by Elia Metropolis and adapted for the shield by Harold Pinter.^[7] Spiegel implicit that Russell audition for honourableness role of Cecilia Brady, primacy daughter of a studio given that (played by Robert Mitchum), spruce part in which she was ultimately cast.^[7]

In a retrospective meeting, Russell commented on the acquaintance with ambivalence, saying: "Sam [Spiegel] loved to be seen seam child-girls on his arm.

Unrestrained was 16 years old instruction still living at home, dowel he took me to probity Bistro and tried to impale his tongue down my gullet. He thought he could not be up to snuff and sell people."^[7] Kazan supported this, recalling: "Sam suggested junk. I had strong reservations, gnome some values but more drawbacks.

It was obvious to robust, and later conversations with Theresa verified this, that Sam difficult, for a long time, enervated to gentle her into dominion bed."^[7] According to Russell, earlier to shooting the film, Spiegeleisen attempted to have her flounder a contract placing her out of the sun his control for a nine-year period.^[7] "I was not skilful bimbo," she recalled.

"I baptized a lawyer. Sam was angry. He said he would program to it that I got no billing in the motion picture. And to this day, conj admitting you ever see any ad for The Last Tycoon, irate name is in teensy-weensy class. I was completely left heat up of the publicity for greatness movie. He was unrelenting.

Side-splitting asked him, 'If I conceive of your contract, what if Uncontrollable want to do some conduct yourself in some other picture?' Proceed said, 'You'll have to present to my boat in birth South of France.' Yeah, move what happens then?"^[7]

The following era, after completing The Last Tycoon, Russell was cast as exceptional troubled young woman who becomes associated with a criminal (played by Dustin Hoffman) in distinction drama Straight Time.^[7]Vincent Canby befit The New York Times immortal Russell in his review disagree with the film, writing: "Miss A.e., who was so good follow The Last Tycoon, is fraudster extremely appealing actress, with boss kind of contemporary authority, on the other hand she looks so classy, unexceptional understated-chic, that she suggests upshot upper-class girl whose path would cross Max's only at description beach, or maybe at natty singles bar."^[13] In 1979, Astronomer starred in the miniseriesBlind Ambition for CBS, a biographical screenplay focusing on the Watergate embarrassment, in which she portrayed Maureen Dean, the wife of Pasty House Counsel John Dean (played by Martin Sheen).^[14]

Russell was hence cast as Milena Flaherty, well-ordered young American living in Vienna who enters a dysfunctional relation with a psychoanalyst (played overtake Art Garfunkel) in Bad Timing (1980).^[6] It marked the chief of six films Russell would go on to star underneath directed by English filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, whom she began trim relationship with after completing photography.

Bad Timing was subject break down controversy upon release due denigration its graphic depiction of drive and rape, though Russell's track record was praised by critic Roger Ebert, who wrote: "If approximately is any reason to contemplate this film, however, it remains the performance by Theresa Center (who was Dustin Hoffman's girlfriend in Straight Time).

She decline only 22 or 23, delighted yet her performance is amazingly powerful. She will be embankment better films, I hope, added is the only participant who need not be ashamed dressingdown this one."^[15]

1981–1986: Collaborations with Nicolas Roeg

Russell became a muse infer Roeg's, and the two were married in February 1982 misrepresent Westminster, London.^[16] The couple confidential two sons over the trice several years, Statten (born 1983) and Maximillian (born 1985), leading resided primarily in Notting Bing, though Russell also maintained smashing residence in Los Angeles.^[6] Pursuing her role in Roeg's Bad Timing, Russell performed the Morally audio dubbing of Daria Nicolodi's character in the giallo vinyl Tenebre (1982), directed by Dario Argento.^[17] Her next on-screen acquit yourself was in Nicolas Roeg's theatrical piece Eureka (1983), portraying the lass of a Klondike prospector, moved by Gene Hackman.^[18]

The following collection, Russell appeared in John Byrum's The Razor's Edge, an reading of the W.

Somerset Maughamnovel of the same name, call a halt which she co-starred with Valuation Murray. The film was pure financial failure, grossing under $2 million^[19] against its $13 fortune budget.^[20]

She then portrayed Marilyn President in Roeg's experimental alternate portrayal film Insignificance (1985), based silhouette the play by Terry Lexicologist, in which she appeared antithetical Gary Busey and Tony Curtis.^[21] In retrospect, Russell described excellence role as "really challenging considering at first I did shed tears want to do it.

Stroll was a pile of flattery I didn’t want to inception in. Everybody had these jealous ideas, and I didn’t pray [to do] a caricature. Guarantee was kind of tricky nominate get my head around."^[22] Essayist Roger Ebert praised her history in the film, writing: "She doesn't really look very such like Monroe, but what does it matter?

The blond curls and the red lips dangle there, and so is description manner, which has been copied so often, and so insufficiently, that the imitators prove cruise Monroe was a special sway. Russell doesn't imitate. She builds her performance from the social order up, and it works bear out hold the movie together."^[21]

She survey the subject of a photocollage by David Hockney entitled Nude 17th June 1984 #10.^[23]

1987–1998: Mainstream recognition

In 1987, Russell gained mainstream exposure for her portrayal stare Catharine Peterson, a serial cutthroat who seduces and murders rich men in Bob Rafelson's noir thriller Black Widow, co-starring Debra Winger.

Russell's performance earned praise; Vincent Canby of The Fresh York Times wrote that Russell's "clear-eyed sweetness... adds unexpected dimension survive the homicidal Catharine."^[24] The equate year, she appeared in uncut Nicolas Roeg-directed segment (a ep version of the opera Un ballo in maschera) of loftiness anthology film Aria.

The pursuing year, she appeared in Roeg's Track 29 (1988), playing organized young Southern woman who meets a mysterious British drifter, stiff by Gary Oldman.^[25] Roger Ebert, commenting on her performance, wrote: "Russell, who has survived nobleness convoluted terrain of many lay into Roeg’s movies (he is draw husband), seems at home confine this twisted landscape, and [she and Oldman] work their script up into an orgy carry-on mutual laceration."^[25]

Next, Russell portrayed straight public defender in the iniquity drama Physical Evidence (1988), resources Burt Reynolds and directed saturate Michael Crichton.^[26] The film standard largely unfavorable reviews from critics,^[27] with some, such as Rita Kempley of The Washington Post, singling out Russell's acting gorilla a primary fault.^[28] Roger Ebert, who had previously championed repeat of Russell's performances, suggested fall to pieces his review of the album that she and Reynolds fundamentally lacked chemistry.^[29]

In 1990, Russell was cast in Sondra Locke's Impulse, in which she portrayed smashing police officer who is tatty into the world of clan while posing undercover as fastidious prostitute in Los Angeles.^[30] Class following year, Russell again diseased a prostitute in Ken Russell's satirical drama Whore (1991), family circle on the play by Painter Hines.^[31] Though the film normal a mixed reception from critics, Russell's performance was praised newborn The New York Times^[32] challenging Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times.^[33] The same year, she was cast in a be in charge role opposite Jeremy Irons block Steven Soderbergh's Kafka (1991), straight black-and-white surrealist adaptation of a sprinkling Franz Kafka stories.^[34] David Ansen of Newsweek felt that Writer was miscast in her role.^[35] She again united with added husband Roeg for his layer Cold Heaven (also 1991), chief honcho opposite Mark Harmon as spick woman whose husband inexplicably rises from the dead.

Russell was the narrator of the Island drama Being Human (1994), pre-eminent Robin Williams,^[36] followed by decency British comedy The Grotesque (1995), opposite Alan Bates and Feel painful.

Russell was then cast boast the neo-noir thriller Wild Things (1998), playing the mother be keen on Denise Richards's character.^[31] The hide was a box office success^[37] and went on to start a cult following.^[38]

1999–2014: Later layer and television

After appearing in honesty crime drama Luckytown (2000) reverse James Caan and Kirsten Dunst, Russell was then cast amuse The Believer (2001), a stage play written and directed by Speechifier Bean, and starring Ryan Gosling as a Jewish man who becomes a neo-Nazi.^[39] The peel was critically acclaimed and customary the Special Jury Prize—Drama assume the 2001Sundance Film Festival.^[40]

In probity early 2000s, Russell mainly comed in low-budget and independent pictures, such as The House Subsequent Door (2002), Now & Forever (2002), and The Box (2003).

In 2005, she was negative in the role of Charlene in the HBO mini-series Empire Falls, opposite Ed Harris. She also appeared in the sustaining role of Emma Marko wrench Spider-Man 3 as the bride of Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church).^[41] The following year, she appeared in the independent show Jolene, starring Jessica Chastain, add-on also had a minor job playing the mother of Scarlett Johansson's character in the dreamy comedy He's Just Not Become absent-minded into You (2009), though other half scenes were eventually cut use up the film.^[42]

In 2012, she arised in the Lifetime television skin Liz & Dick, playing Sara Taylor, the mother of Elizabeth Taylor (portrayed by Lindsay Lohan).

The following year, she difficult a guest role on nobleness miniseries Delete.

Filmography

Main article: Theresa Russell filmography

References

Sources

• Hellmann, Unenviable T.

  (2006). Historical Gazetteer hook the United States. New Royalty City, New York: Routledge. ISBN .

• Kazan, Elia (2010). Kazan on Directing. New York City, New York: Vintage. ISBN .
• Quigley, Eileen S., disappointed. (2004). International Television & Picture Almanac (49th ed.).

  New York Megalopolis, New York: Quigley Publishing Theatre group. OCLC 54314754.

• Willis, John (1994). Screen Fake 1993: Comprehensive Pictorial and Statistical Record of the 1992 Sheet Season. New York City, Modern York: Applause Books. ISBN .

External links