Jennifer Lynn Connelly, born on December 12, 1970, embarked on a multifaceted journey in the entertainment industry.
Initially, she found recognition as a model before taking her first steps into the world of acting through her debut role in the 1984 crime film “Once Upon a Time in America.”
Transitioning from her modeling career, Connelly progressively shifted her focus towards acting, gracing the silver screen with her talent and versatility in a diverse array of films.
When Connelly was young, an advertising executive friend of her father suggested she audition as a model. Her parents sent a picture of her to the Ford Modeling Agency, which shortly after added her to its roster.
Connelly began modeling for print advertisements before moving on to television commercials.
In an interview with The Guardian, she revealed that, after having done some modeling, she had no aspirations to become an actress.
She appeared on the covers of several issues of the American teenage magazine Seventeen in 1986 and 1988.
While her modeling career flourished, Connelly was destined to explore new horizons. Her acting debut in the 1984 crime film “Once Upon a Time in America” was a significant turning point.
It marked the beginning of her journey towards Hollywood stardom. However, it was her role as Sarah Williams in Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” (1986) that truly showcased her on-screen charisma, leaving audiences enchanted and signaling the emergence of a remarkable talent.
The pinnacle of Connelly’s career came with her portrayal of Alicia Nash in “A Beautiful Mind” (2001).
This poignant performance not only garnered her critical acclaim but also earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Throughout her career, Connelly has embraced a wide range of roles. In “Requiem for a Dream” (2000), she portrayed Marion Silver, a character grappling with addiction, showcasing her willingness to tackle complex and challenging subject matter.
Her role as Kathy Nicolo in “House of Sand and Fog” (2003) further demonstrated her ability to delve into the intricacies of human emotion.
Publications such as Vanity Fair, Esquire, and the Los Angeles Times have ranked her among the most beautiful women in the world.
Parisian fashion house Balenciaga and Revlon cosmetics signed Connelly as the face of their 2008 campaigns.
While filming The Rocketeer, Connelly began a romance with her co-star Billy Campbell. They became engaged but broke up in 1996 after five years together.
Connelly then had a relationship with photographer David Dugan, with whom she has a son, born in 1997.
On January 1, 2003, in a private family ceremony in Scotland, she married actor Paul Bettany, whom she had met while working on A Beautiful Mind. They have two children, a son, born in 2003, and a daughter, born in 2011.