Celebrities with a "Geographical" First Name ...
Which of these movie and/or TV celebrities whose first name can stand for a town/ state/ country/ location is your favorite?
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* I excluded very common or popular names such as Virginia, Victoria or Sydney
Discuss here
* I excluded very common or popular names such as Virginia, Victoria or Sydney
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- Actress
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America Georgine Ferrera (born April 18, 1984) is an American actress. She is known for her leading role as Betty Suarez on the American Broadcasting Company's comedy-drama television series Ugly Betty (2006) . Her acting garnered critical acclaim, and she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.- Actor
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Chart-topping 23-year-old Austin Mahone is set to have the biggest year of his career in 2019, beginning with the release of his new single "Why Don't We." The song marks Austin's first new solo music since 2016 and reflects his mature new direction over the past few years, which included collaborations with Hardwell, Codeko and 2 Chainz. Since breaking out in 2013 with the release of his debut EP, which notched a top 5 position on the Billboard 200, Austin has continuously rolled out music for his dedicated Mahomies, including the 2014 single "Mmm Yeah" which soared to #2 on the iTunes chart and broke the Top 20 on the Pop Songs Chart. In 2015, he released an aptly-named mixtape This Is Not the Album, which was followed by the 2016 release of his ForMe+You mixtape. Austin has headlined his own sold-out tours, including MTV's Artist to Watch tour, following his debut on the road as an opener on Taylor Swift's RED Tour in 2013. His many awards and honors include a MTV Video Music Award and wins at the MTV EMAs, iHeartRadio Music Awards, Radio Disney Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards and the Young Hollywood Awards. He has performed on Good Morning America, appeared on the Today Show, Live! With Kelly & Michael and has graced the covers of Teen Vogue and YRB as well as garnered high-profile print features in Details, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and more. Austin remains one of the most recognizable stars in pop culture, boasting more than 30 million followers combined across Instagram, Twitter & Facebook as well as 2.9 million monthly Spotify listeners.- Actress
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Asia Argento was born in Rome, Italy, into a family of actors and filmmakers, both occupations which she has herself pursued. She made her debut when she was only nine years old in Sergio Citti's Sogni e bisogni (1985). In 1988 she had the leading role in Cristina Comencini's first film, Zoo (1988), and was part of the cast of The Church (1989), directed by Michele Soavi. The following year she played Nanni Moretti's daughter in Red Wood Pigeon (1989) (also directed by Moretti).
It was with Close Friends (1992), written and directed by Michele Placido, that Asia's career really took off and she was able to move on from playing very young girls to more mature, complex roles. The movie was well-received at the Cannes International Film Festival. In Trauma (1993), she worked for the first time with her father, famed Italian horror director Dario Argento (her mother is one of Argento's favorite actresses, Daria Nicolodi, playing an anorexic girl in search of her parents' killer. The Phantom of the Opera (1998) is the third film she has made with her father, the others being Trauma (1993) (filmed in the US) and The Stendhal Syndrome (1996).
Asia's absorbed, intense style of acting was well-used in Giuseppe Piccioni's Condannato a nozze (1993). In 1993 she co-starred in Carlo Verdone's Perdiamoci di vista (1994) in which she played Arianna, a physically disabled girl--an intricate, difficult role that won her the David di Donatello for best actress (1993-1994). She also had a featured role in the international cast of Queen Margot (1994), directed by Patrice Chéreau. In 1995 she worked with Michel Piccoli in Peter Del Monte's Traveling Companion (1996), which again won her a David di Donatello and a Grolla d'oro.
In 1994 Asia turned her hand to directing and turned out two short films: "Prospettive" (an episode of the film DeGeneration (1994)) and "A ritroso". In 1996 she directed a documentary on her father and, in 1998, one on cult director Abel Ferrara, Abel/Asia (1998), which won an award at the Rome Film Festival. In 1999 Asia made her feature-directing debut with Scarlet Diva (2000), in which she was the leading actress and author of the screenplay. The film was released in May 2000 in Italy and the rest of the world. It won an award at the Williamsburg Film Festival in Brooklyn, New York. In 2001, after directing a number of music videos, she gave birth to her first daughter, Anna Lou. In 2002 she starred in The Red Siren (2002) by Olivier Megaton with Jean-Marc Barr and the action thriller xXx (2002), directed by Rob Cohen, with Vin Diesel.
Asia is also the author of a number of short stories published in many prestigious magazines such as "Dynamo," "L'Espresso," "Sette," and "Village," Her first novel, "I Love You, Kirk," was published in Italy by Frassinelli Editrice in October 1999 and in France by Florent Massot in 2001.- Actress
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Bethany Hamilton is a Hawaii native who began her surfing career at age 11. By age 13, she was an accomplished surfer and well-respected in the surfing world. She came to national attention after her left arm was bitten off by a tiger shark on October 31, 2003. She has since made a full recovery and has returned to surfing. MTV Books published Hamilton's Book, 'Soul Surfer' from which the major motion picture is based.- Actress
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Bethany Joy Lenz was born in Hollywood Florida, an only child of Robert George Lenz (a history teacher and therapist) and Catharine Malcolm Holt Shepard (a personnel manager and entrepreneur). She is best known for her role on - the WB hit One Tree Hill (2003) - as "Haley James Scott", wife to James Lafferty's "Nathan" and childhood mate of Chad Michael Murray's "Lucas".
Prior to One Tree Hill (2003), Bethany spent most of her acting career on the stage. She has called Musical theater her passion, and has performed in various productions of "Annie", "The Wizard of Oz", "Gypsy", "Cinderella", "CATS for Cats" etc...
After moving from Texas to New York, Bethany portrayed "Michelle Bauer Santos" on CBS's Guiding Light (1952). When her two year contract ended there, she left New York and moved to Los Angeles and guest starred on shows like Charmed (1998), Felicity (1998) and The Guardian (2001). She also appeared in Los Angeles stage productions of "The Outsiders" - directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and "Happy Days" (as Pinky Tuscadero) - directed by Garry Marshall.
After moving from North Carolina (One Tree Hill), Bethany spent a year raising her daughter Maria before taking any more roles. Although she started an internet rotating novel 'Diamond Gothic' with 'Abigail Spencer' and 'JC Coccoli' on 'Hello Giggles.
Bethany came back strong and guest starred on shows like Men at Work (2012) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), joined the cast on Sock Monkee Therapy (2013) and Dexter (2006), and got her own TV show Songbyrd (2014). She also joined and performed original songs on Rock the Schools Concert (2012) and recorded several songs in 2012 (Album: 'Then Slowly Grows') and 2013 (Album: 'Your Woman').
She is an accomplished singer with an four-octave range, trained in New York by Richard Barrett, the director of the Brooklyn College of Opera, and in Los Angeles by renowned voice teacher Eric Vetro (Jennifer Garner, John Stamos and Ewan McGregor).- Bristol Palin was born on 18 October 1990 in Wasilla, Alaska, USA. She was previously married to Dakota Meyer.
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Britain Simons was born in Durango, Colorado to Kelly (Roelke), a photographer, and David Simons, an architect. He has one sibling, an older sister, Gentry Simons. His parents separated when he was four and divorced a year later. He relocated to a small mountain town Montrose, Colorado. He grew up with no connection to the entertainment industry.
As a teen, Britain auditioned for his first community theater production, at 14, to conquer a fear of public speaking. While working to earn scholarships, he found a home in competitive speech team, choir, and theater. He traveled to New York with the Carnegie Hall Singers, represented Colorado at the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in Washington D.C., and earned a full ride scholarship as a Daniels Fund scholar from his academics, community involvement, and accolades. He made the decision to deviate from the family tradition of architecture and engineering, to pursue acting.
He graduated with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Studies in 2014 from Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. He also attended the The National Theatre Institute (NTI) at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut, NYC and he spent a short time in St. Petersburg, Russia with The State Theater Arts Academy. During his studies, he performed in regional theatre productions such as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
In 2014, he began building a career in film, television and commercials. In Los Angeles, he continued to study acting, by training with John Kirby, known for coaching stars like Jim Caviezel and Cameron Diaz. His first commercial appearances included Toyota Concept-i future vehicle and the War Dragons popular gaming app. He performed in music videos for Showtek, Calum Scott's hit release "Dancing on My Own" with over 499 Million views, and Bleachers "Alfie's Song" from the movie Love, Simon (2018).
Britain's television debut was an appearance on the Lifetime Television movie Cyber Case (2015) (aka Online Abduction) alongside Brooke Butler, directed by Steven R. Monroe. He made appearances in shows like Murder Book (2015), Unusual Suspects (2010), and Disney Descendants: School of Secrets (2015) playing Prince Ben. It premiered on the Disney Channel in support of the summer movie event, Descendants (2015). In 2016, he landed the supporting role of Handsome Boy in the critically acclaimed horror film, Holidays (2016), directed by Kevin Kölsch. He played Patrick in the short Prom (2016) written and produced by Hasan Minhaj based on Minhaj's experiences in high school. He also landed the leading voice over role of Daichi in the Ultraman 50th anniversary feature film Ultraman X: Here He Comes! Our Ultraman (2016), a popular Japanese title.
Most recently, Britain can be seen on the show Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020). He has garnered a following on social media, with over 100K followers across platforms, including TikTok and can be seen acting in commercials, such as Motorola, 5 Hour Energy, and playing the Badge Badger in State Farm adverts.- Actress and former model Brooklyn Danielle Decker was born in Kettering, Ohio, the oldest child of Tessa Renee (Moore), a nurse, and Stephen Michael Decker, a pacemaker salesman. She has a younger brother, Jordan. Decker has German, English, and Irish ancestry. When she was a teenager, she was discovered by a talent spotter in a shopping mall in Charlotte, North Carolina and embarked on a modeling career. Her first modeling engagement was for a prom dress maker.
Huge modeling success followed, with Decker appearing in various magazines and campaigns. In 2006, she appeared in her first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Decker appeared again in the 2007 and 2008 issues, and was the cover girl in 2010. Alongside modeling, Decker began acting, winning roles in TV series such as Chuck (2007), Royal Pains (2009) and Ugly Betty (2006). She then moved on to movie projects, including Just Go with It (2011), Battleship (2012) and What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012).
Since 2009, Decker has been married to tennis player Andy Roddick. - Producer
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Chelsea Clinton is an outspoken advocate for those who need it most. She uses her voice - and a lifetime of experience standing up to bullies - to defend issues of human rights, public health, the environment and climate change, and to combat the spread of misinformation, particularly online.
Throughout her life, Chelsea has been dedicated to supporting young people in their pursuits to change the world around them - first as first-daughter and now as a teacher, best-selling author, and mentor. And, as a mom of three Chelsea is committed to doing everything she can to leave the world a better place for future generations to come.- Actress
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China Chow, born in London, is known to divide her time between New York City and Los Angeles. She is the child of late model/designer Tina Chow (who died of AIDS in 1992) and restaurateur Michael Chow (whose Mr. Chow restaurants are the talk of the town in London, Manhattan and Beverly Hills), and has a younger brother, Maximillian Chow. The first college graduate in her family, China graduated from Scripps College, majoring in psychology. She spent several years as a model, following in her mother's footsteps: she posed for Shiseido cosmetics in Japan, was seen on billboards for Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, was named one of Harper's Bazaar's "It Girls" in 1996, and was named in the December 1996 edition of Vogue magazine's "The Next Best-Dressed List". Her acting debut was in 1998's The Big Hit (1998), co-starring 'Mark Wahlberg', whom she is rumored to be dating.- Actress
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Corsica Wilson was born in Terceira, Azores, into a Navy family. Throughout her childhood, Corsica moved often, and also traveled, visiting most of the world before she reached age 15. As an only child, she was constantly on the hunt for adventure and often resorted to her imagination to entertain her. After spending two years living in a small village on the island of Sardinia, her family moved to New England where her father retired from the military. When she was 12, she began studying improv through role-playing at Strawberry Banke, a local history museum made up of houses from the 1600's through the mid-1900's, in a setting similar to colonial Williamsburg. She made her stage debut as Hero in Shakespeare's, "Much Ado About Nothing", followed by many other productions in high school. Originally accepted to Florida State University's competitive BFA Acting program, she recognized her overpowering love for film, and decided to earn a degree in Public Relations, allowing her to be extremely active at FSU's film school as well as allowing for the opportunity to take on supporting roles in 3 independent feature films. After graduating Magna Cum Laude, Corsica moved to Los Angeles to begin pursuing a professional career.- Actor
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Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. His father, Cuba Gooding, was the lead vocalist for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, which had a hit with the song "Everybody Plays The Fool". His paternal grandfather was from Barbados.
Cuba's father moved the family to Los Angeles in 1972, only to leave them a few years later. Despite this setback, Cuba was able to maintain a positive outlook and overachieved throughout school. He attended four different high schools and was elected class president in three of them. While at high school, Cuba met and fell in love with Sara Kapfer, whom he later lived with for seven years before tying the knot in March 1994.
Following high school, Cuba studied Japanese martial arts for three years before turning his focus toward acting. Early on, he landed guest starring roles on shows like Hill Street Blues (1981) and MacGyver (1985). His first major role was in the 1991 box office surprise Boyz n the Hood (1991). He followed this success with supporting roles in major films like A Few Good Men (1992), Lightning Jack (1994) and Outbreak (1995).
In 1996, Cuba was cast as an arrogant but loyal football player in the Tom Cruise-Cameron Crowe film Jerry Maguire (1996). The film became a huge box office smash and earned Cuba an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His "Show Me The Money" line in the movie became a nationwide catchphrase. The role elevated him to superstar status, as many of Hollywood's top producers began to "show him the money" to appear in their films.
Since Jerry Maguire (1996), Cuba has managed to keep busy with a wide range of roles alongside many of Hollywood's biggest stars. Most recently, he won critical support for his portrayal of a mentally handicapped man in the heartwarming film Radio (2003), another movie about football. In 2002, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He resides in Studio City, California.- Actress
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Hannah Dakota Fanning was born on the 23rd of February 1994, in Conyers, Georgia, USA, to Heather Joy (Arrington) and Steven Fanning. Her mother played professional tennis, and her father, now an electronics salesman, played minor league baseball. She is of German, Irish, English, French, and Channel Islander descent. Before her debut into the cinematic world, Dakota did her own acting around her house. She was very active for her age, and often put a blanket under her shirt and pretended to be having a baby, using her younger sister, Elle Fanning, who is also an actress now, as the baby. Dakota went to a playhouse near her home, where the children that attended put on a play every week to show to their parents. But the people running the playhouse noticed that Dakota stood out, and advised her parents to take her to an agency. They believed that she was extremely talented.
The Fanning family were advised to spend six weeks in Los Angeles, a long way from their home in Georgia. But there Dakota managed to get her first work; to star in a national Tide commercial. She was chosen out of many, many other children.
The family then decided to move to Los Angeles permanently, for it looked like Dakota's career was looking very good. After they moved, Dakota signed with a professional agency, and soon won a role in the movie Tomcats (2001). She then went onto a small project called Father Xmas (2001) as Clairee.
But Dakota's big break-through was yet to come. She auditioned for one of the main characters in I Am Sam (2001), and the director and the rest of the crew were amazed by her extraordinary talent. Dakota was cast, and starred in the movie as Lucy Diamond Dawson, alongside major Hollywood stars Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer.
After I Am Sam (2001) her talent was immediately recognized around the world. She went straight onto Trapped (2002) as Abby Jennings, alongside Charlize Theron, then played the younger version of Reese Witherspoon in 2002's Sweet Home Alabama (2002) But Dakota still had two more movies to come in 2002. Firstly she got a huge role in Steven Spielberg's Taken (2002), the mini-TV series, and narrated the ten whole episodes, as well as having a part. This was a little more challenging, as she was playing a troubled alien child, but she managed to do brilliantly. Her last movie for 2002 was the children's movie Hansel & Gretel (2002) as Katie.
2003 was also a brilliant year for Dakota, as she starred in a number of exciting projects. Firstly, it was as Sally Walden in The Cat in the Hat (2003) with Mike Myers, then she played Lorraine "Ray" Schleine, a bratty little girl, in the sweet comedy Uptown Girls (2003) alongside Brittany Murphy. She then voiced preschool Kim in Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003).
In 2004, Dakota appeared in the violent thriller, Man on Fire (2004), alongside Denzel Washington. Her reviews were excellent.
First in 2005 was Nine Lives (2005), as Maria, then the chilling Hide and Seek (2005) alongside Robert De Niro. By now, she was the busiest child actress in Hollywood, with a resume to die for. Her younger sister, (Elle Fanning), had also been discovered a few years earlier.
After Hide and Seek (2005) came War of the Worlds (2005), which was one of her major movies out of everything she'd worked in. Not only did it make her more popular, but she got to play the daughter of A-list Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. They had four very successful premieres; the first in Tokyo, Japan, the second in France, the third in London, England and the fourth in New York, USA. The reviews were outstanding, especially Dakota's. She then voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005).- A native of Houston, Texas, Roberts, who attended Juilliard, has lived in New York City for 14 years. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his role in the Off-Broadway play, "Nocturne," by Adam Rapp. He is married to Christine Jones, who is the Set Designer for Spring Awakening and a professor at NYU. They have two sons, one of whom is named Ever Reverend Jones.
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A rather wanderlust fellow before he latched onto acting, Denver Pyle--who made a career of playing drawling, somewhat slow Southern types--was actually born in Colorado in 1920, to a farming family. He attended a university for a time but dropped out to become a drummer. When that didn't pan out he drifted from job to job, doing everything from working the oil fields in Oklahoma to the shrimp boats in Texas. In 1940 he moseyed off to Los Angeles and briefly found employment as a (somewhat unlikely) NBC page. That particular career was interrupted by World War II, and Pyle enlisted in the navy. Wounded in the battle of Guadalcanal, he received a medical discharge in 1943. Working for an aircraft plant in Los Angeles as a riveter, the rangy actor was introduced to the entertainment field after receiving a role in an amateur theater production and getting spotted by a talent scout. Training with such renowned teachers as Maria Ouspenskaya and Michael Chekhov, he made his film debut in The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947). Pyle went on to roles in hundreds of film and TV parts, bringing a touch of Western authenticity to many of his roles. A minor villain or sidekick in the early 1950s, he often received no billing. Prematurely white-haired (a family trait), he became a familiar face on episodes of Gunsmoke (1955) and Bonanza (1959) and also developed a close association with actor John Wayne, appearing in many of Wayne's later films, including The Horse Soldiers (1959), The Alamo (1960), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973). Pyle's more important movie roles came late in his career. One of his most memorable was in Bonnie and Clyde (1967) as Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, the handcuffed hostage of the duo, who spits in Bonnie's (Faye Dunaway) face after she coyly poses with him for a camera shot. He settled easily into hillbilly/mountain men types in his later years and became a household face for his crotchety presence in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977) and, especially, The Dukes of Hazzard (1979). He died of lung cancer at age 77.- Actress
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A natural talent with a stunning presence, Germany Kent is an American award-winning TV personality, host, actress, producer, author, and accomplished writer known for her versatile work in a variety of film, television, and new media projects. Germany has appeared on countless news programs, variety and lifestyle shows.
The multihyphenate Kent has been the creator of scripted and unscripted content for multiple platforms. The charismatic performer began acting in plays in middle school and once performed on the Apollo stage in New York.
Kent is a trained journalist with multimarket experience who has worked as a broadcaster, entertainment host, and multimedia reporter for TV, print and digital platforms. The veteran journalist often plays the role of a newscaster on big and small screens. Over the years, the former FOX news anchor has had the opportunity to interview hundreds of prominent entertainers, athletes, politicians, and newsmakers, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Sean Combs, LL Cool J, Vanessa Williams, Eddie George, Jon Voight, Louis Gossett Jr., and Matthew McConaughey.
In addition to her anchoring and reporting both for television and radio in Los Angeles, Germany has appeared on scripted television shows such as CBS's "Criminal Minds," USA's "Graceland," and Disney's "Jessie." Germany has also appeared on unscripted television and reality shows, including Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," and CBS's "The Doctors," among others. The multi-talented television personality has amassed a string of guest appearances on NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX news affiliates, and been featured on numerous radio, and podcast programs across the country.
In addition to her television success, Germany also appeared as a Starfleet Captain in the J.J. Abrams blockbuster "Star Trek Into Darkness." She has also been cast in music videos opposite Mary J. Blige, Take 6 and Stevie Wonder. The former beauty queen titleholder appeared in Nike's "Find Your Greatness" campaign, noted as one of the best campaigns of all time. Some of Germany's other leading commercial roles in television and print campaigns has brought her lasting recognition for several major national brands including Disney, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Carrier, Chase, eHarmony, Budweiser, Coors Light, Target, Pepsi, and Verizon.
Germany is frequently in the media and is one of the industry's most influential and inspiring storytellers and thought-leaders. She has been featured as a national authority in Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Yahoo, Parade, MSN, and countless other lifestyle magazines and newspapers. The sought after media expert is frequently referenced in online articles and cherished as a Wise Wordsmith quoted internationally on countless company and individual websites, within the pages of bestselling books, including "Chicken Soup for the Soul," and on blogs spanning worldwide.
During her career, Germany has been one of the media industry's go-to trusted sources and her work has been published in Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg, The Dallas Morning News, HuffPost, and Cosmopolitan, to name a few. In addition to her entertainment credits, accolades for her literary works, media credentials, and industry awards for excellence, Germany is well respected in the arts and entertainment community as a recognized activist and humanitarian who supports dozens of charities and public service causes.
Germany volunteers countless hours with community events and civic groups that make a difference in the lives of humanity. In her spare time, she remains active in the community using her influence to raise awareness for various topics such as bullying prevention, mental health, women's empowerment and youth advocacy. Through her media company she also promotes non-profit organizations, local heroes and the wellness community.
A well-known philanthropist, Germany started a program called "Producing Hopeful Souls," where she trains students to have careers in the media and entertainment industry. She has garnered many national and international honors for her humanitarian work and service initiatives including a Global Philanthropy Award from Empower Magazine, an International Trailblazers Award for "Humanitarian of the Year," and a Lifetime Community Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., recognizing Germany's contribution to the arts, and to her community.
During her career, the empowering socialite has been a trailblazer in the faith-based community creating content and contributing to high profile events across the country, notably hosting for The Global Christian Professional Women's Association, opposite Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz. Germany has also been named among the "Top 100 Brands and Influencers," by Onalytica, the world's leading B2B Influencer Marketing platform.
The Influencer has been honored as a distinguished alumna at the University of Alabama, Mississippi State University, and Northwest Mississippi Community College. Germany is also an alumna of the University of Southern California's Rossier College of Education and USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. In 2019, Germany was recognized at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., by the Society of Professional Journalists with their highest national honor, a prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award, one of the premier awards in Journalism.
Germany has a track record in breaking new ground. In 2017, she made history becoming the first person to be presented with her own "Germany Kent Day" in her birthplace Greenville, Mississippi, the highest civilian honor given. Her achievements earned her a spot as an inductee into the North Panola School District Hall of Fame, becoming the first person to be awarded with the accolade. Germany has also been recognized in the Mississippi Senate by Gov. Tate Reeves as an outstanding Mississippian.
In 2018, the Los Angeles Business Journal listed Germany Kent as one of the "Powerful Women Making A Difference in Los Angeles." As a spokesperson, she helps raise awareness for various causes. Germany's motto is, "If you're not reaching back to help anyone then you're not building a legacy."- At the tender age of three, Havana Guppy demonstrated an early love and fascination with being on screen. Her father took copious amounts of home movies of his four daughters, but somehow, Havana always seemed to steal the lens. It was her father who inspired her to consider a genuine career in film and television by thinking beyond these simple family films.
When Havana was nine, she bravely stepped into a scene study class at the prestigious Railtown Actors Studio. At first, she was scared off, but came back when she was eleven as she was determined to get the training she knew she needed to be a great actress one day. This year, at just 17 years of age, Havana was accepted into the adult class under the direction of Kate Twa (which is by invitation only) where she has been delving deeply into character development.
During her formative years, while she didn't always work as much as she desired, quitting was never in this girl's vocabulary. The harder she had to train, the more focused she was on fulfilling every dream within her heart. Directors began to appreciate her efforts and slowly the roles grew.
Recently, all of Havana's hard training paid off. She was invited to audition for an auspicious role in Hulu's new series pickup 'Shut Eye'. The moment Havana read about the role of Drina, she made an instant connection with this troubled teenage girl who is navigating her position within a gypsy mafia family. Upon landing the role, this young beauty couldn't wait to immerse herself in a character that on the surface appears to be merely another rebellious teen, but who Havana sees and plays as much more. Once she began working opposite Angus Sampson, who plays Fonzo, her father, everyone sensed the natural connection between the two that only grew as the season progressed. Even more thrilling was the remarkable opportunity she was afforded of working with Isabella Rossellini, who plays her grandmother, Rita.
While filming 'Shut Eye', Havana was called to audition for the new SyFy Network show 'Aftermath'. Havana won the role of Mary, a young girl in the post-Apocalyptic world, who has joined up with a religious sect. Rounding out her current roles, Havana recently stepped out of her drama-comfort-zone and challenged herself in a comedic role in an episode of the Netflix comedy 'Haters Back Off', starring the popular American YouTuber, Miranda Sings.
As she continues on her quest of telling stories that cause audiences to experience the entire gamut of emotions, Havana is committed to being as authentic as possible in every aspect of her life and career. Whether portraying a small comedic role or a recurring dramatic character where she has to probe deeply below the surface, Havana is a gifted young woman who will always approach every one of her roles without judgment and with a generous amount of heart, soul, grace, and talent. - Eisley was born on October 29, 1993, in Los Angeles, California, to musician David Glen Eisley and actress Olivia Hussey. Her grandfather was actor Anthony Eisley. Eisley and her mother appeared together in the movie Headspace (2005). After small roles in various independent films, Eisley gained a major role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008). She played Ashley Juergens, younger sister of teen mother Amy Juergens.
Eisley starred as Sawa in the action film Kite (2014), opposite Samuel L. Jackson. At the end of 2014, she filmed Social Suicide (2015), a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. At the beginning of 2015, she also filmed the dark fantasy film The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016) as Briar Rose. Eisley also appears in the film adaptation of V.C. Andrews' book My Sweet Audrina (2016) in the title role of Audrina. - Ireland Baldwin was born on 23 October 1995 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Grudge Match (2013), Goofy Chefs and A Dark Foe (2020).
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Jordan Belfort was born on 9 July 1962 in Bronx, New York, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Firestorm (1996) and Blood Money (1996). He has been married to Cristina Invernizzi since 2021. He was previously married to Nadine Caridi and Denise Lombardo.- Actress
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Kenya Moore was born on 24 January 1971 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for I Know Who Killed Me (2007), Dolls of Voodoo (2013) and Life Twirls On (2015). She was previously married to Marc Daly.- Actress
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Kerry Washington is an African-American actress, television show producer and film director who is known for her roles in Scandal, Ray, the Tim Story Fantastic Four film series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Confirmation, Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, Cars 3 and The Last King of Scotland. She had two children from Nnamdi Asomugha.- Actress
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Odessa Rae is an Academy Award and BAFTA winning producer who was key in the formation of Ivanhoe Pictures, which produced the box office hit, Crazy Rich Asians. Since finishing her multiyear First-Look deal at Ivanhoe Pictures in early 2019, Rae has been producing independently. Odessa has become widely known for producing the highly-acclaimed documentary, Navalny (CNN Films/Warner Bros.) that premiered at Sundance (2022), winning "Best of Fest" and "Audience Award". Odessa's films have been shown at festivals around the world and have received multiple honors including PGA, Dupont, Greirson, Cinema Eye and Critics' Choice awards. Odessa is the recipient of the 2023 UN Sustainable Goals Impact Through Film award.- Actress
- Producer
Long a vital, respected thespian of the classic and contemporary stage, this grand lady did not become a household name and sought-after film actress until age 56 when she turned in a glorious, Oscar-winning performance as Cher's sardonic mother in the romantic comedy Moonstruck (1987). Movie (and TV) fans then discovered what East coast theater-going audiences had uncovered decades before -- Olympia Dukakis was an acting treasure. Her adaptability to various ethnicities (Greek, Italian, Jewish, Eastern European, etc.), as well her chameleon-like versatility in everything from cutting edge comedy to stark tragedy, kept her in high demand for 30 years as one of Hollywood's topnotch character players.
Olympia Dukakis was born on June 20, 1931, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of Greek immigrants, Alexandra (Christos), from the Peloponnese, and Constantine S. Dukakis, from Anatolia. She majored in physical therapy at Boston University, where she graduated with a BA. Olympia practiced as a physical therapist during the polio epidemic. She later returned to her alma mater and entered the graduate program in performing arts, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree.
Olympia found early success by distinguishing herself first on stage performing in summer stock and with several repertory and Shakespearean companies throughout the county. She made her Broadway debut as an understudy in "The Aspern Papers" at age 30, followed by very short runs in the plays "Abraham Cochrane" (1964) and "Who's Who in Hell" (1974). In 1999, she premiered a one-woman play "Rose," at the National Theatre in London and subsequently on Broadway in 2000. The play earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award nomination and she continues to tour the country with it.
Olympia was seen on the New York stage in the Roundabout Theatre's production of "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore" (2011), in San Francisco in A.C.T.'s production of "Vigil" (2011) and as "Prospera" in "The Tempest" (2012) at Shakespeare & Co. She has performed in over 130 productions Off-Broadway and regionally at theaters including the Public Theatre, A.C.T., Shakespeare in the Park, Shakespeare & Co., and the Williamstown Summer Theatre Festival, where she also served as Associate Director. She was seen again at Shakespeare & Co. in the summer of 2013 as the title role in "Mother Courage and Her Children."
Olympia married Yugoslav-American actor Louis Zorich in 1962. The New York-based couple went on to co-found The Whole Theatre Company in Montclair, New Jersey, and ran the company for 19 years (1971-1990). As actress, director, producer and teacher, she still found the time to raise their three young children. She also became a master instructor at New York University for fourteen years. She scored theater triumphs in "A Man's a Man," for which she won an Off-Broadway Obie Award in 1962; several productions of "The Cherry Orchard" and "Mother Courage"; "Six Characters in Search of an Author"; "The Rose Tattoo"; "The Seagull"; "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" (another Obie Award); and, more notably, her many performances as the title role in "Hecuba." A good portion of her successes was launched within the walls of her own theater company, which encouraged the birth of new and untried plays.
Olympia's prolific stage directing credits include many of the classics: "Orpheus Descending," "The House of Bernarda Alba," "Uncle Vanya," and "A Touch of the Poet," as well as the more contemporary ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Kennedy's Children"). She also adapted such plays as "Mother Courage" and "The Trojan Women" for the theater company. Over the duration of their marriage, she and her husband have experienced shared successes, appearing together in "Long Day's Journey Into Night," "Camino Real, "The Three Sisters" and "The Seagull," among many others. Both are master interpreters of Chekhovian plays -- one of their more recent acting collaborations was in "The Chekhov Cycle" in 2003.
Making an inauspicious debut in a bit role as a mental patient in Lilith (1964), she tended to gravitate toward off-the-wall films with various offshoots of the ethnic mother. She played mom to such leads as Dustin Hoffman in John and Mary (1969), Joseph Bologna in the cult comedy Made for Each Other (1971) and Ray Sharkey in The Idolmaker (1980). Interestingly, it was her scene-stealing work on Broadway in the comedy "Social Security" (1986) that caught director Norman Jewison's eye and earned her the Moonstruck (1987) movie role. The Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress was the last of a stream of awards she earned for that part, including the Los Angeles Film Critics, Golden Globe and American Comedy awards.
From then on, silver-haired Olympia was frequently first in line for a number of cream-of-the-crop matron roles: Steel Magnolias (1989), Dad (1989), Look Who's Talking (1989), The Cemetery Club (1993), Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) and Mother (1995).
On TV, she received high praise for her work especially for her sympathetic trans-gendered landlady Anna Madrigal in the acclaimed miniseries Tales of the City (1993) and its sequels More Tales of the City (1998) (Emmy Nominee) and Further Tales of the City (2001). She was additionally seen in episodes of Bored to Death (2009), and TV movies The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) (Judi Dench), Sinatra (1992) (Golden Globe Nominee), and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) (Emmy Nominee). This work is among more than 40 other series, mini-series and guest starring roles she accumulated over her long career. Several recurring TV roles also came her way with Center of the Universe (2004), Bored to Death (2009), Sex & Violence (2013), Forgive Me (2013), Switch (2018) and one last return to her popular Anna Madrigal role with the series sequel Tales of the City (2019).
The septuagenarian hardly slowed down and continued strongly into the millennium with top supporting film credits including The Intended (2002), The Event (2003), the title role in the mystery Charlie's War (2003), The Thing About My Folks (2005), Jesus, Mary and Joey (2005), Away from Her (2006), Day on Fire (2006), In the Land of Women (2007), The Last Keepers (2013), A Little Game (2014), 7 Chinese Brothers (2015), The Infiltrator (2016), Her Secret Sessions (2016) and Change in the Air (2018). The film Cloudburst (2011), in which she shared a co-lead with Brenda Fricker, became a critical and audience darling, winning a multitude of "Best Film" awards and several "Best Actress" honors (Seattle, San Diego) at various film festivals.
An ardent liberal and Democrat, she was the cousin of 1988 presidential nominee Michael Dukakis. Moreover, she was a strong advocate of women's rights and environmental causes. Olympia published her best-selling autobiography "Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress" in 2003, an introspective chronicle full of her trademark candor and wry humor. She was also a figure on the lecture circuit covering topics as widespread as life in the theater to feminism, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
A hardcore New Yorker, she resided there following the death of her husband in 2018, and until her death in May 2021. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greek America Foundation, the National Arts Club Medal of Honor, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Copeland Bloom was born on January 13, 1977 in Canterbury, Kent, England. His mother, Sonia Constance Josephine Bloom (née Copeland), was born in Kolkata, India, to an English family then-resident there. The man he first knew as his father, Harry Bloom, was a legendary political activist who fought for civil rights in South Africa. But Harry died of a stroke when Orlando was only four years old. After that, Orlando and his older sister, Samantha Bloom, were raised by their mother and family friend, Colin Stone. When Orlando was 13, Sonia revealed to him that Colin is actually the biological father of Orlando and his sister; the two were conceived after an agreement by his parents, since Harry, who suffered a stroke in 1975, was unable to have children.
Orlando attended St. Edmund's School in Canterbury but struggled in many courses because of dyslexia. He did embrace the arts, however, and enjoyed pottery, photography and sculpturing. He also participated in school plays and was active at his local theater. As a teen, Orlando landed his first job: he was a clay trapper at a pigeon shooting range. Encouraged by his mother, he and his sister began studying poetry and prose, eventually giving readings at Kent Festival. Orlando and Samantha won many poetry and Bible reciting competitions. Then Orlando, who always idolized larger-than-life characters, gravitated towards serious acting. At the age of 16, he moved to London and joined the National Youth Theatre, spending two seasons there and gaining a scholarship to train with the British American Drama Academy. Like many young actors, he also auditioned for a number of television roles to further his career, landing bit parts in British television shows Casualty (1986), Midsomer Murders (1997) and Smack the Pony (1999). He also appeared in the critically acclaimed movie Wilde (1997).
He then attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It was there, in 1998, that Orlando fell three stories from a rooftop terrace and broke his back. Despite fears that he would be permanently paralyzed, he quickly recovered and returned to the stage. As fate would have it, seated in the audience one night in 1999 was a director named Peter Jackson. After the show, he met with Orlando and asked him to audition for his new set of movies. After graduating from Guildhall, Orlando began work on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, spending 18 months in New Zealand bringing to life "Legolas", a part which made him a household name. Today, he is one of the busiest and most sought-after actors in the industry.- Additional Crew
- Stunts
- Actor
- Actress
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- Writer
One of today's most recognizable entrepreneurs and international influencers, Paris Hilton is a pioneer in reality television and an innovator in social media and celebrity branding.
Since starring in "The Simple Life," Hilton has built a global empire as an influencer, DJ, designer, recording artist, philanthropist, host, actress, model and New York Times best-selling author. In 2006, she created Paris Hilton Entertainment, a multi-billion-dollar company consisting of 45 branded stores, 19 product lines and 27 fragrances, which have surpassed over $4 billion in revenue. In 2001, Variety declared Paris Hilton as a "Billion Dollar Entrepreneur" in recognition of her successful business and global brand.
Hilton debuted "This Is Paris," her critically acclaimed YouTube Originals documentary on her life, which has garnered nearly 20 million views to date. Hilton has used her voice and dedicated her platform and resources to supporting Breaking Code Silence, the organization created to affect change in the industry, and eradicate the abuse of children in systemically abusive institutions.
Hilton recently partnered with iHeartRadio to launch her "This is Paris" podcast and will continue to expand podcast production through her company London Audio. As an investor, she is committed to supporting and investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs positively impacting the world at companies such as Daily Harvest, R3SET, Good Catch, Zen Water, Podz, among others. In addition, Hilton launched her new production banner Slivington Manor Entertainment, which will develop long-form content for television, streaming services, and emerging platforms. She has signed an exclusive two-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Unscripted Television to develop, executive produce and star in original unscripted television programming on behalf of the studio.- Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
A golden-haired sexual goddess named Phoenix Marie made a blazing rise in the adult filming domain between 2006/2007. She describes it as simple as her being approached by a nightclub bouncer during a time out with her friends. The bouncer knew a local talent agent and from there, things began to fall into place for the mid 20-year-old Phoenix. She admits she was not as socially-functional at first, a part of her personality stemming as far back as high school. She was quite intelligent and scholarly, and even participated in extra curricular activities in high school such as ROTC and drill team, however was shy girl with "no social graces to speak of". During her time in the industry, she feels the experience has helped develop parts of her personality that were lacking during her teenage years. Undoubtedly, this kind of news certainly would please her fans to know as many audiences have taken a considerable liking to the blond beauty from Moreno Valley, California. From 2007 onward, Phoenix has built an impressive film log spanning over 200 film appearances, across various sites and with various production companies. She is perhaps best known from websites including Bang Bros and Brazzers Entertainment and is better known for her anal sex scenes across both Internet and film camera screens.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Roma Downey is an Emmy-nominated actress and producer who has been creating inspirational content for 25 years. Born in Northern Ireland, she was classically trained in London. She has performed on stage with the famed Abbey Theater and has appeared both on and off Broadway. For almost a decade, Roma starred on the hit CBS show, "Touched by an Angel". In her role as the tender-hearted angel, Monica, she garnered multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Downey is President of LightWorkers, the joint venture owned by MGM, Downey and her husband Mark Burnett. Under the LightWorkers banner, Downey and Burnett produced "The Bible" series on HISTORY that was viewed by more than 100 million people in the U.S. alone, and was nominated for three Emmy awards. Downey and Burnett also produced the feature film "Son of God" that stunned the box office when it became one of the highest faith movie openings of all time. Downey also won the Movie Guide Grace Award for her role as Mother Mary in the film. In 2016, Downey received the Irish Diaspora Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Screen from the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA), as well as a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood trade publication Variety recognized Downey as a "Trailblazer" and The Hollywood Reporter profiled her on its 100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood issue and featured her on their list of Most Influential People of 2013. In 2014, Downey was also honored as a woman of impact in Variety's 2014 Women's Impact Report. More recently Downey was awarded an OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
In addition to "The Bible" and "Son of God," Downey has produced numerous television series under LightWorkers including "Messiah" and "Country Ever After" for Netflix, "The Women of the Bible" for Lifetime, "The Dovekeepers" for CBS, "A.D. The Bible Continues" for NBC, and "Answered Prayers" for TLC .She also was the Executive Producer on the feature films "Little Boy" for Open Road Films, "Woodlawn" for PureFlix, "Ben-Hur" for MGM and Paramount, and the documentary "Faithkeepers" about the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle-East. She executive produced the Irish comedy "A Bump Along the Way " with Bronagh Gallagher and the short award winning movie "Rough". She is Executive Producer on "Redeeming Love", based on the best selling novel by Francine Rivers. Downey produced "On A Wing and A Prayer" for LightWorkers and MGM in 2023. The movie stars Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham and Jessie Metcalfe. The film closed the Sarasota Film Festival, at which Downey was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the Executive Producer on "The Baxters", releasing in Spring of 2024 on Amazon Prime Video, based on the Karen Kingsbury best selling book series. In the series, Roma also plays the role of Elizabeth Baxter.
Roma has also authored several books, among them, the New York Times best seller "Box of Butterflies", her 90-day devotional "Unexpected Blessings", and her most recent, best-selling book "Be an Angel: Devotions to Inspire and Encourage Love and Light Along the Way".- Actor
- Soundtrack
Santiago Cabrera was born in Caracas, Venezuela, to Chilean parents, and grew up in London, Romania, Toronto, and Madrid. Although he considers Santiago, Chile, his hometown, he splits his time between London and Los Angeles.
Cabrera is a classically trained actor, having studied at London's prestigious Drama Centre. He made his television debut with small roles on British television, and on the London stage, playing Montano in Shakespeare's "Othello", at the London Greenwich Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold. His most recent stage role was Romeo in London's Middle Temple Hall production of "Romeo and Juliet".
Cabrera's roles have varied from playing Isaac Mendez, in the highly successful first season of NBC's ensemble drama series "Heroes" (2006-2007), the mythical character Lancelot, in the hit BBC series "Merlin" (2008-2010). He portrayed Cuban Guerrilla Commander Camilo Cienfuegos in Steven Soderbergh's film, "CHE. Part 1" (2008), opposite Benicio del Toro, for which he won critical acclaim. Santiago also portrayed the famed War Photographer Robert Capa in the HBO Film, "Hemingway and Gelhorn", opposite Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen.
In 2014, Cabrera starred as Aramis in the BBC One hit show "The Musketeers" (2014-2016), a fresh and exciting look at the much-loved novel by Alexandre Dumas. He went on to the hit HBO show "Big Little Lies" (2017) directed by Jean Marc Vallee, starring opposite Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. He played Commander Santos in Michael Bay's "Transformers" (2017) and the lead role of Darius Tanz in two seasons of the CBS show "Salvation" (2017-2018).
Santiago worked under the Direction of Pablo Larrain in the Venice and Toronto Film Festival film "Ema" (2019), where he starred alongside Gael Garcia Bernal.
He also played the first Latin captain in the Star Trek Universe, starring as Captain Rios in the beloved Star Trek Series "Picard". (2020-2022).
Cabrera graced our screens in the hit MAX show, "The Flight Attendant" (2022), working opposite Kaley Cuoco, and in 2024 he can be seen in the Apple TV+ Show, "The Land of Women", opposite Eva Longoria and Carmen Maura and season 3 of the Warner Bros and FOX show, "The Cleaning Lady".
In addition to his native Spanish language, he is fluent in English, French, and Italian.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Shannon Elizabeth was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of a Syrian/Lebanese father. When Shannon was in 3rd grade, her family moved to Waco, Texas, to be close to relatives. As a girl, Shannon took dance lessons, including tap, ballet, and jazz. While attending high school, however, she was very interested in tennis. She even considered going pro and making tennis her life. During high school, she was active in cheerleading, dance team, and the student council. As a senior, Shannon was in a music video shot in Waco. The local music artists were called "Hi-5", and the director of that video just happened to be Antoine Fuqua. After graduating, Shannon moved to New York City to model. She then traveled all over the world with her newfound career to places that included Japan, Italy, France, and Australia. After moving to Los Angeles years later, she signed on with Ford Models and, eventually, Elite. Shannon had always wanted to start her acting career and had just modeled in hopes that it could help lead her into acting, which it did. About a year after moving to Los Angeles, she started taking acting classes with several different coaches. She got an agent, started working, and in 1999, she landed the iconic role of "Nadia" in the movie American Pie.
Shannon enjoys wearing even more hats these days. Since cutting her directing chops on music videos, she is now directing documentaries and film projects via her production company, Ganesha Productions. She also co-hosts the podcast The Art of Conservation.
Shannon also splits her time between the US and South Africa, running programs within her nonprofit, the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation. The mission is to improve this planet for the animals, environment, and indigenous people.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Sienna Rose Diana Miller was born in New York City, but was raised in London, United Kingdom. Her father, Edwin "Ed" Miller, who is American-born, is an investment banker and a dealer in Modern Chinese paintings. Her mother, Josephine "Jo" Miller, was a South African model and a personal assistant to David Bowie; she went on to manage the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City, and then became a yoga instructor. Sienna has one older sister, Savannah Miller.
The family moved to Chelsea, London, when Sienna was 18-months-old. Sienna spent her weekends horse riding at her godmother's farmhouse in Wiltshire. When Sienna was age 6, her parents got divorced. Sienna and Savannah moved to Parsons Green with their mother, who was also being treated for breast cancer. Sienna's father remarried three times and moved to the Virgin Islands. At age 8, she moved away to Heathfield boarding school in Ascot, where she enjoyed playing Lacrosse and acting.
Sienna went back to New York City, when she turned 18, and enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Following this, she traveled, modeled, did theater and took small roles in films. She landed a role as a flirtatious model in a BBC sitcom, Bedtime (2001). Her breakout film role was as Daniel Craig's love interest in Matthew Vaughn's Layer Cake (2004). Sienna's film credits include Alfie (2004) (Susan Sarandon, Jude Law), Casanova (2005) (Heath Ledger), Factory Girl (2006) (Hayden Christensen, Guy Pearce) and Interview (2007) (Steve Buscemi).
She received a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Edge of Love (2008), in which she performed opposite fellow British actress Keira Knightley, with whom she formed a great friendship. In the same year, she was also nominated for the BAFTA Orange Rising Star award and, in 2006, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role as Katya in Interview (2007).
Sienna has also carved out a notable theatre career, with credits including the role of Celia in the Young Vic production of "As You Like It" - her theatrical West End debut - opposite Helen McCrory and Dominic West, and the Broadway production of Patrick Marber's "After Miss Julie", in which she played opposite Jonny Lee Miller. Sienna's most recent stage performance was in Terence Rattigan's critically-acclaimed "Flare Path", directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, held at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket.- Writer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Tennessee Williams met long-term partner Frank Merlo in the summer of 1948 (Merlo died of lung cancer in the fall of 1963). Though separated briefly in 1961 and again in 1962, the two were partners for 15 years. Merlo acted as his personal manager/secretary.
Williams spent much of his most prolific years in Rome, Italy, and his enduring friendship with Italian stage and screen legend Anna Magnani lasted 24 years and inspired both "The Rose Tattoo" and "Orpheus Descending". Magnani realized the lead parts of these two plays, which were written for her, in their film versions. The turbulent and inspirational friendship shared between Williams and Magnani is the subject of the internationally acclaimed play "Roman Nights" by Franco D'Alessandro.
Aside from his published "Memoirs", the only authorized biographical book on Williams is by Bruce Smith, entitled "Costly Performances - Tennessee Williams; The Last Stage." This book deals with the last four years of Williams' life (1979-1983).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Troy Donahue was a journalism student at Columbia University when he began playing in stock productions. He made his film debut in Man Afraid (1957) and in 1959 signed as a contract player with Warner Bros., which promoted him to stardom with A Summer Place (1959) that year. He was soon a teenage heartthrob, his blond hair and blue eyes appearing frequently on the covers of movie magazines. His most successful film was Parrish (1961), in which he played the title character. A few years after that his career went into a decline; he made only a few television movies between the mid-'60s and his small role in The Godfather Part II (1974) (in which his character's name, Merle Johnson, was actually his real name). His later films were almost entirely for the low-budget home video market, e.g., Sexpot (1990) and Nudity Required (1989).
On August 30, 2001, Donahue suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital in Santa Monica, California. He died three days later on September 2 at the age of 65.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Winona Ryder was born Winona Laura Horowitz in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and was named after a nearby town, Winona, Minnesota. She is the daughter of Cynthia (Istas), an author and video producer, and Michael Horowitz, a publisher and bookseller. Her father's family is Ukrainian Jewish and Romanian Jewish. She grew up in a ranch commune in Northern California which had no electricity. She is the goddaughter of Timothy Leary. Her parents were friends of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg and once edited a book called "Shaman Woman Mainline Lady", an anthology of writings on the drug experience in literature, which included one piece by Louisa May Alcott. Ryder would later play the lead role of Josephine March in the adaptation of this author's novel Little Women (1994).
Ryder moved with her parents to Petaluma, California when she was ten and enrolled in acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater. At age 13, she had a video audition to the film Desert Bloom (1986), but did not get the role. However, director David Seltzer spotted her and cast her in Lucas (1986). When telephoned to ask how she would like to have her name appear on the credits, she suggested Ryder as her father's Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels album was playing the background. Ryder was selected for the role of Mary Corleone in The Godfather Part III (1990), but had to drop out of the role after catching the flu from the strain of doing the films Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) and Mermaids (1990) back-to-back. She said she did not want to let everyone down by doing a substandard performance. She later made The Age of Innocence (1993), which was directed by Martin Scorsese, whom she believes to be "the best director in the world".