Annette Bening

Born:May 29, 1958

Place of Birth:Topeka, Kansas, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

Annette Bening, born on May 29, 1958, is an esteemed American actress whose career has flourished for over four decades. Her talent has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including a BAFTA Award and two Golden Globes. Bening's versatility as an actress has not only brought her critical acclaim but also nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, two Tony Awards, and an impressive five Academy Awards.

Commencing her journey in the world of acting on stage with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival company in 1980, Bening's early performances showcased her exceptional talent. She later captivated audiences with her portrayal of Lady Macbeth in 1984 at the American Conservatory Theater, demonstrating her prowess in classical roles. Transitioning to Broadway, Bening made a striking debut in the Tina Howe play Coastal Disturbances (1987), earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Her portrayal of the complex title character in a Geffen Playhouse production of Hedda Gabler (1999) further solidified her reputation as a versatile and captivating performer.

Notably, Bening's stellar performances on the big screen have left an indelible mark on the film industry. She secured the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of a materialistic wife in the acclaimed film "American Beauty" (1999). Throughout her career, Bening has received five Academy Award nominations for her roles in films such as "The Grifters" (1990), "Being Julia" (2004), "The Kids Are All Right" (2010), and "Nyad" (2023), showcasing her remarkable range and depth as an actress.

In addition to her film accolades, Bening's talent has shone on the small screen as well. She earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her compelling portrayal of the title character in the television film "Mrs. Harris" (2005), further highlighting her versatility across different mediums. Bening's filmography is rich and diverse, including memorable performances in films such as "Postcards from the Edge" (1990), "Bugsy" (1991), "The American President" (1995), "20th Century Women" (2016), "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool" (2017), "The Seagull" (2018), "The Report" (2019), "Captain Marvel" (2019), and "Death on the Nile" (2022).

Annette Bening's contributions to the entertainment industry extend beyond her impressive acting resume. Her dedication to her craft, coupled with her ability to embody a wide range of characters with depth and authenticity, has solidified her status as one of the most respected and talented actresses of her generation. With a career marked by critical acclaim and a diverse body of work, Bening continues to captivate audiences with her extraordinary talent and unwavering commitment to her art.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Captain Marvel

Supreme Intelligence / Dr. Wendy Lawson

2019

The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Death on the Nile

Euphemia Bouc

2022

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot's Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple's idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short.

American Beauty

Carolyn Burnham

1999

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

Mars Attacks!

Barbara Land

1996

A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.

Jerry & Marge Go Large

Marge Selbee

2022

The remarkable true story of how retiree Jerry Selbee discovers a mathematical loophole in the Massachusetts lottery and, with the help of his wife, Marge, wins $27 million dollars and uses the money to revive their small Michigan town.

The Siege

Elise Kraft / Sharon Bridger

1998

The secret US abduction of a suspected terrorist from his Middle East homeland leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York. An FBI senior agent and his team attempt to locate and decommission the enemy cells, but must also deal with an Army General gone rogue and a female CIA agent of uncertain loyalties.

Ruby Sparks

Gertrude

2012

Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.

The Report

Dianne Feinstein

2019

The story of Daniel Jones, lead investigator for the US Senate’s sweeping study into the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program, which was found to be brutal, immoral and ineffective. With the truth at stake, Jones battled tirelessly to make public what many in power sought to keep hidden.

Valmont

Merteuil

1989

Set in Baroque France, a scheming widow and her lover make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman. The lover, Valmont, bets that he can seduce her, even though she is an honorable woman. If he wins, he can have his lover to do as he will. However, in the process of seducing the married woman, Valmont falls in love.

20th Century Women

Dorothea

2016

In 1979 Santa Barbara, California, Dorothea Fields is a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie, at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women – Abbie, a free-spirited punk artist living as a boarder in the Fields' home and Julie, a savvy and provocative teenage neighbour – to help with Jamie's upbringing.

The Women

Sylvie Fowler

2008

The story centers on a group of gossipy, high-society women who spend their days at the beauty salon and haunting fashion shows. The sweet, happily-wedded Mary Haines finds her marriage in trouble when shop girl Crystal Allen gets her hooks into Mary's man.

Poolman

Diane Espilnade

2024

Darren Barrenman, an unwavering optimist and native Angeleno, spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.

Open Range

Sue Barlow

2003

A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.

NYAD

Diana Nyad

2023

Athlete Diana Nyad sets out at 60 to achieve a nearly impossible lifelong dream: to swim from Cuba to Florida across more than 100 miles of open ocean.

The American President

Sydney Ellen Wade

1995

Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd, one of the world's most powerful men, can have anything he wants -- and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade, a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd's attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.

Hope Gap

Grace

2019

Grace lives an idyllic life in a British seaside town, but her world soon comes crashing down when her husband of 29 years tells her he's leaving her for another woman. Through stages of shock, disbelief and anger -- and with support from her son -- Grace ultimately regains her footing while learning it's never too late to be happy.

The Great Outdoors

Kate Craig

1988

It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley, along with his wife, Connie, and their two kids, Buck and Ben. But a serene weekend of fishing at a Wisconsin lakeside cabin gets crashed by Connie's obnoxious brother-in-law, Roman Craig, his wife, Kate, and the couple's two daughters. As the excursion wears on, the Ripleys find themselves at odds with the stuffy Craig family.

Bugsy

Virginia Hill

1991

New York gangster Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel takes a brief business trip to Los Angeles. A sharp-dressing womanizer with a foul temper, Siegel doesn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone crossing him. In L.A. the life, the movies, and most of all strong-willed Virginia Hill detain him while his family wait back home. Then a trip to a run-down gambling joint at a spot in the desert known as Las Vegas gives him his big idea.

Mother and Child

Karen

2009

The lives of three women have a commonality: adoption. Karen is a physical therapist who regrets that, as a teenager, she gave up her daughter for adoption. Elizabeth was an adopted child and is now a successful lawyer, but her personal life lacks warmth. Lucy and her husband have failed to conceive and now hope to adopt a baby to make their family complete.

The Grifters

Myra Langtry

1990

A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.

Richard III

Queen Elizabeth

1995

A murderous lust for the British throne sees Richard III descend into madness. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, England is torn by civil war, split between the rivaling houses of York and Lancaster. Richard aspires to a fascist dictatorship, but must first remove the obstacles to his ascension—among them his brother, his nephews and his brother's wife. When the Duke of Buckingham deserts him, Richard's plans are compromised.

Production

I'm Still Here

Thanks

2010

I'm Still Here is a portrayal of a tumultuous year in the life of actor Joaquin Phoenix. With remarkable access, the film follows the Oscar-nominee as he announces his retirement from a successful film career in the fall of 2008 and sets off to reinvent himself as a hip-hop musician. The film is a portrait of an artist at a crossroads and explores notions of courage and creative reinvention, as well as the ramifications of a life spent in the public eye.