Holly Hunter was born in Conyers, GA, the youngest of seven
children whose father was a part-time sporting goods company
representative and part-time farmer with a 250 acre farm. Her
parents encouraged in her talent at an early age, and her first
acting part was as 'Helen Keller' (qv) in a fifth-grade play. In
1976 she went to Pittsburgh to pursue a degree in drama from
Carnegie Mellon University. After graduating in 1980, she went to
New York City, where she met playwright 'Beth Henley' (qv) in a
stalled elevator. Hunter went on to get roles in a number of
Henley's southern gothic plays, including Crimes of the Heart and
The Miss Firecracker Contest. In 1982 the actress went to Los
Angeles. She landed her first starring role in the movies in the
Coen brothers' _Raising Arizona (1987)_ (qv), a part that is said
to have been written with her in mind. She gained stardom in 1987
when she played the driven TV news producer Jane Craig in 'James L.
Brooks' (qv)' _Broadcast News (1987)_ (qv). In 1993 she earned an
Academy Award and worldwide acclaim with her performance as a mute
bride to a New Zealand planter in _Piano, The (1993)_ (qv).
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– Second cousin of Anaheim Angels' outfielder Tim Salmon.
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– She had one line in her film debut, THE BURNING (1981) - Hey, Todd, over here.
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– Started playing piano at 9.
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– Taught by Jorge Guerra.
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– Turned down the female lead in AS GOOD AS IT GETS (1997)
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– While living in the North Bronx, she turned down the lead role in BLOOD SIMPLE (1984), but introduced the Coen Brothers to her roommate Frances McDormand, who got the role.
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– Nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for THIRTEEN (2004)
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– Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture at Golden Globe Awards for THIRTEEN (2004)
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– Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role at Screen Actors Guild Awards for THIRTEEN (2004)
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– Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at BAFTA Awards for THIRTEEN (2003)
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– Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV at Golden Globe Awards FOR HARLAN COUNTY WAR (2001)
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– Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie at Emmy Awards for WHEN BILLIE BEAT BOBBY (2001)
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– Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie at Emmy Awards for THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER (2001)
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– Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie at Emmy Awards for HARLAN COUNTY WAR (2000)
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– Nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for THE FIRM (1994)
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– Nominated for Best Actress Supporting at BAFTA Awards for THE FIRM (1994)
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– Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV at Golden Globe Awards for ROE VS. WADE (1990)
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– Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for BROADCAST NEWS (1988)
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