Born in Los Angeles, California, USA, Jennifer worked in her first film at the age of 9, in a nonspeaking role for the film Death Of A Stranger (The Spy Who Never Was). At 14, she attended summer acting workshops given by Lee Strasberg and landed a role in the Disney TV movie The Young Runaways, and received her Screen Actors Guild membership in a Baretta episode at 16. Jennifer performed in several TV-movies and dropped out of Pacific Palisades High School six weeks short of graduation for her major role in the film Eyes of a Stranger. Her first major success came as the female lead in Fast Times at Ridgemont High where her early interpretation of the inexperienced high-schooler whose naivete leads to an abortion. This affecting, vulnerable, blond leading lady has developed into a fine actress whose performances are often the outstanding feature of her films. The daughter of actor Vic Morrow, Leigh received raves for her portrayal of a young undercover narcotics cop who gets in too deep in Rush (1991), having previously startled audiences with her honest, uninhibited turns as the fatalistic young hooker in Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) and a devoted girlfriend in Miami Blues (1990). Christopher Guest's Hollywood satire The Big Picture (1989) showcased her little-used comedic talents, in the role of a free-spirited performance artist. Judging from the remainder of her oeuvre, it's safe to say she often rises above mediocre material. Single White Female (1992) gave her a particularly juicy role as a psychopathic killer drawn to roommate Bridget Fonda. (Ironically, her worst performance to date was in 1991's Backdraft in which she attempted to play-just once-a "normal" character.) In Robert Altman's Short Cuts (1993) she played a woman who turns men on as a telephone-sex operator while feeding and diapering her baby. In the Coen brothers' The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) she affected a vintage Katharine Hepburn accent and attitude, with delightful comic results. Alan Rudolph then cast her as celebrated writer and wit Dorothy Parker in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994). She followed with Dolores Claiborne (1995).
OTHER FILMS INCLUDE: 1981: Eyes of a Stranger (her debut, in which she played a blind rape victim); 1983: Easy Money 1985: Flesh + Blood 1986: The Hitcher, The Men's Club 1987: Sister, Sister 1988: Heart of Midnight 1991: Crooked Hearts.
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