Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jennifer Connelly
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jennifer Connelly made an impact.
Jennifer Connelly is an American actress who began her career as a child model. She transitioned to acting, appearing in films such as *Once Upon a Time in America*, *Labyrinth*, *Career Opportunities*, and *The Rocketeer*. She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in the science fiction film *Dark City*, and particularly for her portrayal of a drug addict in Darren Aronofsky's drama *Requiem for a Dream*.
1984: Release of Once Upon a Time in America
In 1984, "Once Upon a Time in America" was released, featuring a young Jennifer Connelly in a supporting role as Deborah Gelly. This film marked an important step in her acting career.
1984: Acting Debut in Once Upon a Time in America
In 1984, Jennifer Connelly made her acting debut in the crime film "Once Upon a Time in America". This marked the beginning of her transition from modeling to acting.
1985: Leading role in Phenomena and Seven Minutes in Heaven
In 1985, Jennifer Connelly had her first leading role in Dario Argento's film "Phenomena", playing a girl who communicates with insects. She also starred in "Seven Minutes in Heaven" the same year.
1985: Starring in Phenomena
In 1985, Jennifer Connelly starred in the horror film "Phenomena". Following her debut, she continued to build her acting career with roles in various films.
December 1986: Recorded Pop Songs for Japanese Market
In December 1986, Jennifer Connelly recorded two pop songs, "Monologue of Love" and "Message of Love," for the Japanese market, singing in phonetic Japanese.
1986: Release of Labyrinth
In 1986, Jennifer Connelly gained public recognition with Jim Henson's fantasy film "Labyrinth" with David Bowie, in which she played Sarah Williams. Although initially a box office disappointment, it later became a cult classic.
1988: Appearance on Seventeen Magazine
In 1988, Jennifer Connelly appeared on the cover of several issues of the American teenage magazine "Seventeen". This was part of her early career as a model.
1988: Ballet student in Etoile
In 1988, Jennifer Connelly began work as a ballet student in the Italian film "Etoile", which was released in 1989. She expanded her acting experiences with roles like this.
1989: Release of Etoile
In 1989, Jennifer Connelly portrayed college student Gabby in Michael Hoffman's "Some Girls", and the Italian film "Etoile" was released. These roles were significant in her early career.
1990: The Hot Spot
In 1990, Dennis Hopper directed "The Hot Spot", in which Jennifer Connelly played Gloria Harper, a woman being blackmailed. She received praise for her role.
1991: Starred in Career Opportunities and The Rocketeer
In 1991, Jennifer Connelly starred in the romantic comedy "Career Opportunities" and the Disney film "The Rocketeer". These roles marked significant events in her career.
1994: Appeared in Of Love and Shadows
In 1994, Jennifer Connelly appeared in "Of Love and Shadows", an Argentine-American drama film written and directed by Betty Kaplan, starring Antonio Banderas. This role was part of her diverse film career.
1995: Cast in Higher Learning
In 1995, director John Singleton cast Jennifer Connelly as a lesbian college student in "Higher Learning". This role expanded her repertoire.
1996: Appeared in Far Harbor
In 1996, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the independent film "Far Harbor" as Elie, a prominent person in a Hollywood studio who writes a screenplay based on her traumas. This role added to her diverse filmography.
1996: Mulholland Falls
In 1996, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the neo-noir crime thriller "Mulholland Falls", playing Allison Pond. This role marked a significant event in her career.
1997: Inventing the Abbotts
In 1997, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the drama "Inventing the Abbotts", playing Eleanor, one of the daughters of the town millionaire. Her performance was highly praised.
1998: Critically Acclaimed Dark City
In 1998, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the critically acclaimed science fiction film "Dark City", playing Emma. Her role was visually splendid and added to her reputation as a versatile actress.
1998: Praise for Dark City performance
In 1998, Jennifer Connelly received praise for her performance in the science fiction film "Dark City". Her role in this film was a significant milestone in her career.
1998: Sylvia Nasar's biography of John Nash
In 1998, Sylvia Nasar published a biography of mathematician John Nash, which served as the basis for the 2001 film, A Beautiful Mind, where Jennifer Connelly played Alicia Nash.
2000: Waking the Dead
In 2000, Jennifer Connelly appeared in "Waking the Dead", playing Sarah Williams. This role was pivotal in her career, allowing her to express her own interpretations.
2000: Starring in Requiem for a Dream
In 2000, Jennifer Connelly played a drug addict in Darren Aronofsky's drama film "Requiem for a Dream". This role was a significant moment in her acting career, showcasing her versatility.
2000: Starred in Pollock and The Street
In 2000, Jennifer Connelly starred in Ed Harris's biopic "Pollock" as Ruth Kligman, and appeared in the Fox drama series "The Street" as Catherine Miller. These roles marked a diverse year in her career.
2000: Cancellation of The Street
In 2000, The Street, which was a television series in which Jennifer Connelly starred, was cancelled.
2001: A Beautiful Mind Release
In 2001, Jennifer Connelly starred as Alicia Nash in Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind", a role for which she prepared by meeting the real Alicia Nash. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning Connelly a Golden Globe, an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
2001: Won Academy Award for A Beautiful Mind
In 2001, Jennifer Connelly won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Alicia Nash in "A Beautiful Mind", a biopic directed by Ron Howard. This was a significant achievement in her career.
2002: Interview with The Guardian
In 2002, Jennifer Connelly revealed in an interview with "The Guardian" that she had no aspirations to become an actress after having done some modeling.
2002: Japanese film Dark Water
In 2002, the Japanese film "Dark Water" was released. The 2005 film starring Jennifer Connelly was based on this film.
2003: Featured in Hulk and House of Sand and Fog
In 2003, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the superhero film "Hulk" and the drama "House of Sand and Fog". These roles contributed to her continued success in the film industry.
2003: Hulk
In 2003, Jennifer Connelly starred as Betty Ross in Ang Lee's "Hulk", drawn to the director's philosophical approach to the Marvel Comics superhero. The film received mixed reviews and achieved moderate success.
2003: House of Sand and Fog
In 2003, Jennifer Connelly starred in "House of Sand and Fog", based on the novel by Andre Dubus III, portraying Kathy Nicolo. The film garnered critical acclaim for Connelly's portrayal of a desperate woman.
November 14, 2005: Amnesty International Ambassador for Human Rights Education
On November 14, 2005, Jennifer Connelly was named Amnesty International Ambassador for Human Rights Education.
2005: Dark Water
In 2005, Jennifer Connelly returned to the film scene with "Dark Water", a horror-psychological thriller based on the 2002 Japanese film. She played Dahlia, a traumatized woman facing paranormal events in her new apartment.
2005: Named Amnesty International Ambassador
In 2005, Jennifer Connelly was named Amnesty International Ambassador for Human Rights Education. This role highlighted her commitment to social causes.
2006: Appeared in Little Children and Blood Diamond
In 2006, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the psychological drama "Little Children" and the thriller "Blood Diamond". These roles expanded her repertoire in diverse film genres.
2007: Reservation Road
In 2007, Jennifer Connelly appeared as Grace in the drama "Reservation Road".
2008: Cosmetics and Fashion Campaigns
In 2008, Jennifer Connelly became the face of campaigns for Balenciaga and Revlon cosmetics.
2008: The Day The Earth Stood Still Remake
In 2008, Jennifer Connelly portrayed astrobiologist Helen Benson in the remake of the 1951 film, "The Day The Earth Stood Still".
2008: Acted in The Day the Earth Stood Still
In 2008, Jennifer Connelly starred in the science fiction film "The Day the Earth Stood Still". This role showcased her versatility in different genres.
May 2, 2009: Revlon's Annual 5k Run/Walk for Women
On May 2, 2009, Jennifer Connelly participated in Revlon's annual 5k Run/Walk for Women.
2009: Starred in He's Just Not That Into You
In 2009, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the romantic comedy "He's Just Not That Into You". This role added to her diverse range of film appearances.
2009: Creation and 9
In 2009, Jennifer Connelly starred as Emma Darwin in the biopic "Creation" and voiced the character "7" in the animated film "9".
September 15, 2010: Virginia Premieres at Toronto International Film Festival
On September 15, 2010, "Virginia", starring Jennifer Connelly in the title role, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. In the film, Connelly plays a mentally unstable woman.
2011: The Dilemma and Salvation Boulevard
In 2011, Jennifer Connelly starred in "The Dilemma" and "Salvation Boulevard". Also in 2011, she recorded an audiobook version of Paul Bowles' "The Sheltering Sky".
February 2012: Shiseido Global Brand Ambassador
In February 2012, Jennifer Connelly was announced as the first global brand ambassador for Shiseido, a company she previously worked with in the 1980s.
March 2012: Audiobook release of The Sheltering Sky
In March 2012, Jennifer Connelly's audiobook version of Paul Bowles' "The Sheltering Sky" was released as part of Audible.com's The A-List Collection.
May 2012: Save the Children fund Ambassador
In May 2012, Jennifer Connelly was named ambassador for Save the Children fund, advocating for children's rights worldwide.
May 2012: Limited release of Virginia
In May 2012, the film "Virginia", starring Jennifer Connelly, received a limited release, two years after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.
2012: Stuck in Love Premieres at Toronto International Film Festival
In 2012, Jennifer Connelly starred in "Stuck in Love", which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. She played the ex-wife of Greg Kinnear's character.
2012: Named Global Face of Shiseido Company
In 2012, Jennifer Connelly was named the first global face of the Shiseido Company. This marked a significant endorsement deal in her career.
2014: Noah
In 2014, Jennifer Connelly played Naameh in Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic "Noah", which received favorable reviews. She starred alongside Russell Crowe, with whom she previously worked on "A Beautiful Mind".
2014: Winter's Tale and Aloft
In 2014, Jennifer Connelly starred in "Winter's Tale", a film adaptation of Mark Helprin's novel, and "Aloft", the English-speaking directorial debut of Claudia Llosa.
2014: Supporting role in Noah
In 2014, Jennifer Connelly took on a supporting role in Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic film "Noah". This role added to her diverse filmography.
2015: Shelter
In 2015, Jennifer Connelly starred in "Shelter", directed by her husband, Paul Bettany.
2015: Louis Vuitton House Ambassador
Since 2015, Jennifer Connelly has been the House Ambassador for Louis Vuitton.
2019: Supporting role in Alita: Battle Angel
In 2019, Jennifer Connelly appeared in a supporting role in the action film "Alita: Battle Angel". This role added to her diverse filmography.
2020: Starred in Snowpiercer
In 2020, Jennifer Connelly starred in the science fiction television series "Snowpiercer". The show aired from 2020 to 2024.
2022: Supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick
In 2022, Jennifer Connelly appeared in the action film "Top Gun: Maverick" in a supporting role. This added another significant film to her career.
2022: Top Gun: Maverick Release
In 2022, after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer Connelly starred as Penelope "Penny" Benjamin in "Top Gun: Maverick", directed by Joseph Kosinski, with whom she had previously worked.
2024: Starred in Dark Matter and Snowpiercer
In 2024, Jennifer Connelly starred in the science fiction television series "Dark Matter", and "Snowpiercer" ended its run. These projects mark recent milestones in her acting career.
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