Jennifer Jason Leigh was born Jennifer Lee Morrow in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of writer 'Barbara Turner from 2005 to 2013, and the two have a son.
Daughter of actor Vic Morrow and actress-screenwriter Barbara Turner.
Won two 1990 Critic Society awards for her portrayal of Tralala in Last Exit to Brooklyn , and as Susan Waggoner in Miami Blues .
Selected as one of "Americas 10 Most Beautiful Women" by Harpers Bazaar Magazine, 1989.
Has an older sister, Carrie Ann Morrow , and a younger half-sister, actress Mina Badie. Her ex-stepfather is director Reza Badiyi.
Well-known in Hollywood for the exhausting research she does for each of her portrayals and for her affinity of playing lurid roles.
Had a small part as Marion in Eyes Wide Shut . However, when its director Stanley Kubrick asked Jennifer to do some re-shoots, she was not available to do that. Her entire part was reshot by Marie Richardson.
Born at 12:33pm-PST.
Jennifer lost weight down to 86 pounds for her role as an anorexic teenager in the TV-movie The Best Little Girl in the World .
In 1997, Jennifer appeared in Faith No More s music video "Last Cup of Sorrow". Its plot was derived from Alfred Hitchcock s film Vertigo .
Jennifers father, actor Vic Morrow , died during the filming of the movie Twilight Zone: The Movie . He was killed in a helicopter accident.
After reading the script for the movie Backdraft , Jennifer reportedly told its director, Ron Howard , that she wished that she could be the fire because it has the best part.
Jennifer attended the strict Stagedoor Manor summer camp in upstate New York which trains teenagers in acting, singing, and dancing. Jennifers classmates include actor Zach Braff from NBCs "Scrubs" , writer-director Todd Graff , and actress-singer Mandy Moore.
She is of entirely Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her paternal grandparents, Harry Morozoff and Jean Kress, were immigrants from Russia. Her maternal grandfather, Alexander Turner, was an immigrant from Austria, and her maternal grandmother, Pearl Pauline Zises, was born in New York, to Austrian-born parents.
Frequently worked with maverick director Robert Altman who, before his maverick days, worked with her father, Vic Morrow on the sixties television series "Combat!" .
Jennifer lived with Eric Stoltz for five years during the 80s.
Jennifer chose her second middle name "Jason" from that of her and her fathers friend, the actor Jason Robards.
Jennifer has acted with three of the four acting Baldwin brother in five different movies: Miami Blues and Lymelife with Alec Baldwin ; Last Exit to Brooklyn and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle with Stephen Baldwin ; and Backdraft with William Baldwin.
Member of the jury at the "Venice Film Festival" in the year 2000.
Allegedly auditioned for the role of Sarah Connor in The Terminator but director James Cameron considered her too young for the part. Linda Hamilton ended up playing the part.
The song "Jennifer Jason Leigh" by the punk band J Church has lyrics made up from interview quotes.
Has become somewhat famous for having turned down many roles in some popular movies. She also turned down a recurring role on the TV show "Lost" , which was eventually played by Cynthia Watros and the role of Bree on the TV series "Desperate Housewives" , which was eventually played by Marcia Cross.
She signed on for the film Spread but later backed out, and was replaced by Anne Heche.
She was one of several actresses considered by Jane Campion for the Holly Hunter role in The Piano , but she was unable to meet with her because she was shooting Rush at the time.
Dario Argento offered her the female lead in his film La sindrome di Stendhal , but she turned it down. It was eventually played by his daughter Asia Argento.
She won the role in Washington Square over Meg Ryan and Anne Heche.
She won the role in The Hudsucker Proxy over Winona Ryder and Bridget Fonda.
Auditioned for the Nicole Kidman role in To Die For .
Auditioned for the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns .
Moved in with Jack Black and Nicole Kidman during filming Margot at the Wedding , because they wanted to perfect their roles as a dysfunctional family.
She has received three separate career tributes - at the Telluride Film Festival in 1993, a special award for her contribution to independent cinema from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2002, and a week-long retrospective showing of her film work held by the American Cinematheque at Los Angeles Egyptian Theatre in June 2001.
Reportedly auditioned for the role of Violet in Pretty Baby , but the part went to Brooke Shields instead.
Ex-daughter-in-law of Jonathan Baumbach.
Returned to work five months after giving birth to her son Rohmer in order to film her guest appearance on "Weeds" .
Announced that she had filed for divorce from husband Noah Baumbach , citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking spousal support and primary custody of their son Rohmer (24 November 2010).
Was estranged from her father, Vic Morrow , at the time of his death. He left her $100 in his will.
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 48, a son Rohmer Emmanuel Baumbach on March 17, 2010. Childs father is her now ex-husband, Noah Baumbach.
Counts Dog Day Afternoon as the very first movie to emotionally impact her. Though only 13-years-old when it was released, she managed to see it numerous times.
I could never play the ingenue, the girl next door or the very,successful young doctor. That would be a bore.
I like a movie that the audience actively has to participate in, and not,just casually observe. Whatever my part in it, just as an audience,member, I find that exciting.
I think I live in this mythical world where doing the parts I do is not,going to hurt me, and telling people my age is not going to hurt me.
I remember I once went to a nutritionist who said I come from good,Russian- Jewish peasant stock, which means I can hold a potato in my,body for a week, if need be.
