Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward was born on February 27, 1930, in Thomasville, Georgia, to Wade Woodward and Elinor Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward in a modest household. Her one older brother, Wade Jr., who was the favorite of her father, eventually became an architect. Elinor Woodward was a quite a movie buff and enjoyed going to picture shows often. Joanne claims she was nearly born in the middle of a 'Joan Crawford , in which she plays a woman with multiple personality disorder. On April 8, 1959, Joanne gave birth to their first child, Elinor Teresa Newman, named after her and Paul's mothers. They both continued on with their careers, doing movies both together and apart. Two more children followed: Melissa Steward Newman on September 17, 1961, and Claire Olivia Newman on April 21, 1965. Since then, Joanne has been extremely busy in theater, film and television as well as ballet performances and very involved with charities and taking care of her family. In 2003, Joanne starred in a movie with Paul on HBO.
Born at 4:00am EST.
Mother of actress Melissa Newman , whose namesake was the character portrayed by Woodward in Count Three and Pray .
When she was 9 years old, Joanne traveled with her mother to Atlanta for the premiere of Gone with the Wind . During the parade, she leapt into a limousine carrying Laurence Olivier and sat in his lap as she had a crush on him after seeing Wuthering Heights . Years later when the two were working on Come Back, Little Sheba , Olivier claimed to remember the incident vividly.
Attended LSU and then headed to New York. She did not attend Sarah Lawrence until much later. She graduated in 1990 alongside her youngest daughter, Claire "Clea" Newman.
Wore a handmade dress that cost about $100 to the 1957 Oscar ceremony (the year she won Best Actress for Three Faces of Eve).
Serves as artistic director, Westport Country Playhouse, near her home in Connecticut, where husband Paul stars in "Our Town" June 2002.
Loves ballet and horseback riding.
Joanne has three children with Paul Newman : Elinor (Nell), Melissa (Lissy) and Claire (Clea).
In 1960 she was the first actress to appear at the unveiling of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Lived next door to her idol, Bette Davis , for awhile.
Her favorite movies are Gone with the Wind , Wuthering Heights , The Philadelphia Story and Jezebel .
Her all-time favorite actress is Bette Davis and her all-time favorite actor is Laurence Olivier. Other major favorites of hers include John Garfield , Vivien Leigh , Katharine Hepburn and Clark Gable.
Had to have her strip/dance scenes in The Stripper censored and approved by her husband, Paul Newman.
Is a graduate of the class of 1947 at Greenville Senior High School in Greenville, South Carolina.
Her likeness was used for the paintings of Marguerite Wyke in the Laurence Olivier /Michael Caine thriller Sleuth .
Was briefly engaged to novelist, essayist and screenwriter Gore Vidal before breaking the engagement to pledge herself to eventual husband Paul Newman. The new couple, who remained friends with Vidal, briefly lived with him in a house in Los Angeles.
In the July 21, 1975, issue of People magazine, in which she shared the cover with her husband Paul Newman , Woodward claimed that her older relatives back in a small town in rural Georgia would be upset if they knew that Newman was half Jewish.
Played mother to real-life daughter Nell Potts in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds .
Mother, with Paul Newman , of daughters Nell Potts , Melissa Newman and Claire Newman.
Joanne told a 17-year-old Melanie Griffith on the set of The Drowning Pool that her goals were to marry a movie star (Paul Newman ), have beautiful babies (she had 3), and win an Oscar (which she did in 1958). Melanie said that she adopted the same goals for herself by marrying a movie star (Antonio Banderas ) and having beautiful babies (she also had 3), but she has expressed frustration that she hasnt won an Oscar, even though she was nominated in 1989.
As of 2013, she is one of six women who has received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for a performance directed by her spouse, namely for Rachel, Rachel directed by Paul Newman. The other five are Elisabeth Bergner for Escape Me Never (1935) (directed by Paul Czinner ), Jean Simmons for The Happy Ending (directed by Richard Brooks ), Gena Rowlands for A Woman Under the Influence & Gloria (both directed by John Cassavetes ), Julie Andrews for Victor Victoria (directed by Blake Edwards ), and Frances McDormand for Fargo (directed by Joel Coen ). Jules Dassin also directed his future wife Melina Mercouri in a Best Actress Oscar nominated performance ( Pote tin Kyriaki ), but they werent married yet at the time of the nomination.
Grandmother of Peter (born in May 1996) and Henry Elkind, the sons of her daughter Melissa "Lissy" Newman and her husband, Raphael "Raphe" Elkind.
Became pregnant by Paul Newman prior to their marriage but she suffered a miscarriage in February 1958 a 4 months pregnant.
Returned to work 9 months after giving birth to her daughter Nell Potts in order to begin filming From the Terrace .
Was the 47th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for The Three Faces of Eve at The 30th Annual Academy Awards on March 26, 1958.
During her time at Louisiana State University she was in the same sorority as Ellen DeGeneress mother Betty.
Correction to above she returned to work eight months after Nell was born in order to begin filming From The Terrace December 1958 two of her and Pauls daughter Nell & Clea were born in New York while middle daughter Melissa was born in Los Angeles hours after Nat & Maria Coles twins Casey & Timolin.
Returned to work 4 1/2 months after giving birth to daughter Nell to begin filming The Fugitive Kind Opposite Marlon Brando & Anna Magnani.
Daughter of Wade Woodward (December 24, 1900-December 16, 1976) and Elinor (ne Gignilliat) Carter (July 3, 1903-September 8, 1992). Her father was born and raised in Georgia while her mother was born and raised in South Carolina.
Maternal granddaughter of John (August 28, 1858-December 1, 1934) and Nancy (ne Porcher) Gignilliat (February 25, 1862-May 15, 1946). Her grandfather was born and raised in Georgia, while her grandmother was born and raised in South Carolina.
As of 2016 she is the 4th earliest surviving recipient of a Best Actress Oscar nomination, behind only Olivia de Havilland , Leslie Caron and Carroll Baker. She was nominated (and won) in 1957 for The Three Faces of Eve .
Was one of a number of actresses, including Joan Collins, who did a screen test for the title role of Cleopatra.
In 1987: "Acting is like sex. You should do it, not talk about it. ",Being married to Paul is being married to the most considerate, romantic,man.
The September 11th tragedy forced us all to look at the world in a,different way and it reminds us all of the importance of living every,moment.
Who could direct you better than the person you live with? Paul knows,everything there is to know about me. I wish he could just direct every,movie I ever do.
Sexiness wears thin after awhile and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that is a treat.
