Real Name : Jennifer Lee Morrow
Nick Name : JJL
Birth : 5 February 1962, Hollywood, California, USA
Height : 5' 3"
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Born in Los Angeles, Jennifer Jason Leigh - the daughter of actor 'Vic Morrow' (qv) - worked in her first film at the age of nine, in a nonspeaking role for the film Death of a Stranger (_Tod eines Fremden (1973)_ (qv)). At 14 she attended summer acting workshops given by 'Lee Strasberg' (qv) and landed a role in the Disney TV movie _The Young Runaways (1978) (TV)_ (qv), and received her Screen Actors Guild membership in an episode of the TV series _"Baretta" (1975)_ (qv) when she was 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 (1981)_ (qv). Her first major success came as the female lead in _Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)_ (qv).
Biography written by: Alex Fung
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- 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV) [Herself]
- A Salute to Robert Altman, an American Maverick (2002) (TV) [Herself]
- A Thousand Acres (1997) [Caroline Cook] <4>
- Agnieszka Holland on the Set (1997) (TV) [Herself]
- Angel City (1980) (TV) [Kristy Teeter] <4>
- Backdraft (1991) [Jennifer Vaitkus] <5>
- Backdraft: Bringing Together the Team (2006) (V) [Herself]
- Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) [Anney Boatwright] <1>
- Beneath the Roses (2004)
- Buried Alive (1990) (TV) [Joanna Goodman] <2>
- Celebrity Naked Ambition (2003) (TV) (archive footage)
- Childstar (2004) [Suzanne] <9>
- Cinema Cinema (1996) (uncredited) [Herself]
- Crooked Hearts (1991) [Marriet Hoffman] <7>
- Crossed Over (2002) (TV) [Karla Faye Tucker] <6>
- Der Regisseur Uli Edel - Fakten und Fiktion (2009) (TV) [Herself]
- Dolores Claiborne (1995) [Selena St. George] <2>
- Easter Sunday (2005) [Mother] <1>
- Easy Money (1983) [Allison Capuletti] <11>
- eXistenZ (1999) [Allegra Geller] <1>
- Eyes of a Stranger (1981) [Tracy Harris] <2>
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) [Stacy Hamilton] <2>
- Filming 'Rush' (2002) (V) [Herself]
- Flesh+Blood (1985) [Agnes] <2>
- Georgia (1995) [Sadie Flood] <1>
- Girls of the White Orchid (1983) (TV) [Carol Heath] <1>
- Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) [Candy Webster] <5>
- Greenberg (2010) [Beth] <18>
- Heart of Midnight (1988) [Carol] <1>
- Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002) (voice) [Bridget] <7>
- Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2005) (archive footage)
- In the Cut (2003) [Pauline] <1>
- Kansas City (1996) [Blondie O'Hara] <1>
- Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) [Tralala] <2>
- Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country (1993) [Herself] <5>
- Margot at the Wedding (2007) [Pauline] <6>
- Miami Blues (1990) [Susie Waggoner] <8>
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) [Dorothy Parker] <1>
- On the Set of 'Washington Square' (1997) (TV) [Herself]
- Palindromes (2004) ['Mark' Aviva] <32>
- Partners in Life (1990) (TV) [Blossom] <4>
- Picnic (1986) (TV) [Madge Owens] <2>
- Playboy: The Complete Anna Nicole Smith (2000) (V) (archive footage) [Herself] <19>
- Rag Tale (2005) [Mary Josephine 'MJ' Morton] <3>
- Road to Perdition (2002) [Annie Sullivan] <4>
- Rush (1991) [Kristen Cates] <2>
- Searching for Debra Winger (2002) (uncredited) [Herself]
- Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003) (V) (archive footage) [Stacy Hamilton]
- Short Cuts (1993) [Lois Kaiser] <9>
- Single White Female (1992) [Hedra 'Hedy' Carlson] <2>
- Sister, Sister (1987) [Lucy Bonnard] <2>
- Skipped Parts (2000) [Lydia Callahan] <2>
- Spawn 3: Ultimate Battle (1999) (V) (voice) [Lilly]
- Speechless (2008) (TV) [Herself]
- Synecdoche, New York (2008) [Maria] <15>
- Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998) (TV) [Teri Small] <2>
- The Anniversary Party (2001) [Sally Therrian] <2>
- The Best Little Girl in the World (1981) (TV) [Casey Powell] <3>
- The Big Picture (1989) [Lydia Johnson] <4>
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) (TV) [Herself]
- The First Time (1982) (TV) [Bonnie Dillon] <2>
- The Hitcher (1986) [Nash] <3>
- The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) [Amy Archer] <2>
- The Jacket (2005) [Dr. Beth Lorenson] <4>
- The Killing of Randy Webster (1981) (TV) [Amy Wheeler] <4>
- The King Is Alive (2000) [Gina] <9>
- The Love Letter (1998) (TV) [Elizabeth Whitcomb] <2>
- The Machinist (2004) [Stevie] <2>
- The Machinist: Breaking the Rules (2005) (V) [Herself]
- The Making of 'Easy Money' (1983) (TV) [Herself]
- The Making of 'Road to Perdition' (2002) (TV) [Herself]
- The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) (uncredited) [Female inmate]
- The Men's Club (1986) [Teensy] <18>
- The Prom (1992) [Lana]
- The Quickie (2001) [Lisa] <16>
- The Young Runaways (1978) (TV) [Heather] <18>
- Tod eines Fremden (1973) (uncredited) [Girl playing with a rubber ball]
- Under Cover (1987) [Tanille Lareoux] <2>
- Washington Square (1997) [Catherine Sloper] <1>
- Would You Kindly Direct Me to Hell?: The Infamous Dorothy Parker (1994) (TV)
- Wrong Is Right (1982) [Young Girl] <21>
- "+ de cinéma" (2001) {(2001-05-16)} [Herself]
- "100 Greatest Teen Stars" (2006) (archive footage) [Herself]
- "ABC Afterschool Specials" (1972) {Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents? (#11.6)} [Andrea Fairchild] <2>
- "Anatomy of a Scene" (2001) {The Aniversary Party} [Herself - Director+Writer+Producer] <1>
- "Baretta" (1975) {Open Season (#3.15)} (as Jennifer Leigh) [Marcie]
- "CBS Afternoon Playhouse" (1980) {I Think I'm Having a Baby (#2.2)} [Laurie] <1>
- "Cinema 3" (1984) {(1992-11-12)} [Herself]
- "Cinema mil" (2005) {(#1.10)} (archive footage) [Herself]
- "Disneyland" (1954) {The Young Runaways (#24.17)} [Heather] <18>
- "Frasier" (1993) {The Two Hundredth (#9.8)} [Estelle]
- "Good Morning America" (1975) {(2007-12-05)} [Herself]
- "HBO First Look" (1992) {The Hudsucker Proxy (#1.1)} [Herself]
- "HBO First Look" (1992) {The Making of 'Road to Perdition' (#9.10)} [Herself]
- "Hercules" (1998) {Hercules and the Assassin (#1.4)} (voice) [Tempest]
- "Hercules" (1998) {Hercules and the Prom (#1.40)} (voice) [Tempest]
- "Hercules" (1998) {Hercules and the Techno Greeks (#1.7)} (voice) [Tempest]
- "Inside the Actors Studio" (1994) {(#5.11)} [Herself]
- "King of the Hill" (1997) {I Remember Mono (#2.14)} (voice) [Amy]
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {(1994-03-02)} [Herself]
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {(1995-03-21)} [Herself]
- "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) {(1995-11-23)} [Herself]
- "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" (1989) {(2007-12-05)} [Herself]
- "Mission Hill" (1999) {Kevin Loves Weirdie (#1.10)} (voice) [Eunice 'Weirdie' Eulmeyer]
- "Retrosexual: The 80's" (2004) (archive footage)
- "Spawn" (1997) {Hunter's Moon (#3.4)} (voice) [Lilly] <16>
- "Spawn" (1997) {Seed of the Hellspawn (#3.3)} (voice) [Lilly] <16>
- "Sunday Morning Shootout" (2003) {(#2.15)} [Herself]
- "Superman" (1996) {Absolute Power (#3.6)} (voice) [Cetea] <2>
- "The Charlie Rose Show" (1991) {(1997-10-02)} [Herself]
- "The Charlie Rose Show" (1991) {(2001-05-31)} [Herself]
- "The Charlie Rose Show" (1991) {(2003-10-21)} [Herself]
- "The Directors" (1999) {The Films of David Cronenberg (#1.10)} [Herself]
- "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (1999) {(2001-06-14)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(1997-10-06)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(1999-04-19)} [Herself]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(2002-02-28)} [Herself]
- "The View" (1997) {(2005-12-06)} [Herself]
- "The Waltons" (1972) {The Pursuit (#9.6)} [Kathy Seals]
- "Tracey Takes On..." (1996) {Sports (#3.10)} [Paige Garland]
- "Trapper John, M.D." (1979) {The One and Only (#3.25)} [Karen McCall] <7>
- "Tussen de sterren" (2003) {(#1.2)} [Herself]
- "Twitch City" (1998) {The Life of Reilly (#2.6)} [Faith]
- "VH-1 Where Are They Now?" (1999) {Music Movie Stars (#2.1)} [Herself]
- "Weeds" (2005) {Machetes Up Top (#5.2)} [Jill] <16>
- "Weeds" (2005) {Su-Su-Sucio (#5.3)} [Jill]
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- 'Noah Baumbach' (qv) (3 September 2005 - present)
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- "Interview" (USA), November 2007, Vol. 37, Iss. 10, pg. 118-125, by: Michael Cunningham, "The Brave Ones"
- "BlackBook Magazine" (USA), November 2007, Iss. 51, pg. 68-73, by: Merle Ginsberg, "The Quiet Storm"
- "Ladies Home Journal" (USA), October 2007, Vol. 124, Iss. 10, pg. 130, by: Jeanne Marie Laskas, "The World Accordng to Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Dazed & Confused" (UK), May 2005, Vol. 2, Iss. 25, pg. 80-86, by: Phil Hoad, "Shine On"
- "T2 (Times supplement)" (UK), 28 April 2005, pg. 14-15, by: Kevin Maher, "The kooky who gets the crumbs"
- "Steppin' Out" (USA), 18 July 2001, pg. 26-44, by: Chaunce Hayden, "Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Simplycity" (USA), July 2001, Iss. 20, pg. 18-22, by: Diana FriedmanNylon, "The Mystery of Leigh"
- "Interview" (USA), July 2001, pg. 48-49, by: Elizabeth Weitzman, "Jennifer Jason Leigh Alan Cumming"
- "Filmmaker" (USA), Spring 2001, Vol. 9, Iss. 3, pg. 58-63, by: Chuck Stephens, "Scenes From a Marriage"
- "Black Book" (USA), 2001, Iss. 19, pg. 56-58, by: Emer Martin, "Starlet Jennifer Jason Leigh's Mysterious Ways"
- "Interview" (USA), June 2000, pg. 56-57, by: Ethan Coen, "Where Heart And Soul Are Never In Short Supply"
- "Cinema" (Hungary), April 2000, Vol. 1, Iss. 101, pg. 93, by: Ralf Blau, "Szerelmi terápia"
- "Movieline" (USA), April 1999, Vol. X, Iss. 7, pg. 60-65+88, by: Michael Fleming, "Fearless Leigh"
- "Madison" (USA), March 1999, pg. 70-77, by: Jesse Kornbluth, "A Sence of Place"
- "Shout" (USA), January 1999, pg. 32-36, by: Afarin Majidi, "The Different Faces of Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "The Face" (UK), December 1996, pg. 116-118, by: Steven Daly, "warp drive"
- "Interview" (USA), January 1996, pg. 77 - 83, 103, by: John Turturro, "Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "The Times Magazine" (UK), 18 February 1995, pg. 8 - 11, by: Robert Crampton, "Out of body experience"
- "Buzz" (USA), March 1994, Vol. 5, Iss. 2, pg. 58-61, by: Paul Young, "Just Plain Jennifer"
- "Vogue" (USA), February 1994, Vol. 184, Iss. 2, pg. 240-244, by: David Handleman, "Quick-Change Artist"
- "Elle" (USA), February 1994, Iss. 102, pg. 98-102, by: Jeffrey Goodell, "Wit's End"
- "The Face" (UK), November 1992, Iss. 150, pg. 52-53, by: Steven Daly, "Q&A Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Details" (USA), September 1992, pg. 140-141, by: James Ryan, "Q&A Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Playboy" (USA), February 1992, Vol. 39, Iss. 2, pg. 132-137, by: David Rensin, "20 Questions"
- "Interview" (USA), April 1991, pg. 96 - 99, 128, by: Hilary De Vries, "Hollywood chameleon"
- "Interview" (USA), May 1990, pg. 140 - 141, by: Lance Loud, "Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Film Comment" (USA), March 1990, Vol. 26, Iss. 2, pg. 55 - 58, by: Gavin Smith, "Midnight Heart"
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- "Vogue" (Italy), February 2008, Iss. 690, pg. 490-501, by: Alessandra Venezia, "J.J.L. Jennifer Jason Leigh."
- "Entertainment Weekly" (USA), 9 November 2007, Iss. 963, pg. 34-38, by: Missy Schwartz, "the director& the star"
- "New York" (USA), October 2007, pg. 34-37, by: Emily Sussbaum, "Scenes From an Indie Marriage"
- "Wonderland" (UK), September 2007, Iss. 9, pg. 132-143, by: Ben Cobb, "Drama Queen"
- "New York" (USA), 12 December 2005, pg. 81-82, by: Boris Kachka, "Lone Star"
- "Nylon" (USA), August 2002, pg. 182-185, by: Jessica Brinton, "brave heart"
- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), August 2002, Vol. 24, Iss. 107, pg. 96, by: n/a, "Celebrity Skin Classic"
- "Time Out" (USA), 6 September 2001, Iss. 311, pg. 197, by: Reed Tucker, "The new math"
- "Sunday Express Magazine" (UK), 2 May 1999, pg. 22-23, by: Nancy Mills, "Jennifer Just An Act?"
- "Vogue" (Germany), May 1999, pg. 134-141, by: Anja Seeliger, "Auftritt Der Stars"
- "The Sunday Times Culture" (UK), 25 April 1999, by: Chrissy Iley, "The Invisible Woman"
- "Icon" (USA), April 1999, pg. 136-137, by: Evan Wiener, "Violent Femme"
- "Paper" (USA), February 1999, pg. 62-67, by: Christine Muhlke, "Dark Star"
- "TV Guia" (Portugal), 1997, Iss. 946, pg. 86
- "New York Times Magazine" (USA), 17 March 1996, pg. 38-39, by: Janet Maslin, "The Un-Nominated"
- "Premiere" (USA), February 1996, Vol. 9, Iss. 6, pg. 52-57+98-99, by: Christine Spines
- "Entertainment Weekly" (USA), 12 January 1996, Iss. 309, pg. 28-32, by: Chris Willman, "Playing With Fire"
- "Mirabella" (USA), January 1996, Vol. 7, Iss. 75, pg. 22-24, by: Howard Feinstein, "home movie"
- "Rolling Stone" (USA), 30 November 1995, Iss. 722, pg. 57-60, by: Jancee Dunn, "Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Tatler" (UK), October 1995, Vol. 290, Iss. 10, pg. 156-161, by: Victoria Mather, "Jennifer's diary"
- "Movie" (Australia), August 1995, Vol. 4, pg. 8-10, by: Jeff Hayward, "Life on the Edge"
- "Time Out" (UK), 1 March 1995, Iss. 1280, pg. 22-24, by: Tom Charity, "Devil's advocate"
- "Sight and Sound" (UK), February 1995, pg. 8-9, by: Lizzie Francke, "All About Leigh"
- "Esquire" (USA), December 1994, pg. 114 - 120, by: Lynn Darling, "Jennifer Jason Leigh Feels Your Pain"
- "Allure" (USA), November 1994, pg. 184 - 189, by: Christian Wright, "Beyond vanity"
- "W" (USA), November 1994, Vol. 23, Iss. 11, pg. 116-117, by: Merle Ginsberg, "Jennifer's Big Stretch"
- "Vogue" (UK), April 1994, Vol. 160, Iss. 2349, pg. 164 - 169, by: Paul Spike, "Bad girl rising"
- "Detour" (USA), February 1994, pg. 42-51, by: Jim Turner, "a little Leigh way"
- "Harper's Bazaar" (USA), September 1993, Iss. 3382, pg. 426 - 431, by: Mary Gaitskill, "Actress Seen In Strip Joint"
- "Vanity Fair" (USA), July 1993, Vol. 56, Iss. 7, pg. 92-97, 137-138, by: Kevin Sessums, "Single White Phenomenon"
- "US" (USA), September 1992, Iss. 176, pg. 62-65, by: Jeffrey Ressner, "Not the Girl Nest Door"
- "Elle" (UK), April 1992, pg. 20-22, by: Shari Ewing Masline, "Shooting Star"
- "L'Uomo Vogue" (Italy), October 1991, Iss. 222, pg. 286-289, by: Manuela Cerri Goren, "Dark Lady"
- "Rolling Stone" (USA), 17 May 1990, Iss. 578, pg. 70-72, 160, by: Philip Weiss, "Hot Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Vogue" (USA), May 1990, pg. 168-172, by: David Edelstein, "Movies"
- "Vogue" (USA), June 1987, Vol. -, Iss. -, pg. 34, by: Gene Stone, "The Next Generation"
- "Playboy" (USA), November 1986, Vol. 33, Iss. 11, pg. 154, by: staff, "Fast Forward"
- "Elle" (USA), March 1986, pg. 38-41, by: Steve Pond, "An Offbeat Beauty"
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- "Flaunt" (USA), September 2007, Iss. 87, pg. 168-175, by: Torkil Gudnason, "John Galliano featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), September 2004, Vol. 28, Iss. 132, pg. 14, by: staff, "Top 100 Sexiest Stars: #88 Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Harper's Bazaar" (USA), February 2004, pg. 124-128, by: Patrick Demarchelier, "Jackie, Audrey and Grace Would All Be 75 This Year"
- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), August 2002, Vol. 24, Iss. 107, pg. 96, by: N/A, "Celebriy Skin Classic"
- "High Society" (USA), May 1999, "Celebrities Stripped Bare"
- "Premiere: Woman in Hollywood" (USA), 1998, pg. 80-81, by: Andrew Macpherson, "Passion Players"
- "Celebrity Skin" (USA), June 1996, Vol. 18, Iss. 51, pg. 12-13, by: staff, "Georgia On My Lap!"
- "Mayfair" (UK), 1996, Vol. 32, Iss. 2, pg. 12-13, by: staff, "Jennifer Jason Leigh "Best Tits in the Western World!""
- "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 1994, Vol. 7, Iss. 5, pg. 25-27, by: staff, "My Art Belongs To Daddy: Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 1991, Vol. 4, Iss. 7, pg. 30-33, by: staff, "Daddy's Girls: Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Playboy" (USA), December 1990, Vol. 37, Iss. 12, pg. 179, by: Jim Harwood, "Sex Stars Of 1990"
- "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 1989, Vol. 3, Iss. 1, pg. 36-37, by: staff, "Fast Times At Ridgemont High's Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Harper's Bazaar" (USA), January 1987, Iss. 3302, pg. 122-125, "Petite Power for Night"
- "Celebrity Sleuth" (USA), 1986, Vol. 1, Iss. 2, pg. 92-93, by: staff, "The Best Little Girl In The World's Jennifer Jason Leigh"
- "Playboy" (USA), November 1985, Vol. 32, Iss. 11, pg. 135, by: Arthur Knight, "Sex In Cinema 1985"
- "Interview" (USA), September 1985, pg. 60, "The Bad and Beautiful"
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- "Interview" (USA), November 2007, Vol. 37, Iss. 10
- "Ladies Home Journal" (USA), October 2007, Vol. 124, Iss. 10
- "Wonderland" (UK), September 2007, Iss. 9
- "In New York" (USA), December 2005
- "Simplycity" (USA), July 2001
- "Steppin' Out" (USA), 18 July 1999
- "Culture" (UK), 25 April 1999
- "Sight and Sound" (UK), April 1999
- "Paper" (USA), February 1999, Vol. 9, Iss. 6
- "Shout" (USA), January 1999, Vol. 1, Iss. 11
- "Cineaste" (USA), 1999, Vol. 24, Iss. 4
- "Hot Tickets" (UK), 7 November 1996
- "American Cinematographer" (USA), September 1996, Vol. 77, Iss. 9
- "Premiere" (USA), February 1996, Vol. 9, Iss. 6
- "Interview" (USA), January 1996
- "Time Out New York" (USA), 22 November 1995
- "Tatler" (UK), October 1995, Vol. 290, Iss. 10
- "Vanity Fair" (USA), April 1995
- "Time Out" (UK), 1 March 1995, Iss. 1280
- "Sight and Sound" (UK), February 1995
- "Buzz" (USA), March 1994
- "Detour" (USA), January 1994
- "Movieline" (USA), September 1992, Vol. 3, Iss. 12
- "Veronica" (Netherlands), 24 August 1991, Iss. 34
- "Veronica" (Netherlands), 19 May 1990, Iss. 20
- "Televizier" (Netherlands), 14 September 1985, Iss. 37
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- Played Sally Bowles in a the musical "Cabaret" - Kit Kut Club/ Studio 54, NYC (August 1998 to end of February 1999).
- Print advertisement for The Gap (2001)
- Played Madge Owens in "Picnic" by William Inge, from Apr 3 - May 24 1986 at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles.
- Played the title role in "Sunshine" by 'William Mastrosimone' (qv) - Circle Repertory Theatre, New York (Dec 1989 to February 1990).
- Played Catherine in "Proof" by 'David Auburn' (qv)- Walter Kerr Theatre (Sept 13 2001 until June 30 2002).
- Appeared in Faith No More's "Last cup of sorrow" music video.
- Played Beverly in "Abigail's Party" by 'Mike Leigh' (qv) - Theatre Row, The Acorn Theatre, NYC (November 14 2005 until March 11 2006). She was nominated for the Outstanding Actress in a Play Drama Desk Award 2006 and Outstanding Lead Actress Lucille Lortel Award 2006.
- Reads for the audio-book version of "Paint It Black" by 'Janet Fitch (II)' (qv), published in September 2006.
- Print advertisement for Marc Jacobs, photographed by Juergen Teller (2006)
- Played Lisa in "Anomalisa" written and directed by Francis Fregoli - Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles (from 14-16 September 2005).
- She has acted as a model in several art photographs by the American photographer Gregory Crewdson.
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- "I could never play the ingenue, the girl next door or the very successful young doctor. That would be a bore."
- On her best friend, 'Phoebe Cates' (qv): "Your best friend is the only one who would tell you the person you are in love with is a sexually ambivalent man-child."
- I just don't plan things. I live a month at a time.
- I'm a typical middle child. I'm the mediator. The one that makes everything OK, puts their own needs aside to make sure everybody's happy. It's hard to change your nature, even with years and years of therapy.
- 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.
- People can have so many ill-conceived ideas about me based on the parts that I play. I've had guys, when I've been single, come out of the woodwork to date me and I've found out very quickly that they were expecting some kind of whirlwind, some dramatic crazy person - and that's just not me.
- I'd much rather be in a movie that people have really strong feelings about than one that makes a hundred million dollars but you can't remember because it's just like all the others.
- When I did _Short Cuts (1993)_ (qv) with 'Robert Altman (I)' (qv), I went up to him on the first day and said 'Hi', and he said 'Hi, how are you? Could you get me a cup of coffee?' When I brought it back, it turned out he thought I was the PA. For him, I come alive on film. As a person, I don't really register that much. I mean, he loves me, I don't take it as a cut, although you could. But he says that as a person I disappear in a way. On film, I'm very mysterious, but in life I'm very dull. I don't feel like I'm dull, but I don't put out a lot.
- But in mainstream movies the woman's role is mostly just to prove that the leading man is heterosexual. I'm not good at that, and I'm not interested in that.
- I like the comparison to Depp because with him, the way he transforms himself from role to role, he's just this miraculous changeling and people really get behind it. But with me, people sometimes have a problem.
- 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. And it actually does. It's a bit sick-making but, you know, I can't change who I am.
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- Daughter of actor 'Vic Morrow' (qv) and actress-screenwriter 'Barbara Turner' (qv).
- Won two 1990 Critic Society awards for her portrayal of Tralala in _Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)_ (qv) and as Susan Waggoner in _Miami Blues (1990)_ (qv).
- Selected as one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women" by Harper's Bazaar Magazine, 1989.
- Has a sister, 'Carrie Ann Morrow' (qv), and a half-sister, actress 'Mina Badie' (qv). Her stepfather is director 'Reza Badiyi' (qv).
- 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 part filmed for _Eyes Wide Shut (1999)_ (qv). When director 'Stanley Kubrick (I)' (qv) wanted to do re-shoots, she was unavailable and her entire part was redone with another actress.
- Born at 12:33pm-PST.
- She went down to a weight of 86 lbs for her role as an anorexic teenager in the TV movie _The Best Little Girl in the World (1981) (TV)_ (qv).
- In 1997, she appeared in 'Faith No More' (qv)'s music video of "Last Cup of Sorrow," the plot of which was a modification of 'Alfred Hitchcock (I)' (qv)'s _Vertigo (1958)_ (qv).
- Father, 'Vic Morrow' (qv), died while filming _Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)_ (qv) due to a tragic accident on the set.
- Measurements: 34B-23-34 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).
- After reading the script for _Backdraft (1991)_ (qv), she reportedly told director 'Ron Howard (I)' (qv) that she wished she was the fire because it has the best part.
- She attended the infamous "Stagedoor Manor," which is an upstate New York summer camp that trains teenagers in acting, singing and dancing. Her fellow alumni include sitcom actor 'Zach Braff' (qv) from NBC's _"Scrubs" (2001)_ (qv), the writer and director 'Todd Graff' (qv) (who made a film about the camp), and the pop star 'Mandy Moore (II)' (qv).
- Is of Russian descent.
- She is good friends with actress/model 'Phoebe Cates' (qv); they met while filming _Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)_ (qv) together.
- Frequently works with maverick director 'Robert Altman (I)' (qv) who, before his maverick days, worked with her father, 'Vic Morrow' (qv) on the sixties televison series _"Combat!" (1962)_ (qv).
- Lived with 'Eric Stoltz' (qv) for 5 years in the 80s
- One of her best friends is 'Paul Thomas Anderson' (qv).
- Took the name 'Jason' from family friend actor 'Jason Robards' (qv).
- She has worked with three of the four Baldwin brother in five different movies. _Miami Blues (1990)_ (qv) and Lymelife (2005) with 'Alec Baldwin' (qv), _Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)_ (qv) and _Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)_ (qv) with 'Stephen Baldwin (I)' (qv) and _Backdraft (1991)_ (qv) with 'William Baldwin (I)' (qv).
- Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2000.
- Auditioned for the role of Sarah Connor in _The Terminator (1984)_ (qv) but director 'James Cameron (I)' (qv) considered her too young for the part. 'Linda Hamilton (I)' (qv) 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 turning down many roles in some popular movies: the 'Jodie Foster' (qv)'s roles in _Taxi Driver (1976)_ (qv), _The Accused (1988)_ (qv), _The Silence of the Lambs (1991)_ (qv), _Nell (1994)_ (qv), _Contact (1997)_ (qv), _Flightplan (2005)_ (qv) and _Inside Man (2006)_ (qv); the 'Brooke Shields' (qv)' roles in _Pretty Baby (1978)_ (qv) and _The Blue Lagoon (1980)_ (qv); the 'Ally Sheedy' (qv) roles in _The Breakfast Club (1985)_ (qv) and _St. Elmo's Fire (1985)_ (qv), the 'Laura San Giacomo' (qv) role in _Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)_ (qv), the 'Julia Roberts (I)' (qv) role in _Pretty Woman (1990)_ (qv), the 'Kyra Sedgwick' (qv) role in _Singles (1992)_ (qv), the 'Lori Petty' (qv) role in _A League of Their Own (1992)_ (qv), the 'Asia Argento' (qv) role in _La sindrome di Stendhal (1996)_ (qv), the 'Julianne Moore (I)' (qv) role in _Boogie Nights (1997)_ (qv), the 'Kim Basinger' (qv) role in _L.A. Confidential (1997)_ (qv), the 'Lara Flynn Boyle' (qv) role in _Men in Black II (2002)_ (qv) and the 'Heather Graham (I)' (qv) role in _Adrift in Manhattan (2007)_ (qv). She also turned down a recurring role on the TV show _"Lost" (2004)_ (qv), which was eventually played by 'Cynthia Watros' (qv). She also turned down the role of Bree on the TV series _"Desperate Housewives" (2004)_ (qv), which was eventually played by 'Marcia Cross' (qv).
- She signed on for the film _Spread (2009)_ (qv) but later backed out, and is being replaced by 'Anne Heche' (qv).
- She was one of several actresses considered by 'Jane Campion' (qv) for the 'Holly Hunter' (qv) role in _The Piano (1993)_ (qv), but she was unable to meet with her because she was shooting _Rush (1991)_ (qv) at the time.
- 'Dario Argento' (qv) offered her the female lead in his film _La sindrome di Stendhal (1996)_ (qv), but she turned it down. It was eventually played by his daughter 'Asia Argento' (qv).
- She turned down the 'Kyra Sedgwick' (qv) role in _Singles (1992)_ (qv).
- She was offered the 'Kim Basinger' (qv) role in _L.A. Confidential (1997)_ (qv) but turned it down as she had already played a few prostitutes.
- She won the role in _Washington Square (1997)_ (qv) over 'Meg Ryan' (qv) and 'Anne Heche' (qv).
- She won the role in _The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)_ (qv) over 'Winona Ryder' (qv) and 'Bridget Fonda' (qv).
- Auditioned for the 'Nicole Kidman' (qv) role in _To Die For (1995)_ (qv).
- Auditioned for the role of Catwoman in _Batman Returns (1992)_ (qv).
- Moved in with 'Jack Black (I)' (qv) and 'Nicole Kidman' (qv) during filming _Margot at the Wedding (2007)_ (qv), 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.
- Turned down the 'Jodie Foster' (qv)'s roles in _Taxi Driver (1976)_ (qv), _The Accused (1988)_ (qv), _The Silence of the Lambs (1991)_ (qv), _Nell (1994)_ (qv), _Contact (1997)_ (qv), _Flightplan (2005)_ (qv) and _Inside Man (2006)_ (qv).
- Did an audition for the role of Violet in _Pretty Baby (1978)_ (qv), but the part went to 'Brooke Shields' (qv) instead.
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