Jennifer Jason Leigh

Birthday: 5 February 1962, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name: Jennifer Lee Morrow

Height: 160 cm

Jennifer Jason Leigh was born Jennifer Lee Morrow in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of writer Barbara Turner and actor Vic Morrow. Her father was of Russian Jewish descent and her mother was of ...Show More

I like a movie that the audience actively has to participate in, and not just casually observe. What Show more 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. Hide

I remember I once went to a nutritionist who said I come from good Russian- Jewish peasant stock, wh Show more 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. Hide

I just don't plan things. I live a month at a time. I just don't plan things. I live a month at a time.

But in mainstream movies the woman's role is mostly just to prove that the leading man is heterosexu Show more 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. Hide

[1982: on the death of her father, actor Vic Morrow] I always hoped we could work together and, thro Show more [1982: on the death of her father, actor Vic Morrow] I always hoped we could work together and, through that, resolve whatever needed to be resolved between us. Now that chance is lost. That's the real tragedy. Hide

[on her best friend, Phoebe Cates] Your best friend is the only one who would tell you the person yo Show more [on her best friend, Phoebe Cates] Your best friend is the only one who would tell you the person you are in love with is a sexually ambivalent man-child. Hide

People can have so many ill-conceived ideas about me based on the parts that I play. I've had guys, Show more 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. Hide

When I did Short Cuts (1993) with Robert Altman, I went up to him on the first day and said 'Hi', an Show more When I did Short Cuts (1993) with Robert Altman, 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. Hide

[1992, on Backdraft (1991)] Ron Howard was incredibly generous and patient with me. He pursued me wi Show more [1992, on Backdraft (1991)] Ron Howard was incredibly generous and patient with me. He pursued me with this role. And I failed him. Everybody had been telling me for so long that I should stop playing women who go through grueling experiences, but there was no place for me in that character. It taught me that I can't take a role I don't really connect with. Hide

I'm a typical middle child. I'm the mediator. The one that makes everything OK, puts their own needs Show more 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. Hide

I like the comparison to Johnny Depp because with him, the way he transforms himself from role to ro Show more I like the comparison to Johnny 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. Hide

I'd much rather be in a movie that people have really strong feelings about than one that makes a hu Show more 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. Hide

[1992, on Miami Blues (1990)] Working with Alec (Baldwin) was like being on a roller coaster. He's t Show more [1992, on Miami Blues (1990)] Working with Alec (Baldwin) was like being on a roller coaster. He's thrilling, incredibly funny, completely free, unashamed, trustful. It was one of those rare experiences where you really believe your fellow actor is the character he's playing. We didn't screw, of course, but our love scenes felt alive. Hide

I think I am talented -- but I also think I'm very lucky. I think I am talented -- but I also think I'm very lucky.

So much of the joy of seeing Quentin [Tarantino]'s movies is just how explosively imaginative they a Show more So much of the joy of seeing Quentin [Tarantino]'s movies is just how explosively imaginative they are, and how you don't really know where things are going, and you don't really know who's who and what's what and what the truth is. Hide

When my first movie, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), turned out to be this big hit, I was so in Show more When my first movie, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), turned out to be this big hit, I was so innocent, I thought: all movies are hits. It took a couple of years to figure out that almost every movie I made after that didn't make money. Some of them haven't made money because they're not very good movies. It's not like I look at a project and go, 'Oh, this is going to be a box-office bomb. I want it!' Hide

I could never play the ingenue, the girl next door or the very successful young doctor. That would b Show more I could never play the ingenue, the girl next door or the very successful young doctor. That would be a bore. Hide

I think I live in this mythical world where doing the parts I do is not going to hurt me, and tellin Show more 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. Hide

Jennifer Jason Leigh's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (182) as Director (1) as Creator (2)

The Waltons - Season 1

Weeds - Season 8

Amityville: The Awakening

Revenge - Season 1

Spawn - Season 2

The Late Late Show with James Corden - Season 4

Baretta - Season 1

Good Time

The Waltons - Season 2

Weeds - Season 7

Family - Season 1

Heart of Midnight

Sharp Stick

The Affair - Season 5

Hateship Loveship

The Waltons - Season 9

Hercules - Season 2

Anomalisa

King of the Hill - Season 2

Flesh and Blood

Awake (2021)

The Spectacular Now

Atypical - Season 4

King of the Hill - Season 6

Weeds - Season 3

Watch What Happens: Live - Season 18

Jennifer Jason Leigh'S roles

Elsa Gardner

Lisa Hesselman

Stevie

Sara

Jennifer Vaitkus

Pauline

Jill Price-Gray

Stacy Hamilton

Nash

Hedra Carlson

Tralala

Naomi Ginsberg

Annie Sullivan

FBI Agent Snyder

Kara Wallace Clarke

Amy

Anney Boatwright

Maria

Corey

Allison Capuletti

Amy Archer

Kristen Cates

Dr. Ventress

Selena St. George

Dr. Beth Lorenson

Daisy Domergue

Agnes