Jennifer Beals Biography

Fast Facts

• Received the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award in 2012 for her outstanding support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community
• Served as Grand Marshal of the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago in 2010, where she spoke about the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Pablove Foundation, two charities that are important to her
• Put her acting career on hold to attend Yale University, graduating in 1987 with a degree in American literature
• As a teenager, she worked at a Baskin-Robbins and as a babysitter for neighbors before pursuing acting
• Quote: "[on her acting career] "It's been perfect․ I can still ride a subway and work with great people․ I can't imagine being Julia Roberts․ I don't have the fortitude to withstand that kind of attention․""
• While making "Pulp Fiction," director Quentin Tarantino, a close friend of hers, frequently stayed at her house
• Was a classmate of fellow actor David Duchovny while attending Yale University