Theresa Russell is an American actress who began her career in a supporting role in Elia Kazan's The Last Tycoon (1976), playing the daughter of a prominent film executive. In 1978, she starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in the critically acclaimed crime drama Straight Time, following a lead role in the CBS miniseries Blind Ambition, portraying Maureen Dean, the wife of U.S. White House Counsel John Dean.
Her next role was a lead in English filmmaker Nicolas Roeg's controversial thriller Bad Timing (1980), which earned critical praise, in which Russell portrayed an American woman in Vienna who enters a dysfunctional relationship with a psychoanalyst. Bad Timing marked the first of six projects Russell and Roeg would collaborate on following their marriage in 1982; subsequent collaborations include the drama Eureka (1983); the experimental alternate history film Insignificance (1985), in which Russell portrayed Marilyn Monroe; and the dramas Track 29 (1989) and Cold Heaven (1991).
Russell had a mainstream commercial breakthrough portraying a serial killer in Bob Rafelson's neo-noir film Black Widow (1987). Other roles from this time included the crime drama Physical Evidence (1989), co-starring Burt Reynolds, and Sondra Locke's thriller Impulse (1990). In 1991, Russell starred as a prostitute in Ken Russell's satirical drama Whore, followed by Steven Soderbergh's experimental black-and-white feature, Kafka, co-starring Jeremy Irons.
After appearing in a number of independent films in the mid-1990s, Russell had a supporting role in the commercially successful neo-noir Wild Things (1998), and the critically acclaimed drama The Believer (2001). In 2005, she had a supporting role on the HBO miniseries Empire Falls, followed by a minor part in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 (2007).
Film Year Title Role Director(s) Notes 1976 The Last TycoonCecilia Brady 1978Straight TimeJenny Mercer 1980Bad TimingMilena Flaherty 1982TenebreAnne (voice) English version, dubbing voice for Daria Nicolodi 1983EurekaTracy McCann Maillot Van Horn 1984 The Razor's EdgeSophie MacDonald 1985Insignificance The Actress 1987Black WidowCatharine Petersen 1987AriaKing Zog Segment: Un ballo in maschera 1988Track 29Linda Henry 1989Physical EvidenceJenny Hudson 1990ImpulseLottie Mason 1991WhoreLiz 1991Cold HeavenMarie Davenport 1991KafkaGabriela 1993Thicker Than WaterDebbie / Jo Television film 1994Being HumanThe Storyteller 1995Trade-OffJackie Daniels Television film 1995Hotel Paradise Bride Short film 1995 The Spy WithinMary Ann Curran 1995 A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtMorgan le Fay 1995 The GrotesqueLady Harriet Coal Alternate titles: Grave Indiscretion; Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets 1996Once You Meet a StrangerMargo Anthony Television film 1996Public EnemiesKate "Ma" Barker 1996Catherine Morgan 1998Wild ThingsSandra Van Ryan 1998Running Woman Emily Russo 2000LuckytownStella 2001The BelieverLina Moebius 2001Earth vs. the SpiderTrixie GrilloTelevision film 2002 The House Next DoorHelen Schmidt 2002PassionadaLois Vargas 2002Now & ForeverDori Wilson 2002Project ViperDr. Nancy Burnham Television film 2003Love Comes SoftlySarah Graham Television film 2003Chasing Alice Television film 2003Water Under the BridgeJackie O'Connor Alternate title: Save It for Later 2003 The BoxDora Baker2005Blind InjusticeJoanna Bartlett Television film 2007Spider-Man 3Emma Marko 2007On the DollDiane 2008Chinaman's Chance: America's Other SlavesMrs. Williams 2008JoleneAunt Kay 2008Dark WorldNicole 2009He's Just Not That into YouMrs. Marks Scenes deleted 200916 to LifeLouise 2011Rid of MeMrs. Lockwood 2011Born to RideFrances Callahan 20111 Out of 7Lexi's Mom 2012 The Legends of NethiahNethiah's Mother 2012Liz & DickSara TaylorTelevision film 2014A Winter RoseRachal Love 2014Moving MountainsTrish Bragg
Television Year Title Role Notes 1979Blind AmbitionMaureen DeanMiniseries, 1 episode1993A Woman's Guide to AdulteryRoseMiniseries, 3 episodes1999G vs EReesa TusselEpisode: "To Be or Not to Be Evil" 2000Nash BridgesEllen Holiday / Sarah WilliamsEpisodes: "Jackpot: Parts 1 & 2"2002Glory DaysHazel WalkerMain role, 9 episodes2005Empire FallsCharleneTV miniseries, 2 episodes2006Law & Order: Criminal IntentRegina ReidEpisode: "On Fire"2007American HeiressJordan WakefieldRecurring role, 14 episodes 2009FringeRebecca KibnerEpisode: "Momentum Deferred"2010Cold CaseRachel Malone (2010)Episode: "One Fall" 2012–2013 Delete Fiona Miniseries, 2 episodes
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