Julia Stiles (info)

Julia Stiles
Julia O'Hara Stiles was born on March 28, 1981 in New York City, the outgoing daughter of a Greenwich Village artist mother, Judith Newcomb Stiles, and an elementary school teacher father, John O'Hara. She is the eldest of three children, and has Irish, English, and German ancestry. Encouraged to take modern dance lessons at an early age, she was introduced to Shakespeare and theater. At age 11, she made her debut as a child actress with the experimental off-Broadway La MaMa Theatre. Her passion grew and by the next year was performing professionally and working in commercials. A bright, precocious student, she was seriously considered for the child vampire role of Claudia in Entrevista con el vampiro (Crónicas vampíricas) (1994) but lost out in the end to Kirsten Dunst. She continued training at New York's Professional Children's School and, at 15, made her cinematic bow with Me quiere, no me quiere (1996) with Claire Danes. Next featured as the daughter of Harrison Ford in La sombra del diablo (1997), her breakout role came on TV with the hard-hitting mini-movie Alas cortadas (1997), which was produced by Oprah Winfrey and dealt with child abuse. Her wish to play Shakespeare was granted threefold with her participation in 10 razones para odiarte (1999), which was based on the Bard's "The Taming of The Shrew" and won her the Chicago Film Critics Award as the volatile teen Kat; an updated version of Hamlet - Una historia eterna (2000) which paired her Ophelia with Ethan Hawke; and another updated version of "Othello" entitled Laberinto envenenado (2001), which had her high school character of Desi (Desdemona) involved in a mixed romantic relationship with African-American Mekhi Phifer. The violent-edged film was made in 1998 but not released until three years later due to the tragic Colorado student shootings at Columbine High School. In addition, Julia later portrayed Viola off-Broadway in a Shakespeare-in-the-Park production of "Twelfth Night" in 2002.

She temporarily interrupted her career after deciding to enroll at Columbia University in 2000, where she earned a degree in English. Stiles has also returned to the stage, appearing in David Mamet's "Oleanna" in London, a role she would reprise on Broadway in 2009, opposite Bill Pullman and directed by Doug Hughes.

Moving into mainstream roles by the millennium, she took on a role that would carry her through the decade, co-starring with Matt Damon in popular Bourne series: The Bourne Identity: El caso Bourne (2002), El mito de Bourne (2004), and El ultimátum de Bourne(2007). During the time between Bourne films, she appeared in ensemble dramas, appearing opposite Julia Roberts in La sonrisa de Mona Lisa (2003), won offbeat notice in the title role of Carolina (2003) with Shirley MacLaine and Randy Quaid. She also returned to her indie film roots, with films such as Between Us (2012) and the comedy farce, It's a Disaster (2012).

In 2010, she switched gears and headed to series television, joining the cast of Dexter(2006) for the show's fifth season in the role of Lumen Pierce, a performance that earned her nominations for both the Golden Globe and the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress. In 2012, she followed up with another series, Blue (2012), which airs on YouTube, while preparing for cinematic roles in El lado bueno de las cosas (2012) and The Bell Jar. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net












Trade Mark

Strawberry blonde hair

Deep sultry voice













Trivia 

Graduated from Columbia University with a degree in English (2005).

Chosen as one of Teen People Magazine's "21 Hottest Stars Under 21".

Has been in three films inspired by William Shakespeare's plays: 10 razones para odiarte(1999) (The Taming of The Shrew), Laberinto envenenado (2001) (Othello), and Hamlet - Una historia eterna (2000) (Hamlet).

In 1999, Julia graduated from New York's Professional Children's School, which prepares students for careers in the arts.

During her hiatus from Espera al último baile (2001), she signed up with Habitat for Humanity International, an organization that builds homes for the needy.

Voted one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.

Was a college classmate of Anna Paquin at Columbia University.

One of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars under 25"

Julia Stiles began her career at the La Mama Theater and the Kitchen Theater in New York.

Won the 2001 Teens Choice Drama Award for her role in Espera al último baile (2001).

No longer a vegan and when Conan O'Brien asked her what the first bite of a hamburger was like she responded, "The word orgasm comes to mind." (December 2003).

Has dated the Prince of Denmark in two movies, Hamlet - Una historia eterna (2000) andEl príncipe y yo (2004).

She has Irish, English, and German ancestry. Her parents are John O'Hara and Judith Stiles.

Is a die-hard New York Mets fan.

After a 39-minute rain delay and dressed with a Mets cap, Julia Stiles threw out the opening pitch at Shea Stadium during the Memorial Day game of the New York Mets vs. Arizona Diamondbacks on May 29, 2006.

Considered for the role of Susan Storm/Invisible Girl in Los cuatro fantásticos (2005).

She and Liev Schreiber played siblings in Hamlet - Una historia eterna (2000). The pair later played husband and wife in La profecía (2006).

In 10 razones para odiarte (1999) her character, Kat Stratford, was reading the book "The Bell Jar" in a scene. Stiles was attached to the lead role in the movie version of the novel for some years.

Dyed her hair blond for La sonrisa de Mona Lisa (2003).

Grew up with Claire Danes and Zac Posen.

Has appeared in two movies where Sylvia Plath's novel "The Bell Jar" is mentioned (10 razones para odiarte (1999) and El lado bueno de las cosas (2012)).

Attends world premiere of El ultimátum de Bourne (2007) alongside fellow cast membersMatt Damon and Joan Allen. [July 2007]

Starring, with Aaron Eckhart, in the two-person David Mamet play "Oleanna" live on stage at the Garrick Theatre in London, England. [April 2004]

Is currently in Iceland while filming Verdades ocultas (2005). [August 2004]

Attends world premiere for La profecía (2006) along with director John Moore and fellow cast members Liev Schreiber and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick. [June 2006]

Shares the same name as Humphrey Bogart's paternal grandmother. They both were also born and grew up in New York.

According to the 10th Anniversary commentary by her co-stars for 10 razones para odiarte (1999), she and Heath Ledger began a relationship during the filming. They broke up in January 2000.

Starred in two movies alongside Andrew Keegan that were based on William Shakespeare's plays: 10 razones para odiarte (1999) (The Taming of The Shrew) andLaberinto envenenado (2001), which is a modern adaptation of Othello.

[January 2016] Engaged to Preston J. Cook.













Personal Quotes 

I am a big fan of horror movies but I had never thought that I had wanted to act in one because I don't think that actors get to do much in them. They're usually just reacting.

I was gonna throw the first pitch at a Mets game, but there was a rain delay. So I'm waiting for it to stop, and the team's manager, Willie Randolph, comes by. Now he's already intimidating to begin with. But he comes over to me and says, 'If you screw this up, they will boo you.' And I said 'Thanks.'

I think audiences, producers and directors included, develop crushes on actors (actresses in particular) and then lose interest and move on to the next one. [...] There are a handful of actors who sustain interest because it's exciting to watch them get better at what they do. I want to be one of those actors.

[on the most challenging aspect of playing Lumen in Dexter (2006)] - I never think of myself as an actor who takes work home with them, but I was surprised, especially toward the end of the season -- around episode 10 -- when some of the details of what Lumen had experienced became really harrowing, and I started to realize that it was affecting me outside of work. One scene in particular, in episode 10, when the detectives have found DVDs showing what has happened to the victims -- it was really dark. It made it more difficult for me to sleep.

[on a scene that stands out most when looking back on her time on Dexter (2006)] In the kill room, when she first gets to put the knife in. That was really special. There was also a nice moment of collaboration where the set designers had put up pictures of all the other victims on the wall, and I remember saying to the director that I felt like it was important that Lumen acknowledge the other girls and say that it was for them, too. We did a separate shot of that, and it ended up in the final edit, which I was really pleased about. It's a great example of how collaborative the show is and what a nice environment it is to work in.
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