Jennifer Beals
Biography
Jennifer Beals, born December 19, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American actress and former teen model. She grew up on Chicago’s South Side as the daughter of Jeanne Anderson, an elementary school teacher, and Alfred Beals, a grocery store owner. Her father, who was African American, died when she was nine; her mother is of Irish American descent. Beals has two brothers, Bobby and Gregory. She is best known for portraying Alexandra “Alex” Owens in the 1983 film Flashdance and Bette Porter in the Showtime series The L Word. Her performance in Flashdance earned an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe nomination. She has appeared in more than fifty films and has over one hundred credited roles.
Career overview
Jennifer Beals, born December 19 1963 in Chicago, Illinois, began her career as a teen model before transitioning to acting. Her breakthrough came with the 1983 film Flashdance, in which she portrayed Alexandra “Alex” Owens; the role earned her both an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination. Following that early success, Beals built a prolific filmography, appearing in more than fifty feature films and accumulating over one hundred credited performances across both movies and television, as recorded in her professional listings.
In addition to her film work, Beals became widely recognized for her television role as Bette Porter on the Showtime drama series The L Word, a part that further solidified her presence in contemporary popular culture. Throughout her career she has been credited with a total of 103 acting roles, reflecting a sustained engagement with a variety of genres and formats. Her body of work demonstrates a consistent presence in the entertainment industry from the early 1980s to the present, encompassing both leading and supporting characters in a range of productions.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- NCIS: New York (2026) as Robyn Wells
- Hello Out There (2025) as Judith
- Luckiest Girl Alive (2022) as Lolo Vincent
- Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021) as Cassandra Webb
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021) as Garsa Fwip
- Sweet Thing (2020) Producer
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- After (2019) as Karen Gibson
- The L Word: Generation Q (2019) as Bette Porter
- The L Word: Generation Q (2019) Executive Producer
- Swamp Thing (2019) as Lucilia Cable
- Hollywood: No Sex, Please! (2018)
- The White Orchid (2018) as Vivian
- Taken (2017) as Christina Hart
- Before I Fall (2017) as Mrs. Kingston
- Manhattan Night (2016) as Lisa Wren
- Manhattan Night (2016) Co-Producer
- Proof (2015) as Dr. Carolyn Tyler
- Full Out (2015) as Coach Valorie Kondos-Field
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
- The Night Shift (2014) as Dr. Syd Jennings
- A Wife's Nightmare (2014) as Liz
- Motive (2013) as Sophia Balfour
- A Fuller Life (2013) as Self - Reader (segment "Crime Reporter")
- Cinemanovels (2013) as Clementine
- The Chicago Code (2011) as Teresa Colvin
- The Book of Eli (2010) as Claudia
- A Night for Dying Tigers (2010) as Melanie
- The Night Before the Night Before Christmas (2010) as Angela Fox
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Castle (2009) as Sophia Turner
- Lie to Me (2009) as Zoe Landau
- Queen to Play (2009) as L’Américaine
- Starz Inside: Fashion in Film (2008) as Self
- My Name Is Sarah (2007) as Sarah Winston
- The Grudge 2 (2006) as Trish Kimble
- Troubled Waters (2006) as FBI Agent Beck
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Break a Leg (2005) as Juliet
- Desolation Sound (2005) as Elizabeth Storey
- The L Word (2004) as Bette Porter
- Best Week Ever (2004)
- Catch That Kid (2004) as Molly Phillips
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Runaway Jury (2003) as Vanessa Lembeck
- 13 Moons (2002) as Suzi
- Roger Dodger (2002) as Sophie
- They Shoot Divas, Don't They? (2002) as Sloan McBride
- Feast of All Saints (2001) as Dolly Rose
- The Anniversary Party (2001) as Gina Taylor
- Out of Line (2001) as Officer Jenny Capitanas
- Militia (2000) as Julie Sanders
- Body and Soul (2000) as Gina
- A House Divided (2000) as Amanda Dickson
- Without Malice (2000) as Samantha Wilkes
- Something More (2000) as Lisa
- Where Are They Now? (1999) as Self
- Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying (1999) as Jessica
- Wishful Thinking (1999) as Elizabeth
- The Last Days of Disco (1998) as Nina
- The Prophecy II (1998) as Valerie Rosales
- The Spree (1998) as Xinia Kelly
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Hunger (1997) as Jane
- Nothing Sacred (1997) as Justine Madsen Judd
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- The Twilight of the Golds (1996) as Suzanne Stein
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Robin Dysart
- Four Rooms (1995) as Angela
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) as Daphne Monet
- Let It Be Me (1995) as Emily Taylor
- Pulp Fiction (1994) Thanks
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) as Gertrude Benchley
- The Search for One-eye Jimmy (1994) as Ellen
- Dead on Sight (1994) as Rebecca Darcy
- Frasier (1993) as Dr. Anne Ranberg
- The Thief and the Cobbler (1993) as Princess YumYum (voice)
- Caro diario (1993) as Jennifer Beals
- Night Owl (1993) as Julia
- Indecency (1992) as Ellie Shaw
- 2000 Malibu Road (1992) as Perry Quinn
- The Big Pardon 2 (1992) as Joyce Ferranti
- In the Soup (1992) as Angelica Pena
- Terror Stalks the Class Reunion (1992) as Virginia
- Blood and Concrete (1991) as Mona
- Law & Order (1990) as Sofia Archer
- The Word (1990)
- Dr. M (1990) as Sonja Vogler
- Sons (1990) as Transvestite
- The Madonna and the Dragon (1990) as Patty Meredith
- Vampire's Kiss (1989) as Rachel
- Split Decisions (1988) as Barbara Uribe
- The Gamble (1988) as Lady Olivia Candioni
- Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (1988) as Self
- Seitenblicke (1987) as self
- The Bride (1985) as Eva
- Cinderella (1985) as Cinderella
- That's Dancing! (1985)
- That's Dancing! (1985) as Self (archive footage)
- Flashdance (1983) as Alex Owens
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Cinderella
- My Bodyguard (1980) as Clifford's Friend (uncredited)
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Joy Will Prevail as Esther Kahn