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Theresa Russell

Acting Born Mar 20, 1957 San Diego, California, USA 69 credits
69
Total Credits
2016
41 Years Career Span
22
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Theresa Russell, born Theresa Lynn Paup on March 20, 1957, in San Diego, California, is an American actress. She made her film debut in The Last Tycoon in 1976 and subsequently took a lead role in Straight Time in 1978. She earned critical praise for her role in Nicolas Roeg's controversial thriller Bad Timing in 1980. Following her marriage to Roeg in 1982, she appeared in numerous arthouse and experimental films directed by him, including Eureka in 1983, Insignificance in 1985, and Cold Heaven in 1991. Also in 1991, she starred in Whore and Kafka. Her later work includes appearances in the thriller Wild Things in 1998 and the critically acclaimed drama The Believer in 2001.

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Career

Career overview

Theresa Russell, born Theresa Lynn Paup on March 20, 1957, in San Diego, California, is an American actress. Russell made her film debut in The Last Tycoon in 1976, followed by a lead role in Straight Time in 1978. She was then cast in Nicolas Roeg's controversial thriller Bad Timing in 1980, which earned her critical praise. After marrying Roeg in 1982, she appeared in many films directed by him, mainly arthouse and experimental films, including Eureka in 1983, Insignificance in 1985, and Cold Heaven in 1991.

Russell starred in Whore and Kafka, both released in 1991. She later appeared in the box-office hit thriller Wild Things in 1998, starred in the critically acclaimed drama The Believer in 2001, and continued appearing in projects through the later 2000s.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

A Winter Rose
Nicolas Roeg: It's About Time...
Moving Mountains
Delete
Liz & DickThe Legends of Nethiah1 Out of 7
Born to RideThat's InsignificanceRid of Me
Jolene
16 to Life
FringeDark WorldRailroad to Hell: A Chinaman's Chance
Spider-Man 3American HeiressOn the Doll
Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to LightMorality and the Code: A How-to Manual for HollywoodMolls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster FilmsProhibition Opens the FloodgatesGangsters: The Immigrant's Hero
Empire FallsBlind Injustice
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession
Cold CaseLove Comes SoftlyPassionadaThe BoxWater Under the Bridge
Glory DaysThe House Next DoorProject ViperSearching for Debra WingerNow & Forever
Law & Order: Criminal IntentThe BelieverEarth vs. the Spider
Luckytown
Wild ThingsRunning Woman
Nash BridgesThe PropositionOnce You Meet a StrangerPublic Enemies
Hotel ParadiseThe GrotesqueTrade OffA Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
The Spy WithinBeing Human
Thicker Than WaterA Woman's Guide to Adultery
Cold Heaven
WhoreKafka
Impulse
Physical Evidence
Track 29
Black WidowAria
Insignificance
The Razor's Edge

Full Filmography

69 titles
  • A Winter Rose (2016) as Rachal Love
  • Nicolas Roeg: It's About Time... (2015) as Self
  • Moving Mountains (2014) as Trish Bragg
  • Delete (2013) as Fiona
  • Liz & Dick (2012) as Sara Taylor
  • The Legends of Nethiah (2012) as Nethiah's Mother
  • 1 Out of 7 (2012) as Lexi's Mom
  • Born to Ride (2011) as Frances Callahan
  • That's Insignificance (2011) as Self
  • Rid of Me (2011) as Mrs. Lockwood
  • Jolene (2010) as Aunt Kay
  • 16 to Life (2009) as Louise
  • Fringe (2008) as Rebecca Kibner
  • Dark World (2008) as Nicole
  • Railroad to Hell: A Chinaman's Chance (2008) as Mrs. Williams
  • Spider-Man 3 (2007) as Emma Marko
  • American Heiress (2007) as Jordan Wakefield
  • On the Doll (2007) as Diane
  • Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light (2006) as Self
  • Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood (2006) as Self
  • Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films (2006) as Self
  • Prohibition Opens the Floodgates (2006) as Self
  • Gangsters: The Immigrant's Hero (2006) as Self
  • Empire Falls (2005) as Charlene
  • Blind Injustice (2005) as Joanna Bartlett
  • Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) as Self
  • Cold Case (2003) as Rachel Malone (2010)
  • Love Comes Softly (2003) as Sarah Graham
  • Passionada (2003) as Lois Vargas
  • The Box (2003) as Dora Baker
  • Water Under the Bridge (2003) as Jackie O'Connor
  • Glory Days (2002) as Hazel Walker
  • The House Next Door (2002) as Helen Schmidt
  • Project Viper (2002) as Dr. Nancy Burnham
  • Searching for Debra Winger (2002) as Self
  • Now & Forever (2002) as Dori Wilson
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Regina Reid
  • The Believer (2001) as Lina Moebius
  • Earth vs. the Spider (2001) as Trixie Grillo
  • Luckytown (2000) as Stella
  • Wild Things (1998) as Sandra Van Ryan
  • Running Woman (1998) as Emily Russo
  • Nash Bridges (1996) as Ellen Holiday
  • The Proposition (1996) as Catherine Morgan
  • Once You Meet a Stranger (1996) as Margo Anthony
  • Public Enemies (1996) as Kate Barker
  • Hotel Paradise (1995) as Bride
  • The Grotesque (1995) as Lady Harriet Coal
  • Trade Off (1995) as Jackie Daniels
  • A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995) as Morgan Le Fay
  • The Spy Within (1994) as Mary Ann Curran (aka Alex Canis)
  • Being Human (1994) as The Storyteller
  • Thicker Than Water (1993) as Debbie / Jo
  • A Woman's Guide to Adultery (1993) as Rose
  • Cold Heaven (1992) as Marie Davenport
  • Whore (1991) as Liz
  • Kafka (1991) as Gabriela
  • Impulse (1990) as Lottie Mason
  • Physical Evidence (1989) as Jennifer "Jenny" Hudson
  • Track 29 (1988) as Linda Henry
  • Black Widow (1987) as Catharine Petersen
  • Aria (1987) as King Zog
  • Insignificance (1985) as The Actress
  • The Razor's Edge (1984) as Sophie MacDonald
  • Eureka (1983) as Tracy
  • Bad Timing (1980) as Milena Flaherty
  • Blind Ambition (1979) as Maureeen Dean
  • Straight Time (1978) as Jenny Mercer
  • The Last Tycoon (1976) as Cecilia Brady

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Theresa Russell best known for?

Theresa Russell is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976), Wet Hot American Summer (2001), Love Comes Softly (2003).

When and where was Theresa Russell born?

Theresa Russell was born on March 20, 1957 in San Diego, California, USA.

How many credits does Theresa Russell have?

Theresa Russell has accumulated over 69 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1976 to 2016.

What is Theresa Russell's background in cinema and television?

Theresa Russell, born Theresa Lynn Paup on March 20, 1957, in San Diego, California, is an American actress. She made her film debut in The Last Tycoon in 1976 and subsequently took a lead role in Straight Time in 1978. She earned critical praise for her role in Nicolas Roeg's controversial thriller Bad Timing in 1980....