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Diane Venora Biography |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Born: | August 10th, 1952 in Hartford, Connecticut |
| Education: | Juilliard School of Drama, New York |
| Height: | |
| Eye Colour: | Brown |
| Hair Colour: | Dark Brown |
| Was Married to: | Cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak |
| Children: | 1 daughter, Madzia |
After graduating from Julliard, Diane performed extensively on stage. She is a talented stage actress, particularly in Shakespeare plays. In 1983, she starred in Joseph Papp's production of Hamlet at the New York Shakespeare Festival, in the lead role!
In 1988, she landed the role of Chan Parker in Clint Eastwood's biographical feature of jazz great Charlie Parker, Bird, opposite Forrest Whitaker. This performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and the New York Film Critics Award. Unfortunately the movie wasn't a box-office hit but the critics became aware of her.
She was married to cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak (Speed) but later divorced him. After the divorce, she lived in New York with daughter Madzia, travelling often for work. To spend more time with her daughter she quit show business. During her 7-year hiatus, Diane Venora, who never remarried, stayed close to home, teaching disadvantaged kids.
Thunder Alley playing Ed Asner's daughter and a had a recurring role in Chicago Hope opposite fellow Juilliardian Mandy Patinkin. In 1995, she starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Michael Mann's hit thriller Heat. Her memorable portrayal of the strong and intelligent Justine Hanna, caught in the vortex of a troubled marriage, earned her appreciation from the audience and the critics. That performance, and her follow-up as Juliet's mother in William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, impressed the directors of both The Jackal and Eaters of the Dead, a Viking adventure starring Antonio Banderas to be released in spring.
Diane Venora is a member of the Studio Ensemble Theatre and the Circle Repertory Company.
