Qball Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Virginia Madsen (born September 11, 1961) is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, having appeared in several films aimed at a teenage audience. During the 2000s, she once again became known after an Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated role in the film Sideways. Madsen was born in Chicago, Illinois to Cal Madsen, a fireman, and Elaine (née Melson), an Emmy-winning poet, producer and playwright who often works for PBS; Madsen's mother left a career in corporate business to pursue a writing career. Madsen's brother is actor Michael Madsen. Her paternal grandparents were Danish and her mother has Irish and Native American ancestry. Madsen is a graduate of New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. Her first stab as a thespian was as her brother’s assistant in magic shows the two would concoct for their family. She later attended the Ted Liss Acting Studio in Chicago and Harand Camp Adult Theater Seminar in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Of her experience with Liss she said: "I had wanted to join his class since I was 12. It was well worth the wait because I don't think I could have got that sort of training anywhere else especially in the United States...I always wanted to make a real career out of acting." Audiences first caught a glimpse of Madsen in a bit part she landed as Lisa in the teen sex comedy Class. She was cast as Princess Irulan in David Lynch's science fiction epic Dune (1984). Madsen first became popular with audiences in 1986 with her portrayal of a Catholic schoolgirl who fell in love with a boy from a prison camp in Duncan Gibbons's Fire with Fire. Other noted film appearances include 1990s The Hot Spot with Don Johnson, and the steamy Third Degree Burn with Treat Williams. She was also co-host of the TV series Unsolved Mysteries in 1999, during the show's final season at CBS. She also turned in a solid performance in Francis Ford Coppola's The Rainmaker (1997). Film critic Roger Ebert said that Madsen had a "strong scene", while reviewer James Berardinelli noted that "the supporting cast is solid, with turns from... Virginia Madsen as a witness for the plaintiff". Madsen had spent more than twenty years in minor films before her breakout critically acclaimed performance in Sideways (2004). The role catapulted her onto the fabled Hollywood A-list. Her first major role after Sideways was opposite Harrison Ford in Firewall. She later appeared in Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion, in a key role as the angel. Most recently, she co-starred with Jim Carrey in The Number 23 and Billy Bob Thornton in The Astronaut Farmer; both films opened in North America on February 23, 2007. Madsen has made numerous television appearances including: Star Trek: Voyager, CSI: Miami, Dawson's Creek, The Practice, Frasier, Moonlighting, and other series. She starred opposite Ray Liotta in CBS's short-lived crime drama Smith. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Madsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qball Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qball Posted June 21, 2007 Author Share Posted June 21, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacdiv Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 shopping candids 08.21 spacdiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qball Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Star1 Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 OK,...I'll bite. What show is that last pic from? Virginia as a brunette?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korravai Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 She looks really nice as a brunette! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcruzfan Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkerbelle Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qball Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korravai Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 THANKS Qball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dziubalek88 Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Virginia Madsen arrives for the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qball Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qball Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Los Angeles premiere of "Avatar" - Dec 16 2009 /monthly_12_2009/post-33019-0-1446086772-08528_thumb.jpg" data-fileid="3784128" alt="post-33019-0-1446086772-08528_thumb.jpg" data-ratio="150.3"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellymo-82 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I have some scans of a younger Virginia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellymo-82 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Another one of my scans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 82nd Annual Academy Awards - Mar 7 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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