Diana Scarwid
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Diana Scarwid (born August 27, 1955 in Savannah, Georgia) is an American film and television actress.
Known for her character acting, Diana left for New York at the age of 17 to become an actress. She graduated from Pace University and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts simultaneously and completed the dual program as an honor student. Scarwid was active with the University of Georgia Theater Workshop, the National Shakespeare Conservatory, and the Film Actor's Workshop at Burbank Studios before making her first film appearance in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (1978). She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as John Savage's girlfriend in Inside Moves (1980). She then moved on to her most talked-about screen role: Christina Crawford, the much abused adopted daughter of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest (1981). Opinions are mixed regarding Scarwid's work in this film: Some congratulate her for bringing artistry and craftsmanship to an impossibly written role, while others condemn her for never rising above the tawdry material — and for failing to shed her Southern accent.
After this appearance, however, with isolated exceptions like Silkwood (1983) (in which she earned critical reviews as Cher's humorless female lover), Scarwid was largely confined to trash films like Psycho III (1986) and Brenda Starr (1993), although she did also earn the roles of Rose Kennedy in the made-for-TV JFK: The Restless Years (1993) and Bess Truman in Truman (1995), playing opposite Gary Sinise. Scarwid also had a brief but scene stealing part as Jody, the slightly ditzy friend of Michelle Pfeiffer's character in What Lies Beneath (2000)
Scarwid also earned an Emmy nomination for her impressive performance opposite Gary Sinise in the HBO movie Truman.
Scarwid has two children, Jeremy and Ursula.
In recent years, Scarwid has become a more respected face in the industry. In 2003 she appeared in Party Monster as controversial New York City club promoter Michael Alig's mother, Elke Alig. In 2004, she was part of the television series Wonderfalls. In 2006, she played Jeanette Owens on Fox' TV Series Prison Break, Season 2, episodes 5 & 6.
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Categories: 1955 births | American actors | American character actors | American film actors | American television actors | Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nominees | Law & Order actors | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actors | Prison Break actors | Living people | People from Georgia (U.S. state) | Worst Supporting Actress Razzie
