Vera Farmiga

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Vera Farmiga
Birth name Vera Ann Farmiga
Born August 6, 1973 (age 33)
Flag of United States Essex County New Jersey, United States
Spouse(s) Sebastian Roché (1997 - 2005) (divorced)
Notable roles Madolyn Madden in The Departed

Vera Ann Farmiga (pronounced: far-MEE-guh) (born August 6, 1973, Essex County, New Jersey) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the 2006 films Running Scared and The Departed.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Farmiga, the second oldest of seven children, grew up in Irvington, New Jersey to Michael and Luba Farmiga, Ukrainian immigrants. She was raised in an insular Ukrainian American community, not speaking English until the age of six. She attended a Ukrainian Catholic school in Newark and toured with a Ukrainian folk-dancing ensemble.[1] In 1991, Farmiga graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School.

[edit] Career

Farmiga in Down to the Bone, 2005
Farmiga in Down to the Bone, 2005

Although she originally intended to become an optometrist, Farmiga attended Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts. She made her Broadway debut in 1996 as an understudy in the play Taking Sides. The same year, she starred as Miranda in the American Conservatory Theater production of The Tempest. Throughout the late 1990s, she continued appearing in stage, television and film roles, including a part in the 1998 film Return to Paradise.

Farmiga appeared in several high profile films in the early 2000s, including Autumn in New York and 15 Minutes. She also appeared in the 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate. Her lead performance in the 2005 film Down to the Bone received a "Best Actress" award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. In 2006 she appeared in Running Scared, and as a police psychiatrist in Martin Scorsese's The Departed.

[edit] Personal life

Farmiga was formerly married to actor Sebastian Roché, who co-starred with her in the television series Roar. The two eloped to the Bahamas after the series' end in 1997. The marriage ended in divorce in 2005.

She is currently dating Renn Hawkey of the band Deadsy.

[edit] Selected filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Breaking and Entering Oana
The Departed Madolyn Madden
Running Scared Teresa Gazelle
2004 Down to the Bone Irene limited release
The Manchurian Candidate Jocelyne Jordan
2003 Dummy Lorena
2002 Love in the Time of Money Greta limited release
2001 15 Minutes Daphne Handlova
2000 Autumn in New York Lisa Tyler
1998 The Return to Paradise Kerrie

[edit] TV work

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Touching Evil Detective Susan Branca
2002 UC: Undercover Alex Cross
1997 Roar Caitlin

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fun Fact from Syzokryli website, accessed October 14, 2006

[edit] External links