| Elizabeth Gracen | |
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Elizabeth Gracen at Japan Expo 2010 |
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| Born | Elizabeth Grace Ward April 3, 1961 |
| Years active | 1987–present |
Elizabeth Ward Gracen is an American actress who won the title of Miss America in 1982. She was born Elizabeth Grace Ward but should not be confused with another Elizabeth Ward who worked as a television actress during the first half of the 1980s.
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She was born on April 3, 1961[1] in Ozark, Arkansas, and raised in Booneville, Arkansas, U.S., the daughter of Jimmy Young Ward and Patricia "Pat" (Murphy) Ward. She later moved to Russellville, Arkansas with her family, where she graduated from Russellville high school in 1979. She won the titles of Miss Arkansas in 1981 and Miss America in 1982. She used her Miss America scholarship money to study acting at HB Studios in New York City before moving to Hollywood to pursue a film and television career. During this time, Gracen says she had a one-night stand with future President Bill Clinton.[2][3] She posed nude for Playboy magazine's May 1992 issue.
She built an acting career, and in 1989, while filming Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, she met actor Brendan Hughes and they married soon after. The couple divorced in 1994. Before that she was married to Jon Birmingham. Gracen gave birth to a daughter, Quinlan Murphy, on July 28, 2005.
She made her professional feature film debut in Three For The Road with Charlie Sheen. Her film credits also include a featured role in Marked For Death opposite Steven Seagal, Pass The Ammo with Tim Curry, and the CBS feature 83 Hours Till Dawn with Peter Strauss and Robert Urich. Gracen starred in Lower Level and Discretion Assured with Michael York.
On television, Gracen has appeared in Shelley Duvall's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sidney Sheldon's The Sands of Time and Death of the Incredible Hulk. She also appeared with a starring role in the series Extreme for NBC and the syndicated series Renegade and Queen of Swords.
Elizabeth Gracen's best-known acting role has been as the character of the Immortal Amanda in the series Highlander: The Series, and its spin-off from that character, Highlander: The Raven.
She made her directing debut with a documentary short feature called The Damn Deal. The film is an intimate portrait of three young drag queens from her home state who compete in female impersonator beauty pageants.
She also has a cooking show in development with Contessa Ippolita Douglas Scotti di Vigoleno. Gracen also hosts tours to Tuscany and is currently putting together a number of tour offerings to venues as diverse as Venice, Napa Valley and a dude ranch in Wyoming. She also offers classes in the Fan Kata technique showcased on Highlander: The Raven. Gracen has recently starred in a commercial for match.com and in the film Interceptor Force 2.
In 1992, rumors swirled that Gracen had an affair with Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton.[4] At first, Gracen dismissed this claim. In Spring 1998 Gracen recanted her six-year-old denial and stated she had a one night stand with Clinton in 1982.[5] After claiming this, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr, who was investigating Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit, issued a subpoena to have her testify her claim in court.[6] Gracen, however, continuously eluded the subpoena[6] and was at one point able to avoid it by filming Highlander: The Raven overseas.[5]
In December of 1999, due to her poor financial state, Gracen filed for bankruptcy protection.[5]
| Honorary titles | ||
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| Preceded by Lencola Sullivan |
Miss Arkansas 1981 |
Succeeded by Micki Petrus |
| Preceded by Bobbie Candler |
National Sweetheart 1980 |
Succeeded by Gloria Gilbert |
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