Despite her laundry list of awards–a BAFTA, an Academy Award, Critics Choice, and a few others–Jennifer Connelly will always be remembered by GenX-ers and elder millennials as Sarah, the petulant teen who fought through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered to rescue her baby brother from the clutches of David Bowie’s Goblin King.
She’s come a long way since huffily slamming her fists against the walls of the Labyrinth in the 1986 Jim Henson movie of the same name. She continued a fantasy and sci-fi path throughout the early half of her career, landing lead roles in “The Rocketeer” (1991), the beautifully creepy “Dark City” (1998), and the trippie indie drama “Requiem for a Dream” (2000). However, 2001’s “A Beautiful Mind” put her in a wider spotlight, and won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Connelly has returned to science fiction as a lead character in “Snowpiercer,” a dystopian post-apocalyptic television series based on a French graphic novel and its 2013 cinematic adaptation. When she’s not gracing the silver screen with her classic beauty, she devotes her time to numerous causes. She has been an Amnesty International Ambassador for Human Rights Education, and has appeared in ads appealing for the global right to clean drinking water for the nonprofit Charity: Water. She is also an ambassador for the Save the Children Fund, advocating for children’s rights across the globe.
Connelly is married to fellow actor Paul Bettany, most recently known for his portrayal of the Marvel Cinematic Universe character JARVIS/Vision. The two have been married since 2003, and have lived in New York City ever since. Aside from her advocacy work, Connelly is known to keep a low profile, and manages to dodge the type of negative media attention that comes along with the job. She is perhaps most known recently for appearing in various “most beautiful people in the world” lists, such as for Vanity Fair, Esquire, and The Los Angeles Times.