Barbara Hershey

Barbara Lynn Herzstein, known professionally as Barbara Hershey, was born on February 5, 1948. An accomplished American actress, she has captivated audiences for over fifty years with her versatile performances across various genres, including Westerns, horror, and comedy. Hershey began her acting journey at the tender age of seventeen in 1965, but it wasn't until the 1980s that she garnered widespread critical acclaim, with the Chicago Tribune hailing her as 'one of America's finest actresses.'

Throughout her illustrious career, Hershey has received numerous accolades, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries/TV Film for her compelling role in 'A Killing in a Small Town' in 1990. She has also earned Golden Globe nominations for her performances as Mary Magdalene in 'The Last Temptation of Christ' in 1988 and in 'The Portrait of a Lady' in 1996, the latter of which also earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Hershey's talent has been recognized at prestigious film festivals, where she won two Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival for her roles in 'Shy People' in 1987 and 'A World Apart' in 1988. She has appeared in notable films such as Woody Allen's 'Hannah and Her Sisters' in 1986, earning a British Academy Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and Garry Marshall's 'Beaches' in 1988. Her performance in Darren Aronofsky's 'Black Swan' in 2010 also garnered her a second BAFTA nomination.

In her early career, Hershey was often associated with the hippie movement, which led to a tumultuous personal life that sometimes overshadowed her professional achievements. A six-year relationship with actor David Carradine, with whom she had a child, contributed to a decline in her career. During this period, she briefly changed her stage name to Barbara Seagull, facing public scrutiny and ridicule. However, after separating from Carradine and reverting to her original name, Hershey successfully revitalized her career. In the 1990s, she began to prioritize her privacy, focusing on her craft and personal life away from the public eye.