Marcia Gay Harden
Born: August 14 1959
Where: La Jolla, California, USA
The Coen brothers discovered the versatile actress and cast her as the female lead Verna in their critically acclaimed 1990 thriller Miller's Crossing.
She has also been nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in Mystic River opposite Sean Penn.
Their foresight was recognised when she landed an Oscar for her performance as Lee Krasner opposite Ed Harris's Pollock in the biopic of the artist.
A graduate of the University of Texas, she went on to study in New York before catching the eye of the Coen brothers.
She moved on to the leads in Late for Dinner and Used People and further appearances included The First Wives Club and Flubber.
Harden starred opposite Anthony Hopkins in Meet Joe Black and also landed a role in the Clint Eastwood-directed comedy Space Cowboys in 2000.
The same year she landed her Oscar-winning role in Pollock before concentrating on TV movies, including See You In My Dreams and Walking Shadow.
Back on the big screen she reteamed with Eastwood for Mystic River, a triumphant return to form, and also starred in John Sayles' Casa De Los Babys.
Recent work includes the ensemble drama Mona Lisa Smile alongside Kirsten Dunst and Julia Roberts.
