Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood

Wood at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Born September 7, 1987 (1987-09-07) (age 23)
Raleigh, North Carolina,
United States
Occupation Actress/Singer
Years active 1994–present

Evan Rachel Wood (born September 7, 1987)[1] is an American actress and singer.

Wood began her acting career in the late 1990s, appearing in several television series, including American Gothic and Once and Again. She made her debut as a leading film actress in Little Secrets (2002) and became well known after her transition to a more adult-oriented Golden Globe-nominated role in the teen drama film Thirteen (2003).[2]

Wood continued acting mostly in independent films, including Pretty Persuasion (2005), Down in the Valley (2006), Running with Scissors (2006), and in the big studio production Across the Universe (2007). Wood's acting has drawn critical praise, and she has been described by The Guardian newspaper as being "wise beyond her years" and as "one of the best actresses of her generation."[3] Her relationship with singer Marilyn Manson, to whom she was engaged in 2010, has received considerable news coverage.[4]

Contents

Early life and family

Evan Rachel Wood was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, into a Jewish theatrical family.[5][6][7] Her father, Ira David Wood III, is a locally prominent actor, singer, theater director and playwright who is the Executive Director of a local community theatre company called Theatre in the Park).

Her mother is Sara Lynn Moore (born March 6, 1958), an actress, director and acting coach.[3] Wood's brother, Ira David Wood IV, is also an actor; and she has another brother, Dana. Her paternal aunt, Carol Winstead Wood, is a Hollywood production designer.[8]

She and her brothers were actively involved in Theatre in the Park while growing up, including an appearance by her in the 1987 production of her father's renowned musical comedy adaptation of A Christmas Carol when she was just a few months old.[9] Subsequently, she played the Ghost of Christmas Past in several productions at the theater, and she later starred as Helen Keller alongside her mother (who played Annie Sullivan) in a production of The Miracle Worker, under her father's direction.[10][11]

Career

Early works, 1994–2000

Wood began her career appearing in several made-for-television films from 1994 onward, also playing an occasional role in the television series American Gothic. In 1996, Wood's parents separated and later divorced, and Wood moved with her mother to her mother's native Los Angeles County, California.[3][12] After a one-season role on the television drama Profiler, Wood was cast in the supporting role of Jessie Sammler on the television show Once and Again.

Wood's first major screen role was in the low-budget 1998 film Digging to China, which also starred Kevin Bacon and Mary Stuart Masterson. The film won the Children's Jury Award at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival.[13] Wood remembers the role as initially being hard, but notes that it "eventually led to her decision that acting is something she might never want to stop doing."[3] She also had a role in Practical Magic, a family fantasy film directed by Griffin Dunne and starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, that same year.

2001–2005

Evan Rachel Wood in 2005

Wood made her teenage debut as a leading film actress in 2002's Little Secrets, directed by Blair Treu. She played aspiring 14-year-old concert violinist Emily Lindstrom, and she was nominated for Best Leading Young Actress at the Young Artist Awards.[14] That same year, Wood played a supporting role in the Andrew Niccol-directed science fiction satirical drama film, S1m0ne, which starred Al Pacino.

Wood's breakthrough movie role followed with the 2003 film Thirteen. She played the role of Tracy Louise Freeland, one of two young teens who sink into a downward spiral of hard drugs, sex, and petty crime. Her performance was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress - Drama and for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Best Actress. During the time of Thirteen's release, Vanity Fair named Wood as one of the It Girls of Hollywood, and she appeared, along with the other actresses, on the magazine's July 2003 cover.[15] A supporting role opposite Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones in Ron Howard's The Missing, in which she played the kidnapped daughter, Lilly Gilkeson, in a Searchers-style western, followed the same year. Also in 2003 she played the part of Nora Easton in the episode "Got Murder?" of TV series C.S.I..

In 2005, Wood appeared in the Mike Binder-directed The Upside of Anger, opposite Kevin Costner and Joan Allen, a well-reviewed film in which Wood played Lavender "Popeye" Wolfmeyer, one of four sisters dealing with their father's absence. Her character also narrated the film.[3]

Wood's next two starring roles were in dark "independent" films. In the 2005 Grand Jury Prize Sundance Film Festival nominee Pretty Persuasion, a black comedy/satirical focusing on themes of sexual harassment and discrimination in schools and attitudes about females in media and society, Wood played Kimberly Joyce, a villainous, sexually-active high-schooler. One critic commented, "Wood does flip cynicism with such precise, easy rhythms and with such obvious pleasure in naughtiness that she's impossible to hate."[16]

In Down in the Valley, which was directed by David Jacobson, Wood's character, Tobe, falls in love with an older man, a cowboy who is at odds with modern society (Edward Norton). Of her performance, it was written that "Wood conveys every bit of the adamant certainty and aching vulnerability inherent in late adolescence."[17] Wood has commented on her choice of sexually themed roles, saying that she is not aiming for the "shock factor" in her film choices.[3]

In 2005, Wood starred in the music videos for Bright Eyes' "At the Bottom of Everything" and Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends".

2006–present

Wood at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2007

In September 2006, Wood received Premiere magazine's "Spotlight Award for Emerging Talent."[18] Also in 2006, she was described by The Guardian as being "wise beyond her years" and as "one of the best actresses of her generation."[3]

Later in 2006, Wood appeared with an all-star ensemble cast as Natalie Finch in the Golden Globe-nominated 2006 comedy-drama film Running with Scissors. Directed by Ryan Murphy and starring Annette Bening, the film was based on the memoir by Augusten Burroughs, which is a semi-autobiographical account of Burroughs' childhood in a dysfunctional family. Wood was awarded the 2007 Cannes Film Festival Chopard Trophy for Female Revelation for her performance.[19]

Wood had roles in two films released in September 2007. King of California, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival,[20] a story of a bipolar jazz musician (Michael Douglas) and his long-suffering teenage daughter, Miranda (Wood), who are reunited after his two-year stay in a mental institution and who embark on a quixotic search for Spanish treasure. One review praised Wood's performance as "excellent."[21]

Across the Universe, a Julie Taymor-directed musical that was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award and was set in Liverpool, New York City, and Vietnam, focused on the tribulations of several characters during the counter-cultural revolution of the 1960s. It was set to the songs of The Beatles. Wood, who has described the music of The Beatles as a major part of her life, played Lucy, who develops a relationship with Jude (Jim Sturgess).[22] The film featured her singing musical numbers. One critic wrote that "Wood brings much-needed emotional depth."[23]

Wood provided the voice of an alien named Mala, a mechanically-inclined free-thinker, in Battle for Terra, a 2008 computer-animated science fiction film about a peaceful alien planet that faces destruction from colonization by the displaced remainder of the human race. The film won the 2008 Grand Prize at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. The film showed at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where she received an award at the Midnight Awards along with Elijah Wood.[24]

Wood starred in 2008's Vadim Perelman-directed The Life Before Her Eyes, based on the Laura Kasischke novel of the same name, about the friendship of two teens of opposite character who are involved in a Columbine-like shooting incident at their school and are forced to make an impossible choice. Wood played the younger version of Uma Thurman's character, Diana. One critic cited her performance as "hands-down extraordinary."[25] Wood stated that she intended the film to be the last one in which she played a teenager.[26]

In the same year, she also co-starred in director Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler,[27] winner of the Golden Lion Award for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival, about Randy "Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a professional wrestler from the 1980s who is forced to retire after a heart attack threatens to kill him the next time he wrestles. Wood played Stephanie, Randy "Ram" Robinson's estranged daughter. Of her performance, one critic wrote, "Once her character stops stonewalling her father and hears him out, Wood provides a fine foil for Rourke in their turbulent scenes together."[28]

Wood has a role in Woody Allen's Whatever Works,[29] which premiered at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. She plays the young wife of Larry David's [30] character. In May 2009, she played Juliet in six fundraising performances of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at the Theater In The Park.[31] The production was directed by her brother, who also starred.

She has a recurring role in the second and third seasons of the HBO supernatural drama series True Blood (2009–present) as Sophie-Anne Leclerq.

In production

Her Across the Universe co-star Jim Sturgess was reported to be involved in the upcoming Julie Taymor directed play however it was later announced she will star opposite actor/musician Reeve Carney. Music for the show was composed and written by Bono and The Edge of the band U2,[32] the members of which participated in rehearsals, backing up Wood and Sturgess during readings in which both participated.[33]

Wood is attached to play writer Anne Brontë in the film Brontë, the title character in Flora Plum[34] and will be involved in the film Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll.[12][26] Wood has also been associated with the upcoming film, The Conspirator. Variety reported in May 2010 that Wood and Marilyn Manson were attached to star in a slasher film entitled Splatter Sisters.[35]

Personal life

Wood was home-schooled and received her high school diploma at age 15.[36] She has a black belt in taekwondo.[37] In her early teens, she was described as "the sad, introverted teen", on which she commented: "It's just a type I enjoy playing. But I don't want to be typecast as the misery chick for the rest of my career. I guess I have to watch out for that."[38]

Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood arriving to the concert location in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Wood has described herself as being "laid-back" and "not a party girl", citing her choice to stay away from what is considered a typical Hollywood lifestyle.[3] In 2006, Wood, who was described by The Guardian as an "Anglophile", dated her "Wake Me Up When September Ends" music video co-star, English actor Jamie Bell.[3][26] She is also a friend of actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.[3] In 2007, Wood's relationship with Marilyn Manson became public. The two met at a party at the Chateau Marmont Hotel; Wood has stated that she was attracted to Manson's frequent use of black eye liner and once described their relationship as "healthy and loving."[39] Two portraits of Wood, painted by Manson, have been exhibited at the Celebritarian Corporation Gallery of Fine Art. Wood is also the inspiration behind Manson's song "Heart-Shaped Glasses", and she appeared with Manson in the song's music video. Manson has said that Wood's appearance in the film was the highest-paid music video role ever.[26] In November 2008, Wood issued a statement saying "Manson and I both decided to take some time apart so we could concentrate on work."[40]

After a short time together again in 2009, both Manson and Wood stated that they wanted to take a break and focus on their careers.[41] In December 2009, Manson announced that he and Wood had gotten back together.[42] It was reported in early January 2010 that the couple are engaged to be married.[43] On August 17, People magazine reported that the couple had ended their engagement earlier in the month.[44]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1998
 Digging to China Harriet Frankovitz limited release
Practical Magic Kylie Owens
Profiler Chloe Waters TV series (recurring supporting character)
1999
 Down Will Come Baby Robin Garr made-for-television
1999–2002
 Once and Again Jessie Sammler TV series (main character)
2002
 Little Secrets Emily Lindstrom
S1m0ne Lainey Christian
The West Wing Hogan Cregg TV series (guest star), Episode: "The Black Vera Wang"
2003
 C.S.I. Nora Easton TV series (guest star)
The Missing Lily Gilkeson
Thirteen Tracy Louise Freeland International Film Festival Bratislava Special Mention
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Youth in Film Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Breakout Performance - On Screen
Prism Award for Performance in a Theatrical Feature Film
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Female
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performance
2005
 Pretty Persuasion Kimberly Joyce limited release
The Upside of Anger Lavender 'Popeye' Wolfmeyer
2006
 Running with Scissors Natalie Finch
Down in the Valley October "Tobe" limited release
Asterix and the Vikings Abba (English Dub) limited release
Shark Bait Cordelia (Voice) Also known as The Reef
2007
 King of California Miranda
Across the Universe Lucy Carrigan
Battle for Terra Mala voice
The Life Before Her Eyes Young Diana limited release
2008
 The Wrestler Stephanie Ramzinski
2009
 Whatever Works Melodie
2009–present
 True Blood Sophie-Anne Leclerq TV series (recurring supporting character)
2010
 The Conspirator Anna Surratt filming

References

  1. ↑ "Biography". The Official Evan Rachel Wood Fansite. 2002. http://web.archive.org/web/20050204121334/www.erw2002.com/biography.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  2. ↑ "Wood re-lives high school bullying for inspiration". DailyIndia.com. 2006-06-17. Archived from the original on 2006-07-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20060701050820/http://www.dailyindia.com/show/35106.php/Wood_re-lives_high_school_bullying_for_inspiration. Retrieved 2006-06-17. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 O'Toole, Lesley (2006-06-24). "Distress princess". London: Guardian Unlimited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2006/jun/24/culture.features. Retrieved 2006-06-24. 
  4. ↑ Boehm, Kristin (2008-11-07). "Evan Rachel Wood Defends Marilyn Manson Breakup". People.com<!. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20239151,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  5. ↑ Nikki Reed and Evan Rachel Wood both mentioned that they are Jewish on the Thirteen DVD commentary, between the 10:00 and 11:00 minute mark
  6. ↑ Wolf, Jeanne (2009-11-16). "Evan Rachel Wood: Dating Older Men 'Works For Me'". Parade.com. http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/archive/evan-rachel-wood-dating-older-men.html. Retrieved 2009-11-29. 
  7. ↑ Bloom, Nate (2007-06-18). "Celebrity Jews in the news - 13 GOING ON 30". The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/726/edition_id/4/format/html/displaystory.html. Retrieved 2006-06-12. 
  8. ↑ McDowell, Robert W. (December 2004). "PREVIEW: Theatre in the Park Preview: A Christmas Carol, Starring David Wood as Scrooge, Will Have New Scenery and New Choreography". Classical Voice of North Carolina. http://www.cvnc.org/reviews/2004/december/C-Carol.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  9. ↑ "ET Birthdays", September 7, 2009 broadcast of Entertainment Tonight. September 9, 2009.
  10. ↑ Kappes, Serena, Amy Longsdorf and Nick White. "Celeb Spotlight: Evan Rachel Wood." People. March 9, 2005.
  11. ↑ Kennedy, Douglas. "Evan Rachel Wood lives life to the full." couriermail.com.au. October 26, 2007.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Dicker, Ron (2007-09-16). "Two Postcards From Toronto: Evan Rachel Wood, Emile Hirsch Give Hollywood A Glimpse Of Its Future". Hartford Courant. http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/entertainment/sean-penn-PECLB003397.topic. Retrieved 2007-09-16. 
  13. ↑ "Digging to China (1998) - Awards". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118980/awards. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  14. ↑ "Little Secrets (2001) - Awards". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296845/awards. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  15. ↑ Woolcott, James. "Teen Engines: Riding with the Kid Culture." Vanity Fair. (July 2003) p. 157.
  16. ↑ Denby, David (2009-01-07). "Dirty Business". Newyorker.com. http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/08/29/050829crci_cinema. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  17. ↑ "Down in the Valley, Movie Reviews". Rottentomatoes.com. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/down_in_the_valley/?page=4&critic=columns&sortby=date&name_order=asc&view=#contentReviews. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  18. ↑ From correspondents in California (2006-09-22). "Cate Blanchett gets Hollywood gong". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20456753-5001028,00.html. Retrieved 2006-09-21. 
  19. ↑ "Evan Rachel Wood - Awards". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939697/awards. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  20. ↑ "Family Room Crowns King of California at Sundance Film Festival". AllBusiness.com<!. 2007-01-10. http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services/4007731-1.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  21. ↑ "King Of California: Review". Movies.tvguide.com. http://movies.tvguide.com/king-california/review/290473. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  22. ↑ "'Thirteen' no more: Evan Rachel Wood grows up". CNN.com. 2007-09-12. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/18/film.evanrachelwood.ap/index.html. Retrieved 2006-11-08. 
  23. ↑ Papamichael, Stella (2007-09-19). "Movies Review: Across the Universe". Bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/09/24/across_the_universe_2007_review.shtml. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  24. ↑ "Terra (2007) - Awards". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0858486/awards. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  25. ↑ LaSalle, Mick (2008-04-25). "'Life Before Her Eyes' shimmers". Sfgate.com. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/24/DDP210B4VR.DTL&type=movies. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Maher, Kevin (2007-09-27). "Evan Rachel Wood's hard day’s night". London: Times Online. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2538406.ece. Retrieved 2007-09-27. 
  27. ↑ "The Wrestler (2008)". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  28. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (2008-09-04). "The Wrestler Review". Variety.com. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117938197.html?categoryid=31&cs=1. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
  29. ↑ "Whatever Works (2009)". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178663/. Retrieved 2009-05-09. 
  30. ↑ "Evan Rachel Wood: Wrestling With Fame". SuicideGirls.com. 17 December 2008. http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Evan+Rachel+Wood%3A+Wrestling+With+Fame/. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 
  31. ↑ Hudson, Shane (February 19, 2009). "Auditions Set for Evan Rachel Wood Led ROMEO & JULIET Benefit Run". BroadWayWorld. http://broadwayworld.com/article/Auditions_Set_for_Evan_Rachel_Wood_Led_ROMEO_JULIET_Benefit_Run_20090219. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
  32. ↑ Karakaya, Jenny (2007-09-24). "Across the Universe Interviews with Jim Sturgess and Julie Taymor". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/movies/news/n13344.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-05. 
  33. ↑ ""Evan Rachel Wood Interview, The Wrestler"". http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_16055.html. 
  34. ↑ "Evan Rachel Wood Grows Up". The Daily Beast. 2009-06-16. http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-16/evan-rachel-wood-grows-up/full/. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
  35. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (May 15, 2010). "Manson, Wood to star in slasher pic". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118019400.html. Retrieved August 15, 2010. 
  36. ↑ Pilcher, Bradford R. (9/10, 2006). "Evan Rachel Wood". American Jewish Life Magazine. http://www.atlantajewish.com/content/092006/kibbitz-erw.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
  37. ↑ Ellwood, Mark (2009-06-15). "CELEBRITY POP QUIZ: Evan Rachel Wood". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2009/06/14/2009-06-14_celebrity_pop_quiz_evan_rachel_wood.html?page=1. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
  38. ↑ Johnson, Tom (2008-01-28). "Interview with Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed". The Cinema Source. http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/3421/interviews/evan-rachel-wood-and-nikki-reed-interview-for-thirteen/. Retrieved 2010-03-12. 
  39. ↑ "They owe it all to eyeliner". Boston Herald. 2007-07-12. Archived from the original on 2007-12-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071229050648/http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=1010826. Retrieved 2007-07-12. 
  40. ↑ "Woods downplays Manson break-up rumors". Timesoftheinternet.com. http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/18046.html. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  41. ↑ Boehm, Kristin (2008-11-07). "Evan Rachel Wood Defends Marilyn Manson Breakup". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20239151,00.html. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
  42. ↑ "Marilyn Manson: Evan Rachel Wood and I Are Back Together". Omg.yahoo.com. 2010-01-20. http://omg.yahoo.com/news/marilyn-manson-evan-rachel-wood-and-i-are-back-together/32162?nc. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
  43. ↑ Donaldson-Evans, Catherine (January 7, 2010). "Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood Are Engaged". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20335115,00.html. Retrieved August 15, 2010. 
  44. ↑ Garcia, Jennifer; Jessica Herndon (August 17, 2010). "Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood Call It Quits (Again!)". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20413552,00.html. Retrieved August 17, 2010. 

External links