Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman (born 29.4.1970)

Uma Thurman is an American actress, perhaps best known for her work under the direction of Quentin Tarantino.

Uma Thurman: Childhood

Uma Thurman was born to Nena Birgitte Caroline von Schlebrugge and Robert Alexander Farrar Thurman. Her mother was married to the LSD guru Timothy Leary (to whom she was introduced by Salvador Dali) before marrying Thurman. Uma's father was the first westerner to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. During her childhood, the Thurmans spent time in Almora, in India and the Dalai Lama would often visit them.

Uma's childhood saw her growing up mainly in Amherst, Massachusetts and Woodstock, New York. Her acting talents were noticed when she played Abigail in a performance of the Crucible. She moved to New York, attending the Professional Children's School, but dropped out before completing the course.

Uma Thurman: Acting Career

Uma Thurman's film debut came in 1988, when she appeared in Johnny Be Good and Kiss Daddy Goodnight. She then went on to appear in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, playing Venus, opposite Oliver Reed's Vulcan.

Thurman's breakthrough performance came with 1988's Dangerous Liasons. The film also starred Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer, who were both nominated for Oscars for their work in the film. John Malkovich, also in the film, was vocal in his praise of her talents.

1990 saw Uma Thurman star in Henry & June, a sexually controversial film, which also starred Fred Ward. Her first starring role came three years later when she took the lead in Gus Van Sant's adaptation of Tom Robbins' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Unfortunately, the film was a commercial and critical let-down. She also appeared in Mad Dog and Glory, opposite Robert De Niro, which also failed to do well at the box office.

Thurman's career soon got back on track when she auditioned for a part in Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film also starred John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth. Uma Thurman was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award.

In 1996, Thurman starred in the romantic comedy The Truth About Cats and Dogs, opposite Janeane Garofolo. She then played Ethan Hawke's love interest in Gattaca, which was not a huge success at the cinema but became popular as a rental choice. She then went on to play Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin, opposite George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Uma Thurman's next role was in The Avengers, which turned out to be another low point in her career. She ended 1998 with a performance in Les Miserables, the film version of the Victor Hugo novel. She played the role of Fantine, opposite Geoffrey Rush and Liam Neeson.

After a five-year break from major film roles, Uma Thurman made a return in Paycheck, directed by John Woo. The film was only a moderate success but she soon followed this with a performance in Kill Bill, another Tarantino film in which she took a starring role. Other actors in the film include Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah and David Carradine.

In 2005, Thurman starred in Be Cool with John Travolta and Prime with Meryl Streep. Her last film of that year was The Producers, a remake of a 1968 film starring Gene Wilder and Zer Mostel. The modern version starred Matthew Broderick and Will Ferrell.

Thurman then starred in My Super Ex-Girlfriend, along with Luke Wilson. Uma Thurman was reportedly paid $14 million for her role in the film, but it did not perform as well as expected at the box office. She then starred in The Accidental Husband in February 2008. This was followed by a role portraying a cocaine addict in My Zinc Bed, opposite Jonathan Pryce and Paddy Considine.

Uma Thurman: Personal Life

Uma Thurman married Gary Oldman in 1990 but they were only married for two years.

Thurman was also previously married to Ethan Hawke, with whom she has two children, Maya Ray Thurman-Hawke (b. 1998) and Levon Roan Thurman-Hawke (b. 2002). Thurman and Hawke divorced in 2004.

Uma is now engaged to a Franco-Swiss financier, Arpad Busson.