Valeria Mazza Biography
Valeria Raquel Mazza (born February 17, 1972) is an Argentine fashion model. She was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, and discovered when she was only 16 years old by hairstylist Roberto Giordano. She rose to fame in 1996 when she appeared on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover with Tyra Banks, and presented the San Remo Music Festival in Italy. Mazza has also appeared on the covers of Glamour, ELLE, and Vogue. In 1998, she appeared in the movie Paparazzi. Later that year she married businessman Alejandro Gravier, with whom she has three sons: Balthazar (b. May 29, 1999), Tiziano (b. March 12, 2002), and Benicio (b. February 23, 2005).
Josie Maran Biography
Josie Maran (born Johanna Selhorst Maran on May 8, 1978) is an American fashion model and actress. She is also well known for her association with cosmetics company Maybelline.
Maran was born in Menlo Park, California to a father of Russian and Polish descent and a mother of Dutch, French and German ancestry. She began modeling part-time after an agent spotted her at a local barbecue restaurant at the age of 12. Maran continued a more dedicated career after graduating from Castilleja School. Considered to be too short for runway modeling at 5 feet 7 inches, her career consists mostly of editorial modeling and advertising/image modeling. Signed at age 17 with the Elite agency of Los Angeles, Maran appeared on her first cover with Glamour in 1998, and was the featured Guess? Girl in their Summer 1998 and Fall 1998 campaigns. After accumulating a resumé of over 25 commercials and advertisements, including a music video for popular boy-band Backstreet Boys, Maran moved cross-country to join with Elite New York. In 1999 she landed a multiyear deal with Maybelline following in the footsteps of Christy Turlington, her idol.
In addition to her thriving modeling career, Maran began an acting career in 2001 with a star turn as title character Mallory in an independent film, The Mallory Effect. She continued to take on roles, in 2004 landing film roles as a French model in Little Black Book and as one of Dracula’s brides in Van Helsing.
In 2005, she was recruited by EA Games to appear as a main character in the street-racing computer and video game, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, which was released on November 17, 2005. She plays the game’s second lead Mia Townsend, who guides the lead character through the game.
A January 2006 Shape Magazine interview with Josie has revealed that she has quit modelling and acting and is now happily living in Hawaii teaching children. She has also started doing yoga, eating organic foods, and has quit smoking.
She has dated magician David Blaine.
She is expecting a baby with Lee Alialbozi.
Josie Maran is an avowed bisexual. She has spoken of having sex with women, including porn star Jenna Jameson.
Geena Davis Biography
Since the early 1980s, this statuesque (about 6′) former fashion model has carefully crafted a winning screen persona that has made her one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors. While Davis’ somewhat goofy charm has been well deployed in quirky comedies (e.g., “Fletch” 1985; “Beetlejuice” 1988; “Quick Change” 1990), she has also displayed a flair for light drama, notably with an Oscar-winning turn in Lawrence Kasdan’s “The Accidental Tourist” (1988). Strikingly attractive with just a touch of gawkiness, Davis projected an all but irresistible friendliness and vulnerability in her early appearances. More often than not, her best characterizations had her starting out as an untried and fairly ditsy naif who is forced to make decisions that allow her to grow over the course of the narrative. Davis has also avoided much of the stereotypical fare offered contemporary actresses in that she’s never played a character who was dying of a terminal disease, been cast as a hooker (with a heart of gold or otherwise) or portrayed a conventional woman in peril. Her imposing physique has given her rare credibility to play athletes and other unusually physical female roles.
Davis first registered on TV in 1982 in the briefly recurring role of the guileless maid Karen Nicholson hired by precocious young conservative Alex P Keaton (Michael J Fox) on the hit NBC sitcom “Family Ties”. Davis’ slightly daft domestic enchanted both her diminutive employer and a huge primetime audience. She next surfaced as Wendy Killian, an ingenuous research assistant, providing one of several foils to Dabney Coleman’s titular detestable talk show host “Buffalo Bill” (NBC, 1983-84) in that short-lived but highly acclaimed sitcom. Davis graduated to sitcom lead as “Sara” (NBC, 1985), a young single attorney sharing a San Francisco storefront apartment with three other lawyers. This failed but inoffensive attempt to recreate “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” for the 80s boasted a sterling supporting cast that included Alfre Woodard, Bill Maher and Bronson Pinchot. But success and stardom for the actress would come in the movies.
Davis made her feature debut as a scantily clad soap-opera performer who innocently shares a dressing room with the cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie” (1982). She graduated to leads with David Cronenberg’s ickily transcendent remake of “The Fly” (1986), cast opposite Jeff Goldblum whom she married the following year. Rarely has film offered a more convincing depiction of two bright and interesting people falling in love. Offscreen, Goldblum and Davis made for a great celebrity couple: both were long, lean, a little loopy and seemingly very much in love and they gave memorably entertaining interviews. The pair seemed like a Nick and Nora Charles for postmodern times. (Their marriage, however, faltered and they filed for divorce in 1990.)
Davis surprised many by winning an Oscar for her portrayal of the kooky dog-trainer who wins the heart of a traumatized William Hurt in Lawrence Kasdan’s comedy-drama “The Accidental Tourist”. She made a much greater impact–and earned her first Best Actress nod from the Academy–as Thelma, an oppressed and none-too-brainy housewife who finds notoriety, liberation and herself on an outlaw road trip in Ridley Scott’s seminal “Thelma & Louise” (1991). Filmed shortly after Davis’ divorce from Goldblum, this female buddy movie became a cult favorite for many feminists and Davis and co-star Susan Sarandon assumed the status of a distaff Redford and Newman. She rose capably above the material in Penny Marshall’s popular period baseball comedy-drama, “A League of Their Own” (1992). Impressively serious amid the sentimental shenanigans, Davis won kudos for her portrayal of Dottie Hinson, a softball player in rural Oregon awaiting the return of her husband from overseas in WWII. Additionally, she proved convincing as the catcher and star player of a pro women’s ball team. Davis fared less well that same year as a career-driven reporter tracking down the “Hero” (Dustin Hoffman or Andy Garcia) who saved a plane full of crash survivors from death by smoke inhalation. The screenplay of this attempt at contemporary Capra-corn, though, received more criticism than the female lead.
In 1993, Davis married transplanted Finnish action flick helmer Renny Harlin and the pair formed Forge Productions the following year. “Angie” (1994) offered a bit of a stretch for the striking WASPish leading lady as she played a working-class Italian-American Brooklynite who gets pregnant out of wedlock yet refuses to do the conventional right thing. Davis garnered reasonable reviews for her deft handling of a role conceived for Madonna but audiences steered clear of the light comedy-drama. Nor did they cast their vote later that year for “Speechless”, a romantic comedy set in the world of politics. Starring opposite “Beetlejuice” co-star Michael Keaton as competing speech writers who fall in love, Davis also made her co-producing debut (with Harlin) on this project. She moved up to executive producer on the made-for-cable courtroom thriller “Mistrial” (HBO, 1996).
Married as she was to an action specialist, Davis cannot be faulted for trying her hand at the genre. The potential boost in international box-office clout seemed a worthy prize as the producing duo joined forces for the lavish pirate adventure “Cutthroat Island” (1995). Helmed by Harlin, the film boasted elaborate stunts, vibrant lensing, meticulous production design and impressive battle sequences. On the other hand, the conventional derring-do and lame scripting all but neutralized Davis’ quirky appeal. That flaw, along with poor pacing and an all but irrelevant male lead (Matthew Modine), helped sink this $100 million white elephant at the box office, which also took a movie studio–the already troubled Carolco–down with it to the ocean floor. In the plus column, Davis performed her action chores with considerable aplomb. She and Harlin sprang into action again with “The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996). Armed with a hot Shane Black script, ace supporting player Samuel L. Jackson and some $70 million, the film delivered the action goods and a breezy tone but disappointing box office. Still, Davis charmed many with her initially tongue-in-cheek portrait of a suburban housewife whose amnesia prevents her from remembering her past as a top-ranked government assassin. Her attempt to transition back into television with the ABC sitcom “The Geena Davis Show” (2000-2001) playing a materialistic woman whose whirlwind romance takes her from singlehood to being the married mother of two after only six dates also failed to score with audiences.
Despite these commercial and critical setbacks (not to mention personal–she and Harlin ultimately divorced in 1998), Davis found a hit with the popular children’s film “Stuart Little” (1999), charming audiences as the winsome wife and mother Eleanor Little, who is perfectly nonplussed that her adopted son is a talking white mouse. She would also reprise the role for the 2002 sequel, “Stuart Little 2.” The actress would then give television yet another go, taking the lead in producer Rod Lurie’s political-minded series “Commander in Chief” (ABC, 2005 - ) as Mackenzie Allen, a political independent who became vice president as a lure for women voters who, after the death of her running mate, takes to the Oval Office as president despite strong opposition from both her allies and her enemies.
- Also Credited As:
Virginia Elizabeth Davis - Born:
on 01/21/56 in Wareham, Massachusetts - Job Titles:
Actor, Producer, Writer, Live mannequin, Model, Salesgirl, Waitress
Family
- Brother: Dan Davis.
- Daughter: Alizeh Keshvar. born April 2002
- Father: William Davis.
- Mother: Lucille Davis.
Significant Others
- Husband: Jeff Goldblum. married on November 1, 1987; filed for divorce in October 1990; met while filming “Transylvania 6-5000″ (1985)
- Husband: Renny Harlin. married on September 18, 1993; separated amicably in April 1997; Davis filed for divorce in August 1997; finalized in 1998
- Husband: Reza Jarrahy. born c. 1971; began dating in 1999; on married September 1, 2001
- Husband: Richard Emmolo. married c. 1981; divorced after 18 months in 1983
- Companion: Christopher MacDonald. together three years before Davis wed Jeff Goldblum; featured with Davis in “Thelma & Louise” (1991)
Education
- School of Fine Arts, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, acting, BFA, 1979
- New England College, Henniker, New Hampshire, drama
Milestones
- 1979 After graduating from college, signed with the NYC-based Zoli modeling agency (date approxiomate)
- 1982 Screen acting debut in “Tootsie”
- 1982 TV series debut, played a recurring role on the hit NBC sitcom “Family Ties”
- 1983 Debut as a series regular, played Wendy Killian on NBC’s acclaimed but short-lived sitcom “Buffalo Bill”; also credited as writer for one episode
- 1985 First screen collaboration with future husband Jeff Boldblum whom she met during the shoot
- 1985 Made debut as a series star with “Sara”, a short-lived NBC sitcom
- 1986 First feature starring role, David Cronenberg’s “The Fly,” opposite Goldblum
- 1987 Married Goldblum on November 1
- 1988 “Sara” rerun on NBC in the summer
- 1988 Co-starred (with William Hurt) in Lawrence Kasdan’s “The Accidental Tourist”; won Oscar for Best Supporting Actress
- 1989 Final screen collaboration with Goldblum before their 1990 divorce, Julien Temple’s “Earth Girls Are Easy”
- 1990 Founded production company, Genial Pictures, with partner Fanny Levy; made deal with Fox to develop own scripts and stories (date approximate)
- 1991 Co-starred in controversial hit “Thelma & Louise”; garnered second Oscar nomination
- 1993 Married transplanted Finnish action film director Renny Harlin
- 1994 Formed Forge Productions with Renny Harlin
- 1994 Starred in and co-produced feature film “Speechless”
- 1996 Co-produced (with Renny Harlin) TV-movie “Mistrial” (HBO)
- 1997 Split from Harlin and terminated her participation in Forge Productions
- 1999 Hosted the Academy Awards telecast pre-show on ABC (March 21)
- 1999 Played the mother in the feature adaptation of “Stuart Little”
- 2002 Reprised role as Mrs. Little in “Stuart Little 2″
- 2005 Cast as the first female president of the United States in Rod Lurie’s ABC drama “Commander in Chief”
- Cast as the first female president of the United States in Rod Lurie’s ABC drama pilot “Commander in Chief” (lensed 2005)
- Performed with Mount Washington Repertory Theatre Company in New Hampshire in the late 1970s
- Returned to the small screen as star of the fall ABC sitcom “The Geena Davis Show”
- Worked as waitress in NYC
Lana Clarkson Biography
Lana Clarkson was born in Long Beach, California, on April 5, 1962. From an early age, she loved stories and showing off - reciting nursery rhymes to anyone who would listen when just over a year old. Lana’s mother lovingly recalls styling her daughter’s hair and playing dress up, with Lana clad in bell bottoms and white go-go boots.
One day, hands on hips, Lana proudly proclaimed: “I’m independent!” When asked what she thought independent meant, she stated, “It means, I want to do it myself!” This would prove to be Lana’s motto throughout life.
The Clarkson family moved to San Francisco in 1967, then to Cloverdale, California, in the early 70’s. Living out in the country, Lana fell in love with horses and was given a roan mare named Breeze for her 10th birthday. Being naturally athletic and graceful, she quickly became proficient at both English and Western riding. Riding would be one of a number of activities at which Lana would excel.
Lana attended Cloverdale High School, where she played basketball for the school team. When her family moved from Sonoma County to Napa Valley, Lana attended PUC Prep School. At age 16, Lana was already one of the tallest in her class, having grown an amazing five inches in one year. Becoming a fashion model was soon one of Lana’s many aspirations.
During the Christmas season of 1978, the Clarkson family moved to Los Angeles. Lana hit the ground running, quickly landing bit parts in film and television. Her modeling career also took off, and Lana found herself traveling around the United States and Europe working on high fashion photo shoots. Other projects took Lana to Japan, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, France, and Mexico. Being a quick study, Lana learned to speak both Spanish and Italian quite well. Lana fit right into the scene at the Cannes Film Festival, which she attended several times during the 80’s and 90’s.
Lana Clarkson’s early television appearances read like a pop culture checklist: “CHiPs,†“Happy Days,†“The Love Boat,†â€Hill Street Blues,†“Laverne and Shirley,†and “Fantasy Island.†Lana had a recurring part on “Fantasy Island†as one of the girls that placed leis over the heads of each show’s featured guests. Her later work on television included guest spots on “Who’s the Boss,†“Night Court,†“Wings,†“Knight Rider,†“The Jefferson’s,†“Three’s Company,†“The A-Team,†“Riptide,†“Silk Stockings,†“Black Scorpion,†and many other popular shows. Lana also found success working on television commercials, with a client list that included Mercedes Benz, Nike, Anheiser Busch, Playtex Bras, KMART, and Mattel.
At eighteen Lana acquired her SAG card on the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High†- her first speaking role in a feature film. Her introductory lead role was in the movie “Blind Date,†filmed in Greece in 1982 and starring Kirstie Alley. Lana then landed a role in Roger Corman’s “Deathstalker.†While not a cinema masterpiece, Lana’s mother recalls that Lana did make an impression on a Los Angeles Times film critic who stated, “one bright spot … a newcomer, Lana Clarkson.”
It was this star-quality that led to Lana being offered the title role in Roger Corman’s next film, the cult classic “Barbarian Queen.†While filming in Argentina, Lana quickly picked up on complicated sword fighting and became what Roger Corman called “the original Xena.†Her work on this film, the sequel “Barbarian Queen 2,†and other projects under Roger Corman, was what Lana often described as “the boot camp of filmmaking.” Lana’s filmography also includes noted films such as “Scarface†and “My Favorite Year.â€
Lana’s larger than life personality and striking beauty inspired a large fan following, further cemented by her work in John Landis’ “Amazon Women on the Moon.†She was always a favorite at comic book conventions, where she happily signed autographs and was known to be friendly and accessible.
While physically tall, Lana’s personality could perhaps be described as gigantic. With a ready smile and quick wit, Lana was friendly, outgoing, spiritual, kind, genuine; in short, Lana was a charming and charismatically captivating woman. Those who knew her well maintain that her ability to make people laugh was perhaps one of her most endearing traits.
Lana was close to her family and was always there when needed. She made a point to check in with family and loved ones near and far on a regular basis, “just because.†Lunching with her mother was always a highlight in Lana’s schedule.
Lana lived on the canals in Venice, California, for the last several years, where she adopted a stray black cat that she christened “Midnight.†Lana and her brother took great pride in transforming Lana’s canal front house into a homey cottage. In the rare times when she was not working, Lana enjoyed the life of a California native, walking along the beach, riding her bike, and going to the gym and the movies with her sister.
Lana was a consistently working actress, which as many know, is no small feat in Hollywood. Those that worked with Lana have said that her work ethic was not only inspirational, but made her a joy to work with. Not only did Lana take each and every role she played seriously, she also excelled at the art of auditioning. Lana was well known for throwing herself into any character that she was auditioning for, going so far as to dress the part, capturing even the most minute details. Always the professional, Lana was famous for her prompt follow up with a card or a note that expressed her sincerest appreciation for anything from an audition to an offer for a film role.
In 2001, she decided to change gears a little and worked very hard to bring her versatility as a performer to the public eye. During this time, Lana developed, wrote, produced, and directed a showcase reel entitled “Lana Unleashed,†to steer her career in a new direction. Lana wanted to show the world that she was not just a pretty face, but also a talented actress with the ability to create comedic characters and bring them to life. Lana took these capabilities and applied them to the stand-up comedy genre, which was a perfectly natural direction for her considering that her stand-up debut had been on “Thicke of the Night†in the early 80’s. As part of her pro-active approach to this new chapter in her career, Lana also put together a website and began her own production company. She embraced this work, as she did most everything in her life, with zeal, passion, a studious demeanor, and a tenacity that would seem to ensure her success.
Just over a year ago, Lana suffered a fall while dancing with children at a Christmas party, breaking both of her wrists. Surgery was performed on both wrists on Christmas Day, 2001. Much of 2002 was spent in recovery and rehabilitation from these injuries, and though described by some as “hard times,” they were quite the opposite. Lana continued to be optimistic and light-hearted. She took the time to organize her affairs and plan for the future. In addition to physical therapy, Lana did her best to keep in shape in both body and mind by frequenting the gym and practicing yoga. She also took time to study, read, write, and attend classes for acting, producing, and script and play writing. This time of adversity also strengthened and re-affirmed Lana’s commitment to her spiritual beliefs, and true to character, she made a concerted effort to continue to do positive things for others.
Family, friends, fans, and those who knew her in passing will remember Lana as simply incredible. Her infectious charm, statuesque beauty, and real-world spirituality cannot be described by words alone. We will all miss you Lana, may you be at peace.