Rosanna Lisa Arquette (/rˈzɑːnə ɑːrˈkɛt/;[1] born August 10, 1959) is an American actress. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the TV film The Executioner's Song (1982) and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the film Desperately Seeking Susan (1985). Her other film roles include After Hours (also 1985), The Big Blue (1988), Pulp Fiction (1994), and Crash (1996). She also directed the documentary Searching for Debra Winger (2002) and starred in the ABC sitcom What About Brian? from 2006 to 2007.

Rosanna Arquette
Arquette at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Born
Rosanna Lisa Arquette

(1959-08-10) August 10, 1959 (age 65)
OccupationActress
Years active1977–present
Spouses
Anthony Greco
(m. 1979; div. 1980)
(m. 1986; div. 1987)
John Sidel
(m. 1993; div. 1999)
Todd Morgan
(m. 2013; sep. 2022)
Children1
FatherLewis Arquette
Relatives
Websiterosannaarquette.com

Early life

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Arquette was born in New York City, on August 10, 1959,[2][3] the daughter of Brenda Olivia "Mardi" (née Nowak), an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, a film actor and producer.[citation needed] Her paternal grandfather was comedian Cliff Arquette. Her mother was Jewish, from a family that emigrated from Poland and Russia.[4][5][6][7][8] Her father, whose original family surname was "Arcouet", was of part French-Canadian descent.[9] Her father was a convert from Catholicism to Islam.[10][8][11] Her four siblings, Richmond, Patricia, Alexis, and David, also became actors.

Career

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Arquette has appeared in both television and feature films since 1977. One of her first noticeable roles was in S.O.B. (1981), directed by Blake Edwards. She earned an Emmy Award nomination for the TV film The Executioner's Song (1982). However, she was unhappy with the film's nude scene, remarking in an interview that the idea of the general public seeing her naked made her feel uncomfortable and exploited, and that most of the offers she had received since demanded that she similarly expose herself.[12] Her first starring role was in John Sayles's film, Baby It's You (1983), highly regarded by Rotten Tomatoes reviewers[13] but not widely distributed.[14] She co-starred in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) alongside pop superstar Madonna, for which Arquette won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role despite appearing in the leading role. In an interview at the time, Arquette said "The two questions I hate the most are 'What was it like working with Madonna?' and 'Are you the Rosanna in the song "Rosanna"?'" Following the commercial and critical success of Lawrence Kasdan's Silverado (also 1985), the limited success of the Martin Scorsese film After Hours (also 1985) and the commercial flop 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), also a critical failure, she quit Hollywood to work in Europe, acting in Luc Besson's The Big Blue (1988). Director Scorsese then offered her a part in his segment of New York Stories (1989).

Arquette's other movies of note are Pulp Fiction and the David Cronenberg film Crash and the Australian film Wendy Cracked a Walnut (1990, also known as ...Almost). In 1990, she appeared on the cover and in a nude pictorial in Playboy's September issue, although she said it was without her prior knowledge or consent.[15] Arquette starred in Sondra Locke's Trading Favors, played Angelina Jolie's mother in Hell's Kitchen and later appeared as the girlfriend of Jolie's real-life father Jon Voight on Ray Donovan.

In 2017, Arquette alleged (along with almost a hundred other women from the entertainment industry), that the then film producer Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed her, threatened her because of her refusal to enter his hotel room, and subsequently saw to it that she was paid less for Pulp Fiction, then no longer cast her in A-list lead roles because of her rejection of his quid pro quo sexual harassment proposition; Weinstein was convicted of sex offences in 2020. When news broke about Weinstein's sexual offending in October 2017, Arquette was one of the first actresses to speak openly about his misconduct, with Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker and The New York Times's Jodi Kantor.[16] In the documentary Untouchable (2019) about Weinstein focusing on those who accused him of sexual abuse, Arquette, Paz de la Huerta, and Erika Rosenbaum were among those interviewed.

Arquette has expanded into directing, including the documentaries Searching for Debra Winger (2002) and All We Are Saying (2005); she also produced both projects. Arquette appeared in What About Brian as Nicole Varsi and in Showtime's The L Word as Cherie Jaffe.[citation needed] She also guest-starred in Malcolm in the Middle as a healer named Anita.

In 2009, she joined Fit Parent Magazine, founded by Craig Knight, as Editor at Large.[17] Arquette starred in the 2011 French thriller The Divide, directed by Xavier Gens.[18] She had a featured role in the 2012 comedy Peace, Love & Misunderstanding with Jane Fonda.

In an August 8, 2019 interview with TheWrap, Arquette said the FBI advised her to make her Twitter account private after online critics complained about her tweeting that she had shame for being "white and privileged".[19]

Personal life

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The Toto song "Rosanna" was written by David Paich, who has claimed that the song is based on numerous girls he had known. However, as a joke, the band members initially played along with the common assumption that the song was based on Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time. Arquette herself played along with the joke, commenting in an interview that the song was about "my showing up at 4 a.m., bringing them juice and beer at their sessions."[20]

Arquette was romantically involved with Peter Gabriel for several years, after his 1987 divorce to his wife Jill Moore. Arquette has said on some occasions that his 1986 song "In Your Eyes" was inspired by her, although Gabriel has never confirmed that to be true, and has explained that he drew inspiration for the song from other sources.[21][22] Arquette's first three marriages—to director Tony Greco, film composer James Newton Howard, and restaurateur John Sidel—ended in divorce.[23] She has one daughter with Sidel.[23] In August 2013, Arquette married her fourth husband, investment banker Todd Morgan, following a two-year engagement.[23] In January 2022, Todd Morgan filed for separation from Arquette after 8 years of marriage.[24]

Arquette has described her diet as "vegetarian for the most part".[25]

In August 2019, Arquette posted a Twitter rant about her experience with white guilt, stating; "I'm sorry I was born white and privileged. It disgusts me. And I feel so much shame." She later claimed the FBI told her to set her Twitter page to private due to the reaction she received after posting.[26]

Philanthropy

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In 2010, Arquette became Goodwill Ambassador for The Womanity Foundation.[27]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 More American Graffiti Girl in Commune
1980 Gorp Judy
1981 S.O.B. Babs
1982 The Executioner's Song Nicole Baker
1983 Baby It's You Jill Rosen
Off the Wall Pam Smith
1985 The Aviator Tillie Hansen
Desperately Seeking Susan Roberta Glass / 'Susan'
Silverado Hannah
After Hours Marcy Franklin
1986 8 Million Ways to Die Sarah
Nobody's Fool Cassie
1987 Amazon Women on the Moon Karen Segment: "Two I.D.'s"
1988 The Big Blue Johana Baker
1989 New York Stories Paulette Segment: "Life Lessons"
Black Rainbow Martha Travis
1990 Wendy Cracked a Walnut Wendy Re-titled ...Almost
Sweet Revenge Kate Williams
1991 Flight of the Intruder Callie Joy
The Linguini Incident Lucy
1992 Fathers & Sons Miss Athena
In the Deep Woods Joanna
1993 Nowhere to Run Clydie Anderson
The Wrong Man Missy Mills
1994 Pulp Fiction Jody
La Cité de la peur Rosanna Arquette
1995 Search and Destroy Lauren Mirkheim
1996 Crash Gabrielle
1997 Trading Favors Alex Langley a.k.a. Do Me a Favor
Gone Fishin' Rita
Deceiver Mrs. Kennesaw
1998 Buffalo '66 Wendy Balsam
Hope Floats Connie Phillips Uncredited
Hell's Kitchen Liz McNeary
I'm Losing You Rachel Krohn
Fait Accompli Jezzebelle
1999 Sugar Town Eva
The 60's Hippie Mother
2000 The Whole Nine Yards Sophie Oseransky
2001 Things Behind the Sun Pete
Joe Dirt Charlene the Gator Farmer Uncredited
Big Bad Love Velma
Good Advice Cathy Sherman
Diary of a Sex Addict Grace Horn Video
2002 Searching for Debra Winger Herself Documentary, also directorial debut
2004 Dead Cool Deirdre
2005 My Suicidal Sweetheart Vera a.k.a. Crazy for Love
Kids in America Abby Pratt
2006 I-See-You.Com Lydia Ann Layton
2007 Battle for Terra Professor Lina (voice)
2008 Ball Don't Lie Francine
Nick Nolte: No Exit Herself Documentary
2009 Repo Chick Lola
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love Madeline Shearson
2010 Inhale Dr. Rubin
2011 Convincing Clooney JC
The Divide Marilyn
Exodus Fall Marilyn Minor
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding Darcy
2012 Hardflip Bethany Jones
2014 Draft Day Angie
Asthma Gus' Mother
2015 Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant TV Anchorwoman
Kill Your Friends Barbara
2016 Frank & Lola Patricia
Lovesong Eleanor
2017 Maya Dardel Leonora Won—Indie Star Award at the American Film Festival.[28]
Born Guilty Judith
Holy Lands Monica
2018 Billionaire Boys Club Sydney's Mom
The Etruscan Smile Claudia
Octavio Is Dead! Joan
2019 Untouchable Herself Documentary
2020 You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Love Is Love Is Love Anne
2021 Puppy Love Deb
2022 Signs of Love Rosie
2023 Ex-Husbands Maria Pearce

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Fernwood 2 Night Member of The Fernwood Precision Swim Team Episode: "Animal Sexuality"
Having Babies II Connie TV film
1978 The Dark Secret of Harvest Home Kate Constantine TV miniseries
What Really Happened to the Class of '65? Nancy Episode: "Mr. Potential"
Zuma Beach Beverly TV film
James at 16 Karen Waller Episode: "An Hour Before Midnight"
ABC Afterschool Special Charlie Meredith Episode: "Mom and Dad Can't Hear Me"
1979 Eight Is Enough Lori West Episode: "Best of Friends"
1979–1980 Shirley Debra Miller Main role (13 episodes)
1981 Here's Boomer Ginny Episode: "Good Looking"
A Long Way Home Rose Cavanaugh TV film
1982 The Wall Halinka Apt
The Executioner's Song Nicole Baker
Johnny Belinda Belinda McAdam
1983 Insight Jo Episode: "Butterfly"
1984 The Parade Tilda Kirby TV film
1986 Saturday Night Live Host Recorded October 25, 1986, broadcast two weeks later. With musical guest Ric Ocasek.
1987 Trying Times Kara Dimley Single Episode "A Family Tree"
1988 Promised a Miracle Lucky Parker TV film
1990 Separation Sarah Weiss
1991 Son of the Morning Star Libby Custer
1992 In the Deep Woods Joanna Warren
1994 Nowhere to Hide Sarah Blake
1996 Homicide: Life on the Street Caroline Widmer Episode: "The Heart of a Saturday Night"
1997 Gun Lilly Difideli Episode: "Columbus Day"
1998 I Know What You Did Stacey Keane TV film
Floating Away[29] Maurey Talbot
1999 The '60s Hippie mother TV miniseries
Uncredited
Switched at Birth Linda Wells TV film
Also known as Mistaken Identity
2000 Poison Dana Lazlo TV film
Also known as Tease
2001 The Huntress Arlene Potts Episode: "Black Widow"
2002 Going to California Helen Episode: "Home Games"
2003 The Practice Brenda Miller Episode: "Character Evidence"
Will & Grace Julie Episodes: "Fagmalion Part 1: Gay It Forward", "Women and Children First"
2004 Summerland Ronnie Episode: "Skipping School"
The L Word Cherie Jaffe Episodes: "Luck, Next Time", "Liberally", "Limb from Limb"
2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kay Connelly Episode: "Sex Club"
Malcolm in the Middle Anita Episode: "Burning Man"
Grey's Anatomy Constance Ferguson Episode: "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
2006 The L Word Cherie Jaffe Episode: "Lifeline"
2006–2007 What About Brian Nicole Varzi Main role (24 episodes)
2007 The L Word Cherie Jaffe Episode: "Legend in the Making"
2008 Dirt Mia Episode: "And the Winner Is"
Medium Michelle Todd Episode: "Lady Killer"
Lipstick Jungle Tina Atwood Episode: "Let the Games Begin"
2009 Northern Lights Charlene Galligan TV film
Eastwick Greta Noa Episodes: "Paint and Pleasure", "Tasers and Mind Erasers"
2010 Private Practice Corinne Episodes: "Shotgun", "'Til Death Do Us Part"
2012 Royal Pains Louise 'Lou' Hunter Episodes: "Something Fishy This Way Comes", "Sand Legs"
2013 Girls Petula Episode: "Video Games"
2013–2014 Ray Donovan Linda Episodes: "Bridget", "Fite Nite", "Yo Soy Capitan", "S U C K", "Irish Spring", "The Captain"
2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Alexa Pierson Episode: "Wednesday's Child"
2015 CSI: Cyber Trish McCarthy Episode: "Selfie 2.0"
2016 Roadies Abby Van Ness Episode: "Carpet Season"
2018 Sideswiped Mary Maple Main role (8 episodes)
2020 Ratched Anna Recurring role
2021 The L Word: Generation Q Cherie Jaffe Episode: "Lobsters, Too"
2022–2023 Big Sky Virginia Cessna Recurring role
2023 Paul T. Goldman Genevieve Episode: "The Warrior"
Florida Man Rose Episode: "Please Don't Wake Up"
Hell's Kitchen Herself Red guest diner and Teen Cancer America contributor; Episode: "A Hellish Food Fight"
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Sweety Mrs. Summers 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Production Result Ref
1983 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special Nominated
1984 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Actress Won
1986 BAFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Desperately Seeking Susan Won
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Nominated
1987 BAFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated
1989 Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival Best Actress Won
1990 Australian Film Institute Best Actress in a Lead Role
Wendy Cracked a Walnut
Nominated
Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award Black Rainbow Won
1991 Mystfest Best Actress Won
1994 Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Cast Ensemble [30] Won
1997 Online Film & Television Association Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2000 Teen Choice Awards Film – Choice Hissy Fit Nominated
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Supporting Actress Nominated
2007 Fantasporto Special Career Award Won
LA Femme International Film Festival Pioneer Award Nominated
2021 Newport Beach Film Festival Icon Award Self Won [31]
2022 Vienna Independent Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Futra Days Won [32]

References

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  1. ^ "Rosanna Arquette Introduces Poetic Justice". YouTube. March 8, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Between the Lines". The South Bend Tribune. King Features Syndicate. May 24, 1986. p. C4. She's 26 (born August 10, 1959), the granddaughter of comedian Cliff Arquette and daughter of director/performer Lewis Arquette and poet/political activist Mardi Arquette.
  3. ^ Brady, James (October 9, 1988). "In Step With: Rosanna Arquette". The Salt Lake Tribune. Parade Magazine. p. 19. BORN: Aug. 10, 1959, in New York City.
  4. ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (October 17, 2002). "Arquette Reconnects". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  5. ^ Bloom, Nate (September 6, 2013). "Celebrity Jews". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (February 17, 2010). "David Arquette: The Females of My Life". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "Patricia Arquette – Cranky Critic StarTalk – Movie Star Interviews". Crankycritic.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2001. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Hoggard, Liz (August 18, 2006). "Patricia Arquette: The not-so-dippy hippie". The Independent. London. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  9. ^ Finding Your Roots, February 9, 2016, PBS
  10. ^ "Lewis Arquette Obituary". Los Angeles Times. July 10, 1986. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  11. ^ "'Medium' Cool". Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  12. ^ Caldwell, Carol (June 9, 1983). "Baby, It's Her". Rolling Stone. No. 397. pp. 17, 19.
  13. ^ Baby It's You at Rotten Tomatoes
  14. ^ Baby It's You at Box Office Mojo
  15. ^ Account (May 12, 2005). "Rosanna Arquette – Rosanna Still Upset About Playboy Spread". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  16. ^ Cocozza, Paula (August 26, 2019). "Rosanna Arquette: 'They said I was a pain in the ass. It's not true'". The Guardian. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  17. ^ "Fit Parent Magazine web site". Fitparentmagazine.com. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Xavier Gens' Apocalypse 'The Divide' Encompasses Genre Cast". BloodyDisgusting. May 12, 2010.
  19. ^ Burch, Sean; Waxman, Sharon (August 8, 2019). "Rosanna Arquette Says FBI Told Her to 'Lock' Twitter Account After Blowback From White 'Shame' Tweet (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  20. ^ Caldwell, Carol (June 9, 1983). "Baby, It's Her". Rolling Stone. No. 397. pp. 17, 19.
  21. ^ "Immortal Women of Song". The Daily Beast. September 29, 2009.
  22. ^ "Rosanna Arquette: Desperately seeking Rosanna". Independent.co.uk. March 21, 2005.
  23. ^ a b c Hernandez, Lee (August 21, 2013). "Rosanna Arquette Weds Todd Morgan". People. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  24. ^ Nikhil, Nikita (March 10, 2022). "Who is Todd Morgan? All about Rosanna Arquette's husband as he files for divorce". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  25. ^ "Rosanna Arquette displays motherly love". Retrieved 13 September 2020. "I'm vegetarian for the most part. Sometimes, I will eat some salmon just because I feel the need for the protein, but I consider myself pretty much a vegetarian."
  26. ^ "Rosanna Arquette slammed for saying she 'feels so much shame' over being white, privileged". USA Today.
  27. ^ "Womanity – Equality And Women's Empowerment". The Luxury Channel.
  28. ^ "Rosanna Arquette to receive Indie Star Award - American Film Festival". Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  29. ^ "Floating Away (TV Movie 1998) - IMDb". IMDb.
  30. ^ Shared with John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Ving Rhames, Amanda Plummer, Bruce Willis, Eric Stoltz.
  31. ^ Plunkett, Paul (October 21, 2021). "Newport Beach Film Festival Returns Live with Events and Honorees Including Harvey Keitel and Regina Hall". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  32. ^ "Vienna Independent Film Festival 2022: The Complete Winners List". Indie Cinema Magazine. September 15, 2022.
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