Biography
Saucer-eyed actress Illeana Douglas has been regularly appearing in major films since 1987, when she debuted in the
Shelley Long comedy
Hello Again. The granddaughter of actor
Melvyn Douglas and actress-turned-Congresswoman
Helen Gahagan, Douglas was born July 25, 1965, in Massachusetts.
After her film debut, the actress worked for years in relative obscurity, at one point dubbing a chilling scream for
The Last Temptation of Christ. She frequently appeared in other
Martin Scorsese films, most notably
Goodfellas (1990) and 1991's
Cape Fear. Her collaboration with the director also took place offscreen, as the two dated for years.
Following roles in a number of films, including
Household Saints (1993) and
Quiz Show (1994), Douglas was cast in
Gus Van Sant's 1995
To Die For. She won some measure of recognition and critical praise for her role as
Nicole Kidman's sarcastic sister-in-law, and the following year landed the lead in
Allison Anders'
Grace of My Heart. Although Douglas was again praised for her work -- here portraying a Carole King-like singer/songwriter -- the film did poorly among critics and at the box office.
The actress went on to do a number of made-for-TV films, including the satirical
Weapons of Mass Distraction in 1997. In 1999 she had a full plate, doing both television work (appearing as a prostitute on the Fox series
Action) and more film work. She appeared with
Kevin Costner in
Message in a Bottle before going on to make the independent film Happy, Texas, the supernatural thriller
Stir of Echoes with
Kevin Bacon, and
Can't Stop Dancing, a comedy in which she acted alongside
Margaret Cho and
Janeane Garofalo. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide