Biography
Designer label-clad force of nature, neurotic diva, and the owner of one of the most expansive mouths in the free world, Christine Baranski is one of the more distinctive actresses working on the stage and screen today. Known to television audiences for her portrayal of Cybill Shepard's brassy and unapologetically arrogant best friend on the sitcom Cybill, Baranski has also made a name for herself on the New York stage, where she has won a number of awards, and has worked as a character actress on a variety of films.
Born in Buffalo, New York, on May 2, 1952, Baranski was influenced from a young age by her Polish grandparents, who were both actors. After studying acting at Julliard, she began working on the New York stage and on various TV shows, and made her film debut in 1982. The stage proved to be a particularly good medium for Baranski's talents; a staple of many New York productions, the actress earned Tony Awards and a number of other honors for her work in the Broadway productions of
Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and
Neil Simon's Rumors.
Usually cast as a supporting player onscreen, Baranski has done particularly notable work in
Jeffrey (1995), in which she played a New York socialite;
The Birdcage (1996), which featured her as the brassy mother of
Robin Williams' grown son; and
Cruel Intentions (1999), in which she did another hilarious turn as a New York socialite. In one of her rare excursions as a lead, Baranski gave a memorable performance as a struggling actress in
Bowfinger (1999), sharing the screen with the likes of
Steve Martin,
Heather Graham, and
Eddie Murphy. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide