Biography
Advertised as "the face of the '80s," one-time model and Actors Studio-graduate Suzy Amis made her film bow in
Fandango (1985). While making the film, Amis met her future husband
Sam Robards, the son of Jason Robards, Jr. and
Lauren Bacall. She followed
Fandango with an off-Broadway appearance in
Fresh Horses and next essayed an unprepossessing "goodie two-shoes" film role in
The Big Town (1987). Despite having the least interesting assignment in that film, Amis managed to steal several scenes away from villainess
Laura Dern. She further proved her acting mettle as the titular heroine of
The Ballad of Little Jo (1993), portraying a young woman who passes herself off as a man to survive a harsh existence in the Old West. Unfortunately, although Amis earned a number of plaudits for her performance, the film all but disappeared at the box office. The actress turned up in lead and supporting roles in a number of varied films, including Rocket Gilbraltar (1988),
Rich in Love (1993),
The Usual Suspects (1995) -- which cast her as the film's only substantial female character -- and
Titanic (1997), in which she played heroine
Kate Winslet's great-granddaughter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide