What is Jennifer Beals' Net Worth and Salary?
Jennifer Beals is a renowned actress and former model with a net worth of $8 million. She gained fame with her breakout role in the 1983 film 'Flashdance,' and has since starred in numerous successful films and TV series, including 'Devil in a Blue Dress,' 'The Anniversary Party,' 'Roger Dodger,' 'Before I Fall,' 'The L Word,' 'The Chicago Code,' 'Proof,' and 'Taken.'
Early Life
Jennifer Beals was born on December 19, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother, Jeanne, was an elementary school teacher, and her father, Alfred, who passed away when she was nine, was a grocery store owner. She has two brothers, Bobby and Gregory. Beals attended Francis W. Parker School and was involved in a production of 'Fiddler on the Roof.' She later participated in the Young People's Drama Workshop at the Goodman Theatre. Beals graduated from Yale University with a BA in American Literature in 1987.
Film Career
Jennifer Beals debuted in the film 'My Bodyguard' in 1980. Her career took off in 1983 with her role as Alex Owens in 'Flashdance,' which became the third highest-grossing film in the United States that year. For her performance, Beals was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress. She continued her film career with roles in 'The Bride' alongside Sting, 'The Gamble,' 'Split Decisions,' and 'Vampire's Kiss' with Nicolas Cage. Beals’ 90s roles include 'Dr. M,' 'In the Soup,' 'Day of Atonement,' 'Caro diario,' 'Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle,' and 'The Search for One-eye Jimmy.' Notably, she starred with Denzel Washington in 'Devil in a Blue Dress' and Campbell Scott in 'Let it Be Me.'
In the early 2000s, she starred in the action film 'Militia,' 'The Anniversary Party,' '13 Moons,' and 'Roger Dodger.' She appeared in 'Runaway Jury,' based on a John Grisham novel, and other films such as 'Catch That Kid,' 'Desolation Sound,' 'Troubled Waters,' 'The Grudge 2,' and 'The Book of Eli,' reuniting with Denzel Washington. Later roles included 'Cinemanovels,' 'Manhattan Night,' 'Before I Fall,' and 'After.'
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Television Career
Beals’ television debut was in 1985 with 'Faerie Tale Theatre' as Cinderella. After a hiatus, she returned in 1992 with '2000 Malibu Road.' She guest-starred in 'The Outer Limits,' 'Nothing Sacred,' and 'The Hunger.' Her TV roles in the 90s extended to films such as 'The Madonna and the Dragon,' 'Night Owl,' 'The Twilight of the Golds,' and 'Body and Soul.'
The early 2000s saw Beals in TV films like 'A House Divided,' 'After the Storm,' and 'Without Malice.' A landmark role came with 'The L Word' in 2004, where she played Bette Porter, a significant character in LGBTQ TV history. She followed with roles in 'Lie to Me,' 'The Chicago Code,' 'The Mob Doctor,' 'The Night Shift,' 'The Last Tycoon,' 'Proof,' 'Taken,' and 'Swamp Thing.' In 2019, she reprised her role as Bette Porter in 'The L Word: Generation Q.'
Personal Life
During her time at Yale, Beals dated Robert Simonds, who became a notable film producer. In 1986, she married filmmaker Alexandre Rockwell, divorcing him a decade later. She married Canadian entrepreneur Ken Dixon in 1998, with whom she has a daughter, along with two children from Dixon's previous marriage.
Beals is a practicing Buddhist and spiritual person. She engages in sanshou, kung fu, kickboxing, and triathlon competitions. She is also an advocate for LGBTQ rights and received the Ally For Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign in 2012.
