Annette Bening Bio
Annette Carol Bening (born May 29, 1958) is an American actress known for her versatile performances across stage and screen. With a career spanning over four decades, Bening has been nominated for numerous awards, including five Academy Awards, and has won a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. After making her film debut in 1988, she gained international recognition for her acclaimed roles in films like ‘American Beauty’ and ‘The Kids Are All Right’. Bening is also a graduate of San Francisco State University and the American Conservatory Theater.
Early Life and Background
Annette Carol Bening was born on May 29, 1958, in Topeka, Kansas, to Shirley Katherine and Arnett Grant Bening. Her mother was a church singer and soloist, while her father worked as a sales training consultant and insurance salesman. The youngest of four children, Bening spent her early childhood in Wichita, Kansas, before her family relocated to San Diego, California, where she spent the remainder of her youth. She began acting in junior high school, playing the lead in ‘The Sound of Music’. Bening graduated in 1975 from Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, where she studied drama. Following high school, she attended San Diego Mesa College and later graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University.
Path to Hollywood
Bening began her career on stage with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival company in 1980 and appeared in plays at the San Diego Repertory Theatre. She was a member of the acting company at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco while studying acting as part of the Advanced Theatre Training Program. Bening made her Broadway debut in 1987 in the play ‘Coastal Disturbances’, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She made her film debut in ‘The Great Outdoors’ (1988) and gained further recognition for her role in ‘The Grifters’ (1990), which earned her first Academy Award nomination.
Annette Bening Career
Early Career (1980–1999)
Bening’s breakthrough came with her performance as con artist Myra Langtry in the neo-noir crime thriller ‘The Grifters’ (1990), for which she earned her first nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In 1991, she portrayed Virginia Hill in Barry Levinson’s biopic ‘Bugsy’, alongside Warren Beatty, which earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Bening garnered acclaim for her starring role in Sam Mendes’ directorial debut film, ‘American Beauty’ (1999). For her performance as Carolyn Burnham, a materialistic wife engaging in an affair, Bening won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
Breakthrough (1999–2010)
In 1999, Bening returned to the stage for the first time in ten years playing the title role in ‘Hedda Gabler’ at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. The following year, she starred in ‘Being Julia’ (2004), which won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and earned her a second Academy Award nomination. In 2010, Bening received critical acclaim for her performance in ‘The Kids Are All Right’, which earned her a Golden Globe Award and her third Academy Award nomination.
Notable Works and Milestones
Bening’s signature works include ‘American Beauty’, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, and ‘Captain Marvel’ (2019). She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including a BAFTA Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Annette Bening Award Nominations
Annette Bening has received five Academy Award nominations throughout her career, showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress.
Annette Bening Awards Won
Bening has won several prestigious awards, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for her performances in ‘American Beauty’ and ‘Being Julia’.
Annette Bening Family
Annette Bening was married to actor J. Steven White from 1984 until their divorce in 1991. She has been married to actor Warren Beatty since March 3, 1992. Together, they have four children, including actress Ella Beatty.
Personal Life
While training at the American Conservatory Theater, Bening met actor J. Steven White, marrying him in 1984. After their divorce, she married Warren Beatty, and they have four children together. Bening continues to be an influential figure in the entertainment industry, known for her dedication to her craft and her family.
