Elizabeth Gracen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Gracen
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Gracen in 2016
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| Born |
Elizabeth Grace Ward
April 3, 1961 Ozark, Arkansas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | HB Studios |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Title | Miss Arkansas 1981 Miss America 1982 |
| Predecessor | Susan Powell |
| Successor | Debra Maffett |
| Spouse(s) |
Jon Birmingham
(m. 1982; div. 1984)Brendan Hughes
(m. 1989; div. 1994)
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| Children | 1 |
Elizabeth Ward Gracen (born Elizabeth Grace Ward on April 3, 1961) is an American actress who is famous for winning the Miss America beauty pageant in 1982. She later became known for her roles in movies and television shows.
Contents
Early Life and Pageant Success
Elizabeth Grace Ward was born in Ozark, Arkansas. Her mother, Patricia, was a nurse, and her father, Jimmy, worked with poultry. She grew up in the towns of Booneville and later Russellville, Arkansas, where she graduated from high school in 1979.
While studying accounting at Arkansas Tech University, she entered beauty pageants. In 1981, she won the title of Miss Arkansas. The next year, she became Miss America 1982. Instead of returning to college, she used her scholarship money to study acting in New York City.
Career in Entertainment
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After her year as Miss America, Gracen moved to California to start her acting career.
Acting in Movies and TV
Gracen's first movie was Three for the Road with actor Charlie Sheen. She also appeared in the action movie Marked for Death with Steven Seagal. Some of her other films include Pass The Ammo and Lower Level.
On television, she appeared in many shows. Her most famous role was playing Amanda, an immortal character who is over 1,000 years old. She played Amanda in the popular show Highlander: The Series and its spin-off, Highlander: The Raven. She also had roles in shows like Renegade and Queen of Swords.
After 2002, Gracen took a long break from acting. During this time, she did voiceover work for a radio show. In 2012, she voiced a character in the animated movie War of the Worlds: Goliath.
Writing and Directing
In 2012, Gracen started her own company called Flapper Films. She also began writing and directing. She wrote a fantasy book for young adults called Shalilly.
Gracen also directed a short documentary movie. The film was about young performers from Arkansas who compete in beauty pageants.
Personal Life
Gracen has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Jon Birmingham from 1982 to 1984. She later married actor Brendan Hughes in 1989, and they divorced in 1994. She is now married to Adam Murphy, and they have one daughter.
In the 1990s, Gracen became part of a political controversy involving Bill Clinton, who was then the President of the United States. Years earlier, when Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas, Gracen said they had a brief encounter. Because of this claim, she was asked to speak in court during an investigation of the president. However, she was filming a TV show outside the country and did not end up testifying.
Filmography
- Three for the Road (1987) as Nadine
- Pass the Ammo (1988) as Christie Lynn
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1989)
- Lisa (1989) as Mary
- The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990) as Jasmin
- Marked for Death (1990) as Melissa
- The Flash (1990 TV Series) as Celia Wayne
- 83 Hours 'Til Dawn (1990) as Maria Ranfield
- Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1991) as Alice
- Lower Level (1992) as Hillary
- The Sands of Time (1992)
- Final Mission (1993) as Caitlin Cole
- Time Trax (1993) as Sydney
- Discretion Assured (1993) as Miranda
- Highlander: The Series (1992–1998) as Amanda
- Renegade (1992–1997) as Rikki Yeager
- Murder, She Wrote (1994) as Michelle Scarlotti
- The Expert (1995) as Liz Pierce
- Extreme (1995) as Callie Manners
- Kounterfeit (1996) as Bridgette
- Highlander: The Raven (1998–1999) as Amanda
- Queen of Swords (2000) as Carlotta
- Charmed (2002) as Vampire Queen
- Interceptor Force 2 (2002) as Adriana Sikes
- War of the Worlds: Goliath (2012) as Lt. Jennifer Carter (voice)
- Coherence (2013) as Beth
See also
In Spanish: Elizabeth Gracen para niños
