Janine Turner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janine Turner
Turner at her ranch in 2014
Born	Janine Loraine Gauntt (1962-12-06) December 6, 1962 (age 62) Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1980–present
Children	1

Janine Turner (born Janine Loraine Gauntt on December 6, 1962) is an American actress. She is well-known for playing Maggie O'Connell in the TV show Northern Exposure. She also starred as Jessie Deighan in the movie Cliffhanger. Another famous role was Katie McCoy in the TV series Friday Night Lights. Besides acting, Janine Turner is an author and a public speaker. She also helped start an organization called Constituting America in 2010.

Early Life and Beginnings

Where Janine Turner Grew Up

Janine Loraine Gauntt was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her parents were Janice Loraine and Turner Maurice Gauntt Jr. Soon after she was born, her family moved back to their home state of Texas. Janine grew up in the towns of Euless and Fort Worth, Texas.

Starting a Career in New York

In 1978, when Janine was 16, she moved to New York City. She wanted to become a model and joined the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency. In 1980, she began her acting career in Hollywood. She appeared in several episodes of the TV show Dallas. She also appeared in a TV commercial for a body sponge in 1981. Throughout the 1980s, she continued to appear as a guest on different TV shows. Later, she got the role of Laura Templeton on General Hospital.

By 1986, Janine was not happy with the types of roles she was getting. She wanted to act in more serious parts. She felt she had the talent for it. So, she decided to leave Hollywood. She moved to New York to improve her acting skills. She studied with Marcia Haufrecht at the Actors Studio.

Janine felt a new respect for acting in New York. She decided she did not want roles that showed women in a bad way. She turned down many TV and film opportunities because of this. People thought she was making a strange choice. She was taking a big risk. She had very little money left and felt sad. Then, she got the part in Northern Exposure.

Acting Success and Famous Roles

Becoming Maggie O'Connell

Janine Turner at the Governor's Ball after the 1992 Emmy Awards

In 1990, Janine Turner was cast as Maggie O'Connell in Northern Exposure. Her work on this show was highly praised. She was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1993. She also received three Golden Globe nominations from 1992 to 1994.

Playing Maggie was a great experience for Janine. Before this, she often played "damsel in distress" roles. These were the types of roles that made her want to leave Hollywood. Janine said that Maggie was her "ideal character." She described Maggie as "smarter and stronger than all the men she meets." Maggie's story in the show was similar to Janine's own life. Maggie moved from a rich community to a remote town in Alaska. Janine said that Maggie "went against the grain and challenged herself by moving to Alaska."

Movies and Other TV Shows

Turner at the 1993 Emmy Awards, Governor's Ball

After her success in Northern Exposure, Janine Turner appeared in the action movie Cliffhanger. She starred alongside Sylvester Stallone. Next, she played June Cleaver in the movie Leave It to Beaver. This movie was based on the original TV show. She also appeared in Stolen Women: Captured Hearts and Dr. T & the Women with Richard Gere. She was in No Regrets and many other TV movies.

In 2004, Janine wrote, produced, and directed a short film called Trip in a Summer Dress. This film was about a strong mother and her children. It won an award. In 2006, she was in a movie filmed in Dallas called The Night of the White Pants. In 2007, she helped write, produce, and star in Christoga. This was a Christian Yoga DVD. Janine also helped write and produce an album called Mockingbird Hill. Both she and her daughter Juliette sang on it.

In 2008, Janine Turner joined the NBC TV series Friday Night Lights. She played Katie McCoy for 12 episodes. Katie was the mother of a talented high school football quarterback.

Cynthia Geary, Rob Morrow and Janine Turner at the 45th Primetime Emmy Awards, September 1993

In 2015, Janine played the wife of Anthony Hopkins' character in the movie Solace.

Other Work and Interests

Educating About the Constitution

In 2010, Janine Turner started an organization called Constituting America. She is the co-president of this group with Cathy Gillespie. The group aims to teach adults and students in America about the U.S. Constitution. They want to show how it is still important today.

Radio Host and Author

On May 21, 2011, Janine Turner started hosting her own live radio show. It was called The Janine Turner Show. It aired on talk radio stations KLIF (AM) in Dallas and KPRC (AM) in Houston. It was also available on iHeart Radio until 2013. Her show was named "Best Radio Show in Dallas."

Janine Turner has written four books. One book is Holding Her Head High: Inspiration from 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History. This book tells stories of single mothers throughout history. Another book is A Little Bit Vulnerable: On Hollywood, God, Sobriety, & Politics. She also wrote Wisdom For Each Day: Inherited From My Great Grandfather and Artificial Intelligentsia Vs. Primal Sense.

Public Speaking and Views

Speaking Out

In 2006, Janine Turner was chosen to be a member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. In 2010, she began giving public speeches across the country. She became a popular speaker on many topics. These include heart health, faith, the Constitution, and politics. She speaks at events for companies, community groups, schools, universities, and churches.

Janine Turner has described her own views. She says she is "socially liberal and fiscally conservative." She also said she is "almost more libertarian." Janine has written 85 essays about the 85 Federalist Papers. She has also written many opinion pieces for newspapers and websites. These include Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, and FoxNews.com. She wrote a petition called "The Truth Act." She also wrote a detailed paper about how unclear laws can harm freedom.

Personal Life

Janine Turner has a daughter named Juliette Turner-Jones, who was born in 1997. Janine has never been married. She was once engaged to Alec Baldwin. She also dated Troy Aikman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mark Grace, and Sylvester Stallone. As of 2014, Janine Turner lived on a longhorn cattle ranch. The ranch is located outside Dallas where she lived with her daughter.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

Recognitions for Acting

Emmy Award

• 1993: Nominated for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" for Northern Exposure.

Golden Globe Award

• 1992: Nominated for "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series – Drama" for Northern Exposure.
• 1993: Nominated for "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series – Drama" for Northern Exposure.
• 1994: Nominated for "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series – Drama" for Northern Exposure.
• 1995: Janine Turner hosted the 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Screen Actors Guild Awards

• 1995: Nominated for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series" for Northern Exposure.

Young Artist Award

• 1983: Won "Best Young Actress in the Daytime Series" for General Hospital.

See also

In Spanish: Janine Turner para niños