Julianne Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julianne Moore
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Moore in 2024
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Julie Anne Smith
December 3, 1960 Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Education | Boston University (BFA) |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Peter Moore Smith (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
Julie Anne Smith (born December 3, 1960), known as Julianne Moore, is a famous American actress. She has been in many movies since the early 1990s. Julianne is known for playing strong characters in both independent films and big blockbuster movies.
She has won many important awards, like an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Emmy Awards. In 2015, Time magazine said she was one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2020, The New York Times called her one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.
After studying acting at Boston University, Moore started her career on TV. From 1985 to 1988, she was a regular on the soap opera As the World Turns. She even won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the show.
Julianne Moore became well-known after starring in Robert Altman's film Short Cuts (1993). She also received praise for her role in Todd Haynes' Safe (1995). She became a leading lady in Hollywood with roles in popular movies like Nine Months (1995) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). She was nominated for an Oscar for her roles in Boogie Nights (1997), The End of the Affair (1999), Far from Heaven (2002), and The Hours (2002).
Moore continued her successful career with roles in films such as The Big Lebowski (1998), Magnolia (1999), Hannibal (2001), and Children of Men (2006). She won a Primetime Emmy Award for playing Sarah Palin in the HBO film Game Change (2012). She also won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as an Alzheimer's patient in Still Alice (2014).
Her movies that earned the most money include the last two films in The Hunger Games series (2014–2015) and the spy film Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). More recently, she has appeared in independent films and shows for streaming services. These include the drama May December (2023) and the historical miniseries Mary & George (2024).
Besides acting, Julianne Moore has written a series of children's books. The main character is named Freckleface Strawberry. She is married to director Bart Freundlich and they have two children together.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Julianne Moore was born Julie Anne Smith on December 3, 1960. She was born at the Fort Bragg army base in North Carolina. Her father, Peter Moore Smith, was a paratrooper in the United States Army. He later became a military judge. Her mother, Anne, was a Scottish psychologist and social worker. She moved to the U.S. from Scotland in 1951.
Julianne has a younger sister, Valerie, and a younger brother, Peter Moore Smith, who is a novelist. Because her mother was Scottish, Julianne also became a British citizen in 2011.
Because of her father's job, Moore's family moved around the United States a lot when she was a child. She said this made her feel like she didn't come from one specific place. The family lived in many different states, like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and New York. She went to nine different schools! Moving so often made her feel a bit insecure and it was hard to make friends.
However, Moore later said that moving around helped her acting career. She learned that people's behavior can change depending on where they are. This taught her to observe people and to "reinvent" herself, which is helpful for acting.
When Moore was 16, her family moved from Virginia to Frankfurt, West Germany. She went to Frankfurt American High School there. She was a smart and hardworking student. She even planned to become a doctor. She had never thought about acting before, but she loved reading. This hobby led her to start acting in school plays like Tartuffe and Medea.
Her English teacher encouraged her to pursue acting. Her parents supported her choice, but they wanted her to get a college degree first. She was accepted into Boston University and graduated in 1983 with a degree in Theatre.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting Out and First Big Roles (1985–1993)
"There was already a Julie Smith, a Julie Anne Smith, there was everything. My father's middle name is Moore; my mother's name is Anne. So I just slammed the Anne onto the Julie. That way, I could use both of their names and not hurt anyone's feelings. But it's horrible to change your name. I'd been Julie Smith my whole life, and I didn't want to change it."
After college, Moore moved to New York City and worked as a waitress. She chose her stage name, Julianne Moore, because there were already other actresses named Julie Smith. She used her father's middle name, Moore, and her mother's first name, Anne.
Her acting career began in 1985 on the soap opera As the World Turns. She played two half-sisters, Frannie and Sabrina Hughes. She said this intense work helped her gain confidence. She stayed on the show until 1988, winning a Daytime Emmy Award.
In 1990, Moore started working on a theater production of Uncle Vanya. She called it "one of the most important acting experiences" she ever had. Her first movie role was in the horror film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990).
In 1992, she appeared in the thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. This movie was very popular and helped her get noticed. She also appeared in the romantic comedy Benny & Joon (1993) with Johnny Depp. Later that year, she had a small role in the hit thriller The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford.
Filmmaker Robert Altman saw Moore in Uncle Vanya and cast her in his drama Short Cuts (1993). This movie was a big breakthrough for Moore. It won awards for its cast at the Venice Film Festival and the Golden Globe Awards. Moore also received an individual nomination for her role.
Becoming a Star (1994–1997)
Short Cuts was one of three films that made Moore more famous. Next was Vanya on 42nd Street (1994), a film version of her Uncle Vanya play. Critics praised her performance, and she won an award for Best Actress.
Then, Moore got her first main role in Todd Haynes' film Safe (1995). She played a housewife who develops a strange illness. This role showed her talent and helped establish her as a top actress.
Her next movie, Nine Months (1995), was a romantic comedy with Hugh Grant. Even though critics didn't love it, the movie was a big success at the box office. This helped her become a leading lady in Hollywood. She also appeared in the action film Assassins (1995) with Sylvester Stallone.
A major moment in her career came when Steven Spielberg cast her in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). This was the sequel to his hit movie Jurassic Park. Filming this big-budget movie was a new experience for Moore. It was physically demanding, with lots of running and climbing. The Lost World was one of the highest-grossing films at the time. It made Moore a very sought-after actress.
Later in 1997, Moore received her first Academy Award nomination for her role in Boogie Nights. She was praised for her performance and also received nominations at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.
Worldwide Recognition (1998–2002)
After Boogie Nights, Moore starred in the Coen brothers' comedy The Big Lebowski (1998). The movie wasn't a huge hit at first, but it later became a cult classic. She played Maude Lebowski, an artist who gets involved with the main character, "The Dude."
In 1999, Moore starred in An Ideal Husband, based on an Oscar Wilde play. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She also received another Golden Globe nomination for her work in The End of the Affair (1999). For this film, she received her second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress.
Moore also appeared in the acclaimed drama Magnolia (1999). The director, Paul Thomas Anderson, wrote a role specifically for her. She said it was a difficult role, but she was nominated for a SAG award.
In 2001, she played FBI agent Clarice Starling in Hannibal, a sequel to The Silence of the Lambs. The movie earned a lot of money, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
The year 2002 was a big one for Moore. She was nominated for two Academy Awards in the same year! This is a rare achievement. She received a Best Actress nomination for the drama Far from Heaven. In this film, she played a 1950s housewife whose life changes when her husband reveals a secret. The director, Todd Haynes, wrote this role just for her. Critics highly praised her performance. She won Best Actress awards from many organizations, including the Venice Film Festival.
Moore's second Oscar nomination that year was for The Hours. She co-starred with Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep. She played another troubled 1950s housewife. The Hours was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Moore also won an award at the Berlin International Film Festival with Kidman and Streep.
Busy Actress (2003–2009)
Moore returned to acting in 2004 with three films. She had commercial success with The Forgotten, a thriller where she played a mother told her dead son never existed. The movie was number one at the U.S. box office.
In 2006, she had a supporting role in Alfonso Cuarón's highly praised film Children of Men. She played the leader of an activist group in this futuristic drama. The film is considered one of the best-reviewed films of her career.
Moore made her Broadway debut in 2006 in the play The Vertical Hour. She played a former war correspondent. Moore later said she found it difficult to perform on Broadway, but she was glad she tried it.
In 2007, she starred in the science fiction action film Next with Nicolas Cage. Moore later called this her worst film. She also worked with Todd Haynes again in I'm Not There (2007), a film about Bob Dylan.
In 2009, Moore starred in Chloe and the drama A Single Man. In A Single Man, she played the best friend of Colin Firth's character. Critics praised her performance, and she received another Golden Globe nomination.
Television and Comedies (2010–2013)
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Moore returned to television in 2010 with a guest role in the comedy series 30 Rock. She appeared in five episodes as Nancy Donovan, a love interest for Alec Baldwin's character. She also made a brief cameo on As the World Turns before it ended in 2010.
Her next big-screen role was with Annette Bening in the independent film The Kids Are All Right (2010). The director wrote the role of Jules Allgood specifically for Moore. The movie was highly praised and nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. Moore's performance earned her a sixth Golden Globe nomination.
"I read her biography, books that were written about her and the election, listened to her voice endlessly on my iPod and worked with a vocal coach. I basically immersed myself in the study of her, and attempted to authenticate her as completely as possible ... It was tremendously challenging to represent someone so very well-known and idiosyncratic, and so recently in the public eye."
Moore then looked for another comedy. She had a supporting role in Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), playing the estranged wife of Steve Carell. The movie was well-received and earned a lot of money worldwide.
In 2012, Moore starred in the HBO television film Game Change. This movie was about Sarah Palin's 2008 campaign to become Vice President. Playing a well-known person was challenging for Moore. She did a lot of research and worked with a voice coach. Critics highly praised her performance. For this role, she won a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy, and a SAG Award.
Moore also appeared in the drama What Maisie Knew (2012). She played Susanna, a rock-star mother caught in a divorce. The movie was widely praised. In 2013, she had a supporting role in the comedy Don Jon. She also played the mother Margaret White in Carrie, a horror film based on Stephen King's novel.
Major Success (2014–2017)
At 53, Julianne Moore had a very successful year in 2014. Her first movie was the action-thriller Non-Stop with Liam Neeson. It earned over $223 million worldwide.
She then won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Maps to the Stars. She played Havana Segrand, an aging actress. Moore's win at Cannes made her the second actress in history to win Best Actress awards at the "Big Three" film festivals (Berlin, Cannes, and Venice). She also received a Golden Globe nomination for this role.
Moore played President Alma Coin in Mockingjay – Part 1. This was the third movie in The Hunger Games series. It is her highest-grossing film to date.
Her final film of 2014 was one of her most praised roles. In the drama Still Alice, Moore played a linguistics professor diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. She spent months preparing for the role by watching documentaries and meeting patients. Critics called it her best performance. Moore won the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA, and Academy Award for Best Actress for this film.
In 2015, Moore appeared in Seventh Son, a fantasy film. She also starred in Freeheld, a drama based on a true story about a detective and her same-sex partner. Later that year, she returned as Alma Coin in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the final film of the series.
In 2017, Moore had three film releases. She appeared in Wonderstruck, working with Todd Haynes again. She played two roles: a silent movie star in the 1920s and a deaf librarian in the 1970s. She also played twin sisters in Suburbicon, directed by George Clooney.
Moore's last film of 2017 was Kingsman: The Golden Circle, a spy film sequel. She played the villainous Poppy Adams. The film earned over $410 million worldwide.
Recent Work (2018–Present)
In 2018, Moore starred in Gloria Bell, a remake of a Chilean film. She played a middle-aged woman looking for meaning in life. Critics praised her "utterly natural" performance. The New York Times named her one of "the 10 best actors of the year."
She also appeared in Bel Canto (2018), a thriller about a hostage crisis. In 2019, she worked with her husband again in After the Wedding.
In 2020, Moore played the feminist activist Gloria Steinem in the biopic The Glorias. The next year, she had supporting roles in The Woman in the Window and the musical film Dear Evan Hansen. She also played the main role in Lisey's Story, an Apple TV+ miniseries.
In 2022, Moore played an uptight mother in When You Finish Saving the World. She was also the head of the jury at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.
Moore starred in the thriller film Sharper (2023) for Apple TV+. She also produced this film. She collaborated with Todd Haynes again in May December, a drama with Natalie Portman. Moore played a complex character, and the film received much praise. She earned another Golden Globe nomination for it.
In 2024, Moore starred as Mary Villiers in the historical miniseries Mary & George. Critics called her performance "brilliant." The same year, Moore starred with Tilda Swinton in The Room Next Door. This was Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language film. It won the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Moore was drawn to the project because it showed female friendship. She also received a Goya Award nomination for Best Actress.
Moore will next appear in the thriller film Echo Valley for Apple TV+. She will also star with James McAvoy in the action thriller Control.
Writing for Children
Besides acting, Julianne Moore is also a children's author. Her first book, Freckleface Strawberry, was published in 2007. It became a New York Times Best Seller. The story is about a girl who doesn't like her freckles but learns to accept them. Moore wrote the book because her son started disliking parts of his appearance. It reminded her of her own childhood, when kids teased her for her freckles and called her "Freckleface Strawberry."
The book became a series with six more books. These include Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully (2009) and Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever (2011). Both books teach children how to overcome their problems. Other books in the series are Freckleface Strawberry: Backpacks!, Freckleface Strawberry: Lunch, or What's That?, and Freckleface Strawberry: Loose Tooth!. These were part of a reading program. The latest was Freckleface Strawberry and the Really Big Voice in 2016.
Freckleface Strawberry was also turned into a musical. It opened in New York in 2010. Moore helped with the production, making sure it was right for young children. She finds it very rewarding that the show has been performed in many places.
Moore has written one other children's book not in the Freckleface Strawberry series. It's called My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me (2013). This book is about her own experience growing up with a mother from another country.
Personal Life
Julianne Moore's first husband was actor and director John Gould Rubin. They met in 1984 and married two years later. They separated in 1993 and divorced in 1995.
Moore started a relationship with Bart Freundlich, who directed her in The Myth of Fingerprints, in 1996. They married on August 23, 2003. They live in Greenwich Village, New York City. Moore and Freundlich have two children: a son born in 1997 and a daughter born in 2002. Moore has said that their family life is "the most satisfying thing" she has ever done. When her children were young, she chose acting roles that allowed her to be home more often.
Moore was featured on the PBS show Finding Your Roots. On the show, she learned that she is a genetic cousin to her friend, actress Marisa Tomei.
Moore is an atheist. She is also politically liberal. She supported Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. In 2020, she supported Joe Biden for president.
Since 2008, she has been an Artist Ambassador for Save the Children, an organization that helps children. She also works with Everytown for Gun Safety, a group that supports gun control. Moore has spoken out against certain immigration policies. She supports the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who organized the March For Our Lives to advocate for gun safety.
Moore has said she doesn't care much about being a "celebrity." She focuses on living a "normal" life. Journalists have described her as a very down-to-earth star who doesn't attract much gossip. She believes acting is "just a person with a job."
Acting Credits and Awards
Here are some of Julianne Moore's most praised films, according to the website Rotten Tomatoes:
- Short Cuts (1993)
- Vanya on 42nd Street (1994)
- Safe (1995)
- Boogie Nights (1997)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- Magnolia (1999)
- The Hours (2002)
- Far from Heaven (2002)
- Children of Men (2006)
- I'm Not There (2007)
- A Single Man (2009)
- The Kids Are All Right (2010)
- Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
- What Maisie Knew (2012)
- Don Jon (2013)
- Still Alice (2014)
- Maggie's Plan (2015)
- Gloria Bell (2018)
- May December (2023)
These are her films that have earned the most money at the box office:
- The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
- The Fugitive (1993)
- Nine Months (1995)
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
- Hannibal (2001)
- The Forgotten (2004)
- Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
- Non-Stop (2014)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
- Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Julianne Moore has been nominated for five Academy Awards, nine Golden Globe awards, seven SAG awards, and four BAFTA awards. She has won one Academy Award, two Golden Globes, one BAFTA, and two SAG Awards. She also has a Primetime Emmy and a Daytime Emmy. She is one of only a few people in history to win Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival.
See also
In Spanish: Julianne Moore para niños
