Rene Russo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rene Russo
Russo in 1996
Born	Rene Marie Russo (1954-02-17) February 17, 1954 (age 71) Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	1972–2005 2010–present
Spouse(s)	Dan Gilroy ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	1
Relatives	Frank D. Gilroy (father-in-law)

Rene Marie Russo (born February 17, 1954) is an American actress and former model. She started her career as a fashion model in the 1970s. Her face appeared on the covers of famous magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

She began acting in the 1989 comedy movie Major League. She became famous around the world for her roles in action movies and thrillers during the 1990s. Some of her biggest films from this time include Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), In the Line of Fire (1993), Ransom (1996), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).

After taking a five-year break from acting, Russo returned to the big screen. She played Frigga, the mother of the superhero Thor, in Thor (2011). She played the same role in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). In 2014, she starred in the crime thriller Nightcrawler. For this role, she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Early Life and School

Russo was born in Burbank, California. Her mother, Shirley, was a factory worker and barmaid. Her father, Nino, was a sculptor and car mechanic. He left the family when Rene was only two years old. Russo and her sister, Toni, were raised by their mother.

She went to Burroughs High School, where one of her classmates was future director Ron Howard. As a child, Russo had scoliosis, a condition that curves the spine. She had to wear a brace that covered her whole upper body. Because she was tall, some classmates called her mean nicknames. She said that the bullying she faced caused her to leave high school in the tenth grade.

To help her family, Russo started working several part-time jobs. She worked in an eyeglass factory and as a cashier at a movie theater.

Career as a Model

Russo's life changed after she was discovered at a Rolling Stones concert in 1972. An agent from a company called International Creative Management saw her and encouraged her to become a model.

She signed with the famous Ford Modeling Agency. Soon, she became one of the most successful models of the 1970s and early 1980s. She appeared on the covers of magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She also appeared in ads for perfumes and makeup.

Acting Career

Getting Started in Movies

As she got older, Russo found fewer jobs in modeling. She decided to study acting and began performing in small theaters in California.

Her first movie role was in the 1989 baseball comedy Major League. In 1992, she had her breakout role as detective Lorna Cole in the action movie Lethal Weapon 3, starring alongside Mel Gibson. The movie was a huge hit and made her a star.

Success in the 1990s

Throughout the 1990s, Russo starred in many popular movies. In 1993, she acted with Clint Eastwood in the thriller In the Line of Fire. She played a Secret Service agent.

In 1995, she starred in two big hits. In Outbreak, she played a doctor trying to stop a deadly virus. In Get Shorty, she starred with John Travolta in a popular crime comedy.

She reunited with Mel Gibson in the 1996 thriller Ransom, playing his wife. In 1999, she starred with Pierce Brosnan in the heist film The Thomas Crown Affair. She played a clever insurance investigator.

Roles in the 2000s

In 2000, Russo played the villain Natasha Fatale in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. In 2005, she starred with Dennis Quaid in the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours.

After this movie, Russo took a five-year break from acting. She wanted to focus on her health and her family.

Return to the Big Screen

Russo at the premiere of Thor in May 2011

Russo returned to acting in 2011. She played Frigga, the queen of Asgard and mother of the superhero Thor, in the Marvel movie Thor. She played Frigga again in Thor: The Dark World (2013) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). These movies introduced her to a whole new generation of fans.

In 2014, she starred in the thriller Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal. Her husband, Dan Gilroy, wrote and directed the movie. Her performance as a driven news director earned her many awards and nominations, including a BAFTA Award nomination.

Her other movies in the 2010s include the comedy The Intern (2015) and the art-world thriller Velvet Buzzsaw (2019).

Personal Life

Russo married screenwriter Dan Gilroy on March 14, 1992. They met while working on the movie Freejack. They have one daughter, Rose, who is a model. The family lives in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

In 2014, Russo shared that she has bipolar disorder, a condition she has had since she was a child. She decided to speak about it to help others. She takes medication to help manage the condition.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Rene Russo para niños

• List of people with bipolar disorder