Rita Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rita Wilson
Wilson in 2019
Born	Margarita Ibrahimoff (1956-10-26) October 26, 1956 (age 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Citizenship	United States Greece
Alma mater	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress singer producer
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Tom Hanks ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	2, including Chet
Relatives	Colin Hanks (stepson) Jim Hanks (brother-in-law) Larry Hanks (brother-in-law)
Musical career
Genres	Country
Labels	Sing It Loud Records
Associated acts	Eamonn McCrystal Jimmie Allen

Rita Wilson, whose full name is Margarita Wilson Hanks, is a talented American actress, singer, and producer. She was born Margarita Ibrahimoff on October 26, 1956.

You might know her from movies like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) or Jingle All the Way (1996). She has also appeared in TV shows such as The Good Wife and Girls.

Besides acting, Rita Wilson has performed on Broadway. She has also produced several films, including the popular movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). As a singer, she has released albums like AM/FM and Halfway to Home. In March 2019, she received a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Life and Family Background

Rita Wilson was born Margarita Ibrahimoff in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Dorothea Tzigkou, was Greek. She grew up in a village near the border with Greece.

Rita's father, Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff, was a Bulgarian Muslim. He was born in Greece near the border with Bulgaria. His family moved to Bulgaria when he was a child.

In 1949, Rita's father moved from Bulgaria to the United States. He changed his name to Allan Wilson in 1960. He chose the name after a local street. Rita was raised in the Greek Orthodox faith.

Her father could speak many languages. These included Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, Polish, and Greek. Her husband, Tom Hanks, even said he based a character in his movie The Terminal on Rita's father.

Rita Wilson's Career

Acting in Movies, TV, and Theater

Wilson at the HBO Post–60th Primetime Emmy Awards Party in 2008

Rita Wilson started her acting career in 1972. Her first TV appearance was on The Brady Bunch. She played Pat Conway, a cheerleader candidate. She also appeared on M*A*S*H and Three's Company. She even acted in Bosom Buddies, which starred her future husband, Tom Hanks.

In the 1980s, Rita studied acting in England. She attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

She has been in many movies. Some of these include Sleepless in Seattle, Now and Then, and Jingle All the Way. More recently, she appeared in It's Complicated and Larry Crowne.

On television, she played Susan Borman in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. She also had guest roles in shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She had regular roles on The Good Wife and Girls.

Producing Films

Rita Wilson played a big part in making the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She helped the writer, Nia Vardalos, get the movie made. This film became a huge success. Rita was one of the producers for the movie. She also co-produced and acted in the sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, which came out in 2016.

In 2008, Rita produced the movie Mamma Mia!. Eight years later, she produced its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

In 2022, Rita produced the film A Man Called Otto. She became interested in the movie after seeing the Swedish film it was based on. She also started her own production company called Artistic Films. A Man Called Otto was the first project for her new company.

Broadway and Stage Work

In 2006, Rita Wilson made her debut on Broadway. She played the role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. In 2015, she starred in another Broadway play called Fish in the Dark.

She has also performed in plays Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles. These include Dinner with Friends and Love, Loss, and What I Wore.

Music Career

Rita Wilson released her first solo album, AM/FM, in 2012. This album featured classic songs from the 1960s and 70s. She sang a duet with Chris Cornell on the album. Other famous singers like Faith Hill and Sheryl Crow also sang harmonies.

In 2014, she performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. This was at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, DC.

In 2016, she released her self-titled album, Rita Wilson. She co-wrote every song on this album with other talented songwriters. The New York Times praised her voice, saying it "conveys yearning and potential heartbreak." She even went on tour with the band Chicago.

Her third album, Bigger Picture, came out in 2018. She wrote many of the songs based on her own life. In 2019, she released her fourth album, Halfway to Home. One song, "Throw Me a Party," was inspired by her journey after surviving breast cancer.

Rita has performed her songs on many popular TV shows. These include Ellen, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Today.

In March 2020, Rita and her husband, Tom Hanks, had COVID-19. While recovering, she filmed a video of herself rapping the song "Hip Hop Hooray". The video became very popular. After she recovered, she teamed up with Vin Rock from Naughty by Nature for a remix of the song. This remix helped raise money for a COVID-19 relief fund.

In 2022, Rita Wilson released her duets album, Now & Forever. It features classic songs from the 1970s sung with male vocalists. Some of the artists she sang with include Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, and Elvis Costello. The album was nominated for an award in 2023.

In March 2023, Rita performed at the White House for Greek Independence Day. She sang four songs at the event.

Journalism Work

Rita Wilson has also worked as a journalist. She was a contributing editor for Harper's Bazaar magazine. She wrote more than twenty articles for them. She also started a section of The Huffington Post called Huff/Post50. This section focused on topics for people over fifty years old. She has also written for O, The Oprah Magazine.

Personal Life

Wilson and Hanks at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989

Rita Wilson married actor Tom Hanks in 1988. Tom already had two children, Colin and Elizabeth, from a previous marriage. Rita and Tom have two sons together, Chet and Truman. Rita also has three grandchildren.

She is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Giving Back to the Community

Supporting Women's Health

For over 20 years, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks have been honorary co-chairs of the Women's Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). This fund raises money to fight women's cancers. Rita has also donated special jewelry to the Moffitt Cancer Center to help.

Helping Children and Arts

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks have supported the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles since 1989. They hold an annual event called Simply Shakespeare. This event raises money for programs that help young people. Famous musicians like Paul McCartney and Paul Simon have performed at these fundraisers.

Other Causes

In 2018, Rita and Tom received an award from the USC Shoah Foundation. This award recognized their long-term commitment to helping others. They also support other charities, including AIDS Project Los Angeles.

In 2019, Rita, Tom, and their children were given Greek citizenship. This was an honor from the President of Greece. It recognized their support for people affected by a wildfire in Mati, Greece, in 2018.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

As Musical Performer

As Producer

Discography

Rita Wilson is credited as a co-writer for all songs on her albums Rita Wilson, Bigger Picture, and Halfway to Home.

Images for kids

• 

  Wilson performing at The White House in March 2023

See also

In Spanish: Rita Wilson para niños