Selma Blair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Selma Blair
Blair in 2023
Born	Selma Blair Beitner (1972-06-23) June 23, 1972 (age 53) Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
Education	New York University University of Michigan (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Ahmet Zappa ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2006)​
Children	1

Selma Blair (born Selma Blair Beitner; June 23, 1972) is an American actress. She is well-known for her roles in popular movies like Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, and the Hellboy film series.

Selma Blair was born in Southfield, Michigan. Her parents were lawyers. She first studied photography at Kalamazoo College. Later, she moved to New York to pursue a career in the arts. She graduated from the University of Michigan. Blair's early career involved many auditions. She got her first big roles in television and movies. Her breakthrough came with Cruel Intentions. She then found more success in projects like Legally Blonde and Hellboy.

In 2018, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). This is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. She has openly shared her experiences with MS. This has made her an important advocate for others. In 2021, Blair was featured in Introducing, Selma Blair. This was a documentary about her life after her MS diagnosis. Her autobiography, Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, was published in 2022.

Early Life and Education

Selma Blair Beitner was born on June 23, 1972. She was born in Southfield, Michigan, near Detroit. She is the youngest of four daughters. Her parents were Molly Ann and Elliot I. Beitner. Both of her parents were lawyers. Her father was also involved in the U.S. Democratic Party. He passed away in 2012. Her mother passed away in 2020. Her parents divorced when Blair was 23 years old. Selma and her sister Elizabeth later changed their last name to 'Blair'.

Selma's father and maternal grandfather were Jewish. Her mother and Scottish maternal grandmother were Anglican. However, Selma and her sisters were raised in the Jewish faith. Selma officially converted to Judaism in second grade. Her Hebrew name is 'Bat-Sheva'. Blair attended Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills. She also went to Cranbrook Kingswood in Bloomfield Hills. After high school, she spent two years (1990–1992) studying photography. She attended Kalamazoo College during this time.

When she was 21, Blair moved to New York City. She lived at The Salvation Army. She planned to become a photographer. She attended New York University (NYU). She also took acting classes at the Stella Adler Conservatory. She studied at the Column Theater and Stonestreet Studios too. She later returned to Michigan. She transferred from NYU to the University of Michigan. In 1994, she graduated with high honors. She had a triple major in photography, psychology, and English. After graduating, she moved back to New York City. She wanted to pursue a career in the arts.

Acting Career

Early Roles (1990–1998)

In 1990, while at Cranbrook Kingswood, Blair acted in a play. It was T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. She felt it wasn't her best work. But her English teacher encouraged her not to give up. This was the first time she thought about becoming an actress. In 1993, in New York, an agent noticed her in an acting class. Blair then signed with the agent. After 75 auditions, Blair got her first acting job. It was a TV commercial for the Theater of Virginia.

Blair earned her first professional role in 1995. It was an episode of the children's sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete. In 1996, she got her first movie role. It was in the comedy The Broccoli Theory. In 1997, she appeared in a bigger movie. This was the comedy In & Out. She auditioned six times for the part. She stayed on set for several weeks. However, most of her scenes were cut from the final movie.

Her first main role was in the film Strong Island Boys. She then got the lead in the 1997 fantasy film Amazon High. This film was meant to be a new show. It was part of the Hercules and Xena mythological series. The film was not aired. But parts of it were used in a 2000 episode of Xena: Warrior Princess. Blair was also considered for the role of Joey Potter. This was for the show Dawson's Creek. The role eventually went to Katie Holmes. She later appeared in several independent and short films. This included the award-winning Debutante.

Breakthrough Success (1999–2004)

Blair became widely known in 1999. This was for her role in the drama Cruel Intentions. The movie received mixed reviews. However, it earned US$75.9 million around the world. Blair was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance. She also won "Best Kiss" with co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Cruel Intentions has since become a cult classic.

In 1999, Blair starred as Zoe Bean. This was on the TV show Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane. She was nominated for a Teen Choice Awards for "TV – Breakout Performance". In 2000, after her role in Down to You, Blair won an award. It was the Young Hollywood Award for "Exciting New Face". In 2000 and 2002, Vanity Fair magazine featured Blair. They included her in their "Hollywood's Next Wave of Stars" issues.

Blair co-starred in the 2001 hit comedy Legally Blonde. She played a smart law student. The film was very successful. It earned US$96.5 million in North America. Worldwide, it made US$141.7 million. She then starred in the 2001 independent drama Storytelling. She played a college student. The film premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Critics praised Blair's performance. She next appeared in the 2002 comedy The Sweetest Thing. The film earned US$68.6 million worldwide. Blair was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy.

In 2004, Blair played Liz Sherman. This was a superhero character in Guillermo del Toro's fantasy film Hellboy. She starred alongside Ron Perlman. The film was based on Mike Mignola's popular comic book series. Critics liked the movie. Hellboy was a box office success. It earned US$99.3 million.

Also in 2004, Blair appeared in John Waters' comedy A Dirty Shame. She played a dancer. The film received mixed reviews. Blair also worked on the social project The 1 Second Film. She was a producer for it.

Independent Films and Voice Work (2005–2011)

Blair in May 2010

From 2005 to 2007, Blair acted in several independent films. In 2008, she returned as Liz Sherman in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Her character had a bigger role in this movie. The film received positive reviews. It was also a commercial success worldwide. It earned US$160 million. Blair was nominated for a Scream Awards for Best Actress in a Fantasy Movie.

Blair at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2008, Blair starred in the independent drama The Poker House. She played a mother facing challenges. Critics generally liked the film. The Hollywood Reporter said Blair's performance was one of her best.

Also in 2008, Blair took on a main role. This was in the NBC sitcom Kath & Kim. The show was based on an Australian TV series. It was canceled after one season.

In 2009, Blair returned to the stage. She played the lead role of Kayleen in Gruesome Playground Injuries. In 2010, Blair lent her voice to an audiobook. She narrated The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition. This book was written by Holocaust victim Anne Frank. Her performance was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 2011.

Recent Work in Film and Television (2012–Present)

In 2012, Blair returned to television. She was the female lead in FX's Anger Management. She co-starred with Charlie Sheen. She played Dr. Kate Wales, a therapist. The series had mixed reviews. But it broke ratings records. It had 5.74 million viewers in its first episode. It is the most-watched sitcom premiere in cable history. Blair left the show in June 2013. This was due to creative differences.

In 2012, Blair narrated commercials for Xfinity TV. This included ads for the London 2012 Olympics. In 2014, she got her first TV role since Anger Management. She was cast as Joanna in the Amazon comedy pilot Really. The pilot was not picked up. But in February 2016, Blair co-starred in an FX miniseries. It was American Crime Story: The People vs. O. J. Simpson.

In October 2012, Blair starred in a political satire sketch. It was called The Woman for Romney. It was about the campaign proposals of Mitt Romney. He was a Republican Party candidate in the 2012 United States presidential election.

In 2018, Blair was cast in a recurring role. This was on the Netflix science-fiction drama series Another Life. It ran from 2019 to 2021 before being canceled.

In September 2022, Blair became a contestant. She joined season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. She left in the fifth week of the competition. This was because of her health.

Her next film role is in an Israeli project called Be Strong. The film began production in late 2024. Filming took place in Georgia.

Fashion and Style

Blair at the 2011 Hollywood Style Awards

Blair is known for her stylish fashion choices. She is also known for often changing her hairstyle. She has worked with several fashion designers. These include Marc Jacobs, Karen Zambos, and Stella McCartney.

She was featured in the 2002 Pirelli Calendar. In 2005, she appeared in The New York Times Magazine. This was for an award-winning photography gallery. It was called "The Selma Blair Witch Project".

Blair also appeared with Rainn Wilson. They sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for a 2008 Gap winter ad campaign. She was included in Glamour's list of the 50 Most Glamorous Women of 2008.

In 2010, Blair posed with Demi Moore and Amanda De Cadenet. This was for a spread in Harper's Bazaar magazine. In 2012, she became the spokesperson for "Get Real For Kids". She was the first actress to appear in this campaign. In the spring of that year, she launched her own line. It was called SB. It included handbags and wallets that she designed.

She has appeared on the covers and in photo spreads of many magazines. These include Seventeen, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Elle. She has also been the face of fashion houses like Chanel, Miu Miu, and GAP. In 2018, she presented parts of Christian Siriano's collection. This was at his 10th anniversary celebration during New York Fashion Week. In 2020, she was a judge on a Project Runway special.

Personal Life and Health

On January 24, 2004, Blair married writer and producer Ahmet Zappa. They were married at Carrie Fisher's mansion in Beverly Hills, California. They lived in Los Angeles. She filed for divorce from Zappa on June 21, 2006. The divorce was finalized in December 2006.

Blair has dated actors Jason Schwartzman and David Lyons. From 2008 to 2010, she dated her Kath and Kim co-star Mikey Day.

In 2010, Blair began dating fashion designer Jason Bleick. They have a son named Arthur Saint Bleick. In September 2012, they announced that they had separated.

Health Journey

Joe Biden and Selma Blair arrive to an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reception on October 2, 2023, at the White House

In October 2018, Blair shared that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). This diagnosis was made in August of that year. In a 2023 interview, Blair mentioned that her symptoms started when she was a child. She said her undiagnosed MS had caused some brain changes. As her condition worsened, she received a lot of medication. She wrote about her experiences with multiple sclerosis in her memoir. It is called Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up. It was published in May 2022.

Advocacy Work

Blair with Joe Biden at the White House in October 2023

On May 27, 2012, Blair was a special guest. She attended the National Memorial Day Concert. This was held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. She shared the story of Brigette Cain. Brigette was a war widow. She lost her husband in Afghanistan.

Blair has supported various charity and philanthropic causes. These include Marc Jacobs' Skin Cancer Awareness Campaign. She also supported H&M's Fashion Against AIDS 2011 Campaign. She has worked with Children's Action Network and AmFAR AIDS Research. She also supports the Lange Foundation, which helps homeless animals. Other causes include Bulgari-Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. She also supports the Staying Alive Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. On October 2, 2015, she received the Universal Smile Award. This was at THE SMILE GALA LA 2015. It benefited children with cleft lip and palate. In December 2021, Michelle Pfeiffer presented Blair with the Equity in Entertainment Award. This was at the Power 100 Women ceremony.

In June 2022, Blair became chief creative officer of Guide Beauty. This company makes cosmetic products. They are designed for people with mobility challenges. In December 2022, she was chosen as one of the BBC's 100 women.

Filmography

Movies

Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Broccoli Theory, TheThe Broccoli Theory	Pretzel cart lesbian
	Brain Candy	Girl at rock concert
1997	Strong Island Boys	Tara
	Gone Again	Ayla	Short film
	Arresting Gena
	In & Out	Cousin Linda
1998	Brown's Requiem	Jane
	Girl	Darcy
	Can't Hardly Wait	Girl Mike hits on No. 1
1999	Cruel Intentions	Cecile Caldwell
2000	Down to You	Cyrus
2001	Storytelling	Vi	Segment "Fiction"
	Legally Blonde	Vivian Thelma Kensington
	Kill Me Later	Shawn Holloway
2002	Highway	Cassie
	Sweetest Thing, TheThe Sweetest Thing	Jane Burns
2003	Guy Thing, AA Guy Thing	Karen Cooper
	Dallas 362	Peg
2004	Hellboy	Liz Sherman
	Dirty Shame, AA Dirty Shame	Caprice Stickles / Ursula Udders
	In Good Company	Kimberly
2005	Pretty Persuasion	Grace Anderson
	Deal, TheThe Deal	Abbey Gallagher
	Fog, TheThe Fog	Stevie Wayne
	Big Empty, TheThe Big Empty	Alice	Short film
2006	Alibi, TheThe Alibi	Adelle
	Night of the White Pants, TheThe Night of the White Pants	Beth Hagan
	Hellboy: Sword of Storms	Liz Sherman (voice)	Direct-to-video
2007	Hellboy: Blood and Iron	Liz Sherman (voice)	Direct-to-video
	Purple Violets	Patti Petalson
	WΔZ	Jean Lerner
	Feast of Love	Kathryn Smith
2008	My Mom's New Boyfriend	Emily Lott
	Poker House, TheThe Poker House	Sarah
	Hellboy II: The Golden Army	Liz Sherman
2011	The Family Tree	Ms. Delbo
	Animal Love	Sorrel	Short film
	The Break-In	Beverly	Short film
	Dark Horse	Miranda
	Kingdom Come	Herself	Documentary
2012	Columbus Circle	Abigail Clayton
	In Their Skin	Mary Hughes
2015	..., Death and Bowling	Glenn McAllister
2016	Eva Hesse	Eva Hesse (voice)	Documentary
	Ordinary World	Karen Miller
	Mothers and Daughters	Rigby
2017	Mom and Dad	Kendall Ryan
2019	After	Carol Young
2020	After We Collided	Carol Young
	2021	Introducing, Selma Blair	Herself	Documentary
Far More		Glenn McAllister
TBA	Stay Forte		Post production
	Silent	Skylar	Pre-production
	There There		Pre-production

Television Shows

Theater Performances

Music Videos

Video Games

Audiobooks Narrated

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Selma Blair para niños