Jennifer Connelly’s journey from a promising young actress to a Hollywood icon is nothing short of remarkable. Over the years, we’ve watched her evolve from her early roles into a versatile performer with an impressive range. Her transformation is a captivating story of growth, resilience, and talent.
From her breakthrough performances to her acclaimed roles today, Jennifer Connelly has continually reinvented herself, proving she’s more than just a passing trend. Join us as we explore the fascinating evolution of Jennifer Connelly, a journey that has solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
#1 She was a child model
Jennifer Connelly, born in 1970 and raised in Brooklyn Heights, New York, began her career not as an actor but as a child model. A family friend tipped her parents about a casting call, leading to her early start in modeling.
She shared with Anderson Cooper that she started at age ten and, like Cooper, was signed to Ford Modeling Agency. While Cooper appeared mainly in clothing catalogs, Connelly gained prominence as a cover model for Seventeen, including one of its iconic 80s covers with her high-side ponytail and bold purple jewelry.
Reflecting on her early career, Connelly told the Independent, “I wasn’t the biggest rebel as a child; I wanted to do my job, show up on time, and be responsible for my career.” Her modeling work was a crucial stepping stone on her path to becoming a renowned actress.
#2 She transitioned to film in 1984
Jennifer Connelly’s early success as a child model came with its challenges. She admitted to Rolling Stone, “I did a little modeling, which I hated, and then I got interested in acting.”
Her transition into film acting was smooth, thanks to her impressive modeling resume. In 1984, Connelly landed a role in Sergio Leone’s crime epic Once Upon a Time in America, where she played a younger version of Deborah, Elizabeth McGovern‘s character. Although the film was a flop initially, it’s now considered one of the greatest gangster movies ever.
Connelly recalls her first film experience fondly and appreciates Once Upon a Time in America, even though she typically avoids watching her own work. She shared with Rolling Stone that she can rewatch the film “because I’m in it so briefly.”
#3 She was big in Japan
When Jennifer Connelly was young and still establishing herself in the entertainment industry, her success as a child model led to some unique opportunities.
She gained particular success in Japan, where she even recorded a pop record, including singles like “Ai no Monologue” and “Jennifer’s Dream.” The former was featured in an advertisement for Technics sound systems, and Connelly appeared in a commercial for the brand, singing her hit song.
Years later, after achieving success as an actress, Connelly’s musical past resurfaced unexpectedly. When Graham Norton asked about her pop star days, she laughed and confirmed she had moved on from singing.
“I’m not a singer. I have no aspirations to be a singer,” she said, adding that she had never actually listened to her own music. Imagine having a #1 single in Japan and never hearing it yourself—such is the intriguing life of a movie star!
#4 She worked with David Bowie
One of Jennifer Connelly’s early standout roles was in the Jim Henson fantasy epic Labyrinth, where she starred opposite David Bowie as the Goblin King. At just 14, Connelly played the moody teenager Sarah, and her experience with the legendary Bowie was a positive one. After his passing, she told ET, “[He] was very warm. He was lovely. He was just a nice, sweet guy—cracking jokes and friendly with the crew.”
ET had visited the set and spoke with Connelly during filming. She noted it was a significant step up in her career, describing it as her fourth film role and marveling at the scale of the production: “It’s completely different than I had imagined. I’ve never worked on a film this big with so many different angles and things to do.”
Her future husband, Paul Bettany, later admitted he had a crush on her when he saw her in Labyrinth as a teenager. “What 13-year-old boy didn’t have a crush on Jennifer Connelly when they saw ‘Labyrinth’?” he told ET, adding with a chuckle, “At the risk of sounding like the longest, most successful stalker that has ever been.”
#5 She broke out in Requiem for a Dream
Jennifer Connelly worked consistently throughout the 90s, but her career really took off in 2000 with her role in Darren Aronofsky’s indie drama Requiem for a Dream. Despite having smaller successes like The Rocketeer and Higher Learning, it was this film that marked a significant breakthrough.
Connelly later shared with Vulture, “I remember loving the script and feeling strongly about it. I found it moving. Devastating, but also really moving. I remember wanting so much to be part of it.”
Aronofsky was initially reluctant to cast her, revealing that her career was in a rough patch at the time. However, he admitted, “She gave one of the best auditions I’ve ever seen to this day. She came in, and I was not expecting anything, and she left with the role.”
In the film, Connelly plays Marion, a dressmaker whose life spirals into heroin addiction with her boyfriend, portrayed by Jared Leto. One of the film’s most memorable and “repugnant” scenes, as noted by Film Inquiry, involves Marion being sexually degraded in front of a group of leering men.
#6 She did her research for A Beautiful Mind
In 2001, Jennifer Connelly starred in A Beautiful Mind alongside Russell Crowe. The film, which depicts the life of mathematician John Nash (played by Crowe) as he grapples with schizophrenia, featured Connelly as his wife, Alice Nash.
While Crowe famously avoided meeting the real person he was portraying, Connelly was eager to connect with Alice Nash. She prepared a heartfelt speech to ask, “I’m playing you, more or less. What’s your life like? Is there anything that you would really like me to convey about you, or is there anything that is important to you that I don’t convey? I will respect that.”
Unfortunately, their meeting focused more on her experience with Crowe, leaving Connelly without the chance to explore the role further.
Nevertheless, Connelly’s performance was widely acclaimed and earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. During her acceptance speech, she remarked, “By some beautiful twist of fate I’ve landed in this vocation that demands that I feel and helps me to learn,” adding, “and no film has moved or taught me more than ‘A Beautiful Mind.'”
#7 She married a co-star
Although Paul Bettany had a childhood crush on Jennifer Connelly, they only met on the set of A Beautiful Mind. However, they didn’t start dating until later, specifically after the events of September 11, 2001.
Bettany recounted to Larry King how, during a trip to Tuscany, he witnessed the second plane crash into the World Trade Center and rushed home to reach Connelly, only managing to contact her after two days due to jammed phone lines.
Reflecting on the experience, he said, “I remember very clearly thinking to myself, ‘What are you doing… oh,’ and I realized I was in love.”
When he finally reached her, he proposed on the spot, saying, “Let’s get married,” even though they hadn’t officially started dating.
Bettany and Connelly married two years later, in 2003. Connelly shared with Glamour that she was drawn to Bettany’s unique qualities:
“It was something about the way that we were together. He stood out to me as someone singular and rare and beautiful, and I liked the way he was in the world. I liked the way he was with people.”
#8 Hulk halted her momentum
While Paul Bettany would later become a Marvel star as Vision, Jennifer Connelly’s involvement in the early 2000s Marvel project Hulk didn’t achieve the same success.
After the 2002 hit Spider-Man, Marvel released Hulk in 2003, with Connelly playing Betty Ross. She described her role as “really interesting and ambitious,” praising director Ang Lee’s focus on “tragedy and psychodrama.”
Unfortunately, Hulk was a critical and commercial flop, leading to a reboot with The Incredible Hulk five years later.
Released shortly after Connelly’s Oscar win, Hulk halted her momentum. Reflecting later, she admitted to The Guardian, “It doesn’t diminish the experience for me, but who wouldn’t want people to respond favorably to something they make?”
Following Hulk, Connelly took a break from the spotlight, returning in 2005 with Dark Water, which also received poor reviews, marking a challenging period in her career.
#9 Revlon came calling
In 2008, after a few years of underwhelming films, Jennifer Connelly became a spokesperson for Revlon. David Kennedy, Revlon’s President and CEO, praised Connelly as a “modern, dynamic and intelligent woman” whose accomplishments align with the brand’s spirit.
Connelly expressed her excitement, noting, “Revlon is one of the great iconic brands of today, and I am thrilled to be part of a company that has done so much for women around the world.”
She began filming Revlon commercials in 2009, including a memorable 2012 ad for UK pharmacy Boots where she sported a bold red lip and checked her lipstick in a shiny toaster.
Beyond print and TV ads, Connelly also supported Revlon in person, helping host the 2009 Entertainment Industry Foundation Run/Walk for Women in Times Square.
Her endorsement deals with Revlon and other brands like Shiseido significantly boosted her net worth, which has surpassed $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
#10 He’s Just Not That Into Jennifer Connelly
In 2009, Jennifer Connelly shifted from her usual dramatic roles to embrace a romantic comedy in He’s Just Not That Into You.
Directed by Ken Kwapis, the film casts Connelly as Janine, a woman who obsessively renovates her house, possibly to avoid addressing issues in her relationship with her husband, played by Bradley Cooper.
Although Showbiz Junkies asked Connelly which other character she might have wanted to play, she expressed a strong affinity for her own role. She also chose not to engage with the film’s self-help book origins, describing it instead as “a fun collection of stories” rather than relationship advice.
In discussing her character with Emmanuel Levy, Connelly described Janine as “a bit old fashioned” who values straightforwardness and honesty in relationships. “She likes the idea of marriage,” Connelly noted, highlighting Janine’s commitment to trust and integrity.
#11 He’s Just Not That Into Jennifer Connelly
In early 2011, Jennifer Connelly candidly discussed her pregnancy on The Late Show With David Letterman, describing her early nausea and her remedy of standing by the refrigerator, eating pretzels dipped in cream cheese. (via People)
By that time, Connelly had a son from her single years and a young boy with Paul Bettany, and she later welcomed a daughter through an at-home water birth (according to US Weekly).
She noted in Town & Country that her new role as a mother led to a shift in the types of roles offered to her, with scripts increasingly casting her as the mother of younger characters going on adventures, a change she found to be quite sudden.
#12 She reunited with former collaborators in 2014
In 2014, Jennifer Connelly starred in Noah, a Biblical epic that stirred controversy over its deviation from traditional Scripture. The film, described by director Darren Aronofsky as “the least Biblical Biblical film ever made,” faced backlash and bans in several countries.
Connelly, who played Noah’s loyal wife, defended the film in Vogue UK, asserting it remained true to the story’s spirit while embracing creative liberties.
The project brought Connelly back together with Russell Crowe, her co-star from A Beautiful Mind, and director Darren Aronofsky, who had previously challenged her in Requiem for a Dream.
Aronofsky admitted he envisioned Connelly for the role from the start, despite concerns about audience reactions to her pairing with Crowe. Noah received critical acclaim and holds a 76% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marking a successful return to form for Connelly.
#13 She launched a TV series while in lockdown
After a hiatus from the big screen in the late 2010s, Jennifer Connelly made a notable return to television with Snowpiercer, a series set on a post-apocalyptic train.
The show premiered in early 2020, during the initial COVID-19 quarantine. Connelly, who was navigating the lockdown with her children in Vermont, spoke to Emmy Magazine about the challenges of isolation and praised educators for their efforts during the pandemic.
Connelly had briefly ventured into TV in the early 2000s with The $treet, which lasted only twelve episodes. It wasn’t until Snowpiercer that she found a project that truly captivated her.
The series, created by Darren Star, allowed her to explore a complex role as Melanie, one of the enigmatic leaders of the train’s society. Connelly was drawn to the show’s unique story and her intriguing character.
#14 Jennifer took to the skies in Top Gun: Maverick
Jennifer Connelly has been away from leading roles for nearly five years, with her last major films being Only the Brave (2017) and Alita: Battle Angel (2019). However, she made a notable return to the big screen in 2022 with Top Gun: Maverick, the highly anticipated sequel to the 1986 classic.
In the film, Connelly plays Penny, the love interest of Tom Cruise‘s character. Set photos showed the pair on a motorcycle, echoing a memorable scene from the original movie.
The film faced several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Connelly to begin her promotional work in early 2021. She shared with Graham Norton that filming involved overcoming a significant fear of flying, which Cruise helped her address.
Despite initially not being required to fly in the movie, Cruise took her up in a jet, demonstrating what he described as “graceful” and “elegant rolls” to help her with her on-screen scenes.
