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Rose McGowan

 
Who2 Biography: Rose McGowan, Actor

  • Born: 5 September 1973
  • Birthplace: Florence, Italy
  • Best Known As: Co-star of Charmed and Grindhouse

Actress Rose McGowan's reputation for playing the freaky female lead comes from the film The Doom Generation (1995), the TV series Charmed (2001-06) and her real-life engagement to rock star Marilyn Manson (1999-001). McGowan grew up in a pseudo-Christian commune in Italy until 1984, when she moved with her mother to the United States. After what she has described as a few rough-and-tumble years in the Pacific Northwest, she began finding work as an actress. With only a few screen credits, McGowan was given a lead role as a very naughty girl in the video store hit The Doom Generation (1995), then appeared in the box office smash Scream (1996, starring Neve Campbell). While appearing in a string of oddball features that included Southie (1998), Devil in the Flesh (1998) and Jawbreaker (1999), McGowan became even more famous as rocker Manson's fianceé (they split in 2001). She joined the cast of Charmed in 2001 (it's fourth season) and became a TV star, then garnered critical praise for her performance as entertainer Ann-Margret in the TV movie Elvis (2005, starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). McGowan left series TV after five seasons of Charmed to focus on her film career and has since appeared in The Black Dahlia (2006, starring Josh Hartnett) and the Robert Rodriguez-Quentin Tarantino project Grindhouse (2007, with Kurt Russell).

Her mother and father belonged to the Children of God (also known as the Family of Love), the same cult to which the Phoenix family belonged (the parents of actors River and Joaquin Phoenix).

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Actor: Rose McGowan
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  • Born: Sep 05, 1973 in Florence, Italy
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '90s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Scream, The Doom Generation, Going All the Way
  • First Major Screen Credit: Encino Man (1992)

Biography

Appearing as a cross between Betty Boop's evil sister and a very curvaceous Hell's Angel, actress Rose McGowan made an undeniably distinct impression on Hollywood in the late '90s. With her sharp tongue and brash sensuality, McGowan has been a source of both titillation and discomfort to an industry that still hasn't quite figured out what to do with women who are both unapologetically smart and sexual.

The child of hippies, McGowan was born September 5, 1975, in Florence, Italy, to a French mother and Irish father. The second oldest of six children, McGowan was raised on an Italian commune run by the Children of God cult. The controversial cult was known for panhandling as well as for taking extremely liberal approaches to parenting. Her family relocated to Oregon when McGowan was ten, and she left the commune at 15, legally emancipating herself from her parents. She supported herself with a variety of odd jobs and even lived on the streets for awhile before traveling to Los Angeles to attend an arts school. It was there that she was discovered by director Gregg Araki, who encountered her loitering outside a gym, refusing to go in because it was "too corny." Araki was busy casting his Sundance entry, The Doom Generation, and gave her the role of Amy Blue, the film's beautiful, spoiled, and morally ambiguous protagonist. Prior to her role, McGowan had only appeared as a minor character in 1992's Encino Man, making her casting in Araki's film all the more fortuitous. The Doom Generation was released in 1995, to mixed reviews and a fair amount of controversy, but helped to establish McGowan as, if not Hollywood's Next Big Thing, then Internet fodder for slavering males everywhere.

The film also gave her a greater chance at steady work and she followed The Doom Generation with the low-budget thriller Kiss and Tell (1996). Subsequently, she landed a role in another thriller possessing a decidedly bigger budget, Wes Craven's Scream (1996). The film was a surprise hit and McGowan's turn as a frisky student who has an unfortunate encounter with a garage door further widened her fan base. After starring in the 1997 TV movie Devil in the Flesh, McGowan appeared in two back-to-back movies with fellow rising star Ben Affleck. First came her turn as the girl who tries to seduce a very excited Jeremy Davies in 1997's Going All the Way, followed by her role in the ski slope thriller Phantoms (1998). 1999 saw her take the lead in the independent film Jawbreaker, in which she starred with Rebecca Gayheart. As Alpha Bitch Courtney Shane, McGowan excelled in a role that was equal parts vamp, tramp, and camp. During this same period, McGowan began a relationship with gothy shock-rocker Marilyn Manson. The counter-culture pair seemed like a match made in entertainment heaven and she caused quite a stir by accompanying her beau to the 1998 MTV Movie Awards in a dress that consisted of little more than a few strands of black beads draped over her distinctly visible nude body. The two became engaged but eventually broke up over reported lifestyle differences.

In 2001, a new period began in McGowan's career when star Shanen Doherty left the hit WB show Charmed, leaving directors looking for a witchy, raven-haired actress to replace her. McGowan joined costars Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs and found no trouble connecting with the show's fans, staying with the series for five years--two years longer than her predecessor. As the show was wrapping up in 2006. McGowan signed up for another role that fit perfectly with her screen image. Dark, sexy, and kitschy beyond a shadow of a doubt, the over-the-top flick Grindhouse would pair the actress with directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, who would each direct a full length film for the double feature. The starlet would have a small but memorable role in Tarantino's Death Proof, but she would have the starring role in Rodriguez's feature Terror Planet as a leg amputee whose appendage is replaced by a big, shiny machine gun. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: Rose McGowan
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Rose McGowan

McGowan at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Born Rose Arianna McGowan
September 5, 1973 (1973-09-05) (age 36)
Florence, Italy
Occupation Actress
Years active 1992–present

Rose Arianna McGowan[1] (born September 5, 1973)[2] is an American actress known for her role as Paige Matthews in WB Network supernatural drama series Charmed, as well as for her roles in several major Hollywood films including The Doom Generation, Scream, Jawbreaker, and Grindhouse. She was until recently the co-host of TCM's film-series program, The Essentials; in the most recent season, Alec Baldwin has replaced her as co-host. She played Ann-Margret alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley in the CBS mini-series Elvis.

Contents

Early life

McGowan, the second-eldest of six children (plus two half-siblings), was born in Florence, Italy, the daughter of Terri, an American writer of French descent, and Daniel McGowan, an artist of Irish descent.[3] Daniel McGowan ran an Italian chapter of the Children of God to which both he and his wife held membership until 1978.[4] McGowan spent her early childhood amid the group's communes, often traveling Europe with her parents.[citation needed] Through her father's art contacts in Italy, McGowan became a child model and appeared in Vogue Bambini and various other Italian magazines. Her parents returned to the United States when she was 10,[5] when they divorced. She subsequently relocated to Oregon and then to Gig Harbor, Washington, where she also met childhood friend Rey-Phillip Santos. McGowan did not speak English until she moved to the U.S.

McGowan's formative years were spent with her father in Seattle, Washington, attending Roosevelt High School and Nova Alternative High School. At the age of 15, she officially emancipated herself from her parents.[6] McGowan pursued a possible career in the film industry during her late teens, and also enrolled in a beauty school as a back-up.

Career

McGowan made her first appearance in a Hollywood film with a bit role in the 1992 Pauly Shore comedy Encino Man. Her role in the 1995 dark comedy The Doom Generation brought her to the attention of film critics, and she received a nomination for "Best Debut Performance" at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards. McGowan was subsequently cast in a supporting role in the 1996 hit horror film Scream.

McGowan at the premiere for Grindhouse in March 2007

McGowan spent the majority of the 1990s appearing in a variety of independent films, including roles in Southie, Going All the Way, and Lewis & Clark & George. In 1997, she appeared in the critically acclaimed short Seed, directed by San Francisco-born filmmaker Karin Thayer, and played opposite Peter O'Toole in the 1998 film adaptation of the Dean Koontz novel Phantoms. Notably, McGowan also starred in the 1999 comedy Jawbreaker, where she played a snooty high school student who tries to cover up a classmate's murder. That role earned McGowan a nomination for Best Villain at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards.

In 2001, McGowan was cast as Paige Matthews in the popular The WB television series Charmed, as a replacement lead actress after Shannen Doherty's departure from the show. She was offered to be a producer after the seventh season, but turned it down.[7] The series ended its run on May 21, 2006.[8]

In May 2005, McGowan portrayed actress/singer Ann-Margret in Elvis, a Golden Globe-winning CBS mini-series about the life of Elvis Presley. That same year, she lent her voice to the video game Darkwatch as a femme fatale named Tala. The game was published by Capcom for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

In 2006, McGowan had a brief role in Brian De Palma's Academy Award-nominated film The Black Dahlia. The following year, she starred in the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double-feature Grindhouse, released on April 6, 2007. Cast in utterly divergent roles, McGowan appears in both portions of the film, as go-go dancing Cherry Darling in Planet Terror, and as Pam in Death Proof. McGowan attended the 60th Annual Cannes Film Festival to promote Death Proof along with Robert Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, Zoë Bell, and Quentin Tarantino.[9]

According to Variety, McGowan signed on to play B-movie staple Susan Cabot in the upcoming film Black Oasis. Director Stephan Elliott (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) has penned and will direct the film based on a Premiere article by John H. Richardson. The film has currently been placed on hold.[10]

McGowan was a co-host with Robert Osborne on TCM's film-series program The Essentials, on which a classic Hollywood film is shown every week. McGowan was on the show for the 2008 season before being replaced by Alec Baldwin.

In 2007, McGowan was cast in Fifty Dead Men Walking. When in production, the movie was first titled Man on the Run but is now officially called Fifty Dead Men Walking. Filming began in Northern Ireland later in October 2007 and went on until December 2007. A release is expected for October 2008.

Elle Magazine originally reported that Rose McGowan has been signed to play the title role in the future remake of Barbarella, fending off strong competition from other actresses including Sienna Miller.[11] The film is to be directed by Robert Rodriguez and to involve close friend Quentin Tarantino as a member of the crew.[12] Following rumours suggesting that Universal Studios had stopped funding the film as they were unconvinced McGowan could carry such an iconic role, the actress confirmed on MTV that the comments were untrue and unfounded and that the film was still in production.[13] On May 5 2009, it was officially confirmed by Robert Rodriguez on MTV News, that Barbarella would not go into production due to filming location difficulties, even though a lot of planning had already been completed.

In June 2008, USA Today reported that McGowan had been signed to play the title role in a third project with Robert Rodriguez (who takes on the role of the film's producer), known as Red Sonja.[14]

Music

While dating Marilyn Manson, McGowan appeared in a music video for the song "Coma White", and also performed backing vocals on the song "Posthuman."[citation needed] Both of these songs are available on the album Mechanical Animals.

McGowan appeared on a BT track called "Superfabulous" from his album Emotional Technology,[citation needed] which was also featured on the final Charmed soundtrack, The Final Chapter. The song has been featured in several films, including Win a Date with Tad Hamilton and Raising Helen. She wrote and recorded a song titled "Protection," which was featured in her 2001 film Strange Hearts. McGowan has also appeared in the Imperial Teen music video for "Yoo Hoo", which was featured on the Jawbreaker soundtrack.

McGowan has expressed interest in recording an album of her own. During an interview with Living TV, she said, "I was actually thinking of going back and doing more soulful tunes and older tunes...and I would love to, when I have a little bit more time." In the Charmed episode "Sense and Sense Ability," McGowan performed, in character, a cover of the Peggy Lee classic "Fever." In 2007, it was announced that McGowan would be performing three songs from the Planet Terror portion of Grindhouse. These songs were released on the soundtrack by the Varese Sarabande label.[15] The songs are entitled "You Belong to Me" (a Dean Martin/Jo Stafford cover), "Useless Talent #32" and "Two Against the World."

Modeling

McGowan was the face of American clothing company Bebe from 1998 to 1999. She was also the cover model for the Henry Mancini tribute album Shots in the Dark, which was released in 1996. In addition to clothing endorsements, McGowan has appeared on numerous magazine covers, including Seventeen, Interview, Maxim, GQ, Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone. She has also frequently been featured on Maxim, FHM and Stuff magazine's sexiest women lists.

Awards

In 1996, McGowan was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in The Doom Generation. A few years later, at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards, she was nominated for "Best Villain" for her role in Jawbreaker. In 2005, McGowan won "Best Sister" at the Family TV Awards, for her role on Charmed. In 2006, Blender included her on their list of the sexiest women of TV and film.[16] The most recent award won by McGowan was under the category Femme Fatale for the 2007 Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards, which aired June 13, 2007. The award was for the role of Cherry in Grindhouse. McGowan was nominated for "Scream Queen" at the 2007 Scream Awards on Spike TV for her performance in Grindhouse.

Personal life

McGowan lived in Seattle, Washington, but currently resides in Los Angeles, California. She was in a very public 3 ½-year relationship with rock musician Marilyn Manson. After a formal engagement lasting two years, McGowan ended the relationship over "lifestyle differences". Prior to the release of Grindhouse, there was speculation that McGowan was dating director Robert Rodriguez.[17][18] In May 2007, it was reported that they confirmed their relationship while appearing hand-in-hand at the Cannes Film Festival.[19] On October 12, 2007 it was announced by Zap2it.com that McGowan was engaged to Rodriguez.[20] They planned to wed in 2009,[21] but reportedly split on October 2, 2009.[22]

McGowan has admitted to sleepwalking as a child. "The weirdest spot I ever woke up was a snow bank in Montreal. Now I just speak Italian in my sleep."[23] McGowan also suffers from agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder.[24]

McGowan is known as an activist for Boston Terriers. She herself has two, Bug and Fester, and has personally donated to various Boston rescues. McGowan reportedly encouraged friends to donate to Boston Terrier Rescue Net, and according to BTRN: "Having fallen in love with Bug and Fester, her friends donated generously. It amounted to a considerable contribution, which will go a long way in helping BTRN and the needy volunteers who selflessly give to deserving Bostons."[25]

According to an article in the New York Post, McGowan suffered serious injuries in a car accident early in 2007. Riding as a passenger, her car was struck by another vehicle and the force of the impact drove her eyeglasses into her face. McGowan is quoted as saying, "I didn't realize I was hurt until I put my hand to my face and felt the flap of skin. My glasses had sliced me under my eye." After obtaining the services of a plastic surgeon, McGowan is reported to be suffering no long-lasting consequences from the incident.[26]

Of her acting method, McGowan said "I'm not really one of those people who goes and writes some big backstory and agonizes over characters...For me personally, it's just kind of more instinctive. But I don't have kind of an acting background. I fell into it accidentally."[27]

IRA controversy

McGowan, whose paternal family originates from County Cork,[28] has expressed support for the cause of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), with the reports of her comments being released into the media on September 11, 2008. After starring in Fifty Dead Men Walking, she was quoted as saying "I imagine had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100% have been in the IRA. My heart just broke for the cause. Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it."[29] Her comments were attacked by the author of the autobiography upon which the film is based, Martin McGartland who said "Rose McGowan's comments were insulting to victims of IRA terrorism and she should apologize."[30]

Filmography

McGowan at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2008

Films

Year Film Role Notes
1992 Encino Man Nora aka California Man
1995 The Doom Generation Amy Blue Nominated Independent Spirit Award
1996 Bio Dome Denise
Kiss & Tell Jasmine Hoyle
Scream Tatum Riley
1997 Going All the Way Gale Ann Thayer
Seed Miriam
Nowhere Valley Chick #3
Lewis & Clark & George George
1998 Southie Kathy Quinn
Phantoms Lisa Pailey
Devil In The Flesh Debbie Strand aka Dearly Devoted
1999 Jawbreaker Courtney Alice Shayne Nominated MTV Movie Award
Sleeping Beauties Sno Blo
2000 Ready to Rumble Sasha
The Last Stop Nancy
2001 Strange Hearts Moira Kennedy aka Roads to Riches
Monkeybone Miss Kitty
The Killing Yard Linda Borus TV Movie
2002 Stealing Bess Debbie Dinsdale aka Vacuums
2005 Elvis Ann-Margret TV miniseries
2006 The Black Dahlia Sheryl Saddon
2007 Grindhouse - Planet Terror Cherry Darling
Grindhouse - Death Proof Pam
2008 Fifty Dead Men Walking Grace Sterrin
2010 Machete Cherry Darling Post production
Dylan's Wake Charlie Filming

TV

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Jem Marissa Heath 1 Episode - Season 2
1990 True Colours Suzanne 1 Episode - Life with Fathers
1999 God Is in the T.V. Jackie-O aka Marilyn Manson: God Is in the T.V.
2001 What About Joan? Maeve 1 Episode - Maeve
2001 - 06 Charmed Paige Matthews 112 Episodes
2008 The Essentials Herself 27 Episodes
2009 Nip/Tuck Dr. Theodora 'Teddy' Rowe 5 episodes

Video games

Year Game Role Notes
2005 Darkwatch: Curse of the West Tala Vamp
2009 Terminator Salvation Angie Salter

References

  1. ^ "Dedicated to a Rose | A Rose McGowan Fansite". Rose-McGowan.com. 2007-02-12. http://www.rose-mcgowan.com/information/qa0711.php. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
  2. ^ "Rose McGowan - Biography". Imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000535/bio. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
  3. ^ Bikini (US) - March 1, 1997
  4. ^ http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/187315/Rose_McGowan
  5. ^ A rose is a rose is a Rose McGowan
  6. ^ Simms, Molly (2006), "In Full Bloom", Bust Magazine, Dec05/Jan06
  7. ^ After eight super, supernatural years, the cast and crew of Charmed say goodbye to the magic
  8. ^ 'Charmed' life comes to an end
  9. ^ Glamour’s in the Cannes
  10. ^ McGowan to play B-movie star Cabot
  11. ^ Breaking News
  12. ^ Simmons, David Lee. "The moviegoer." Creative Loafing Atlanta, 20 February 2008.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Simon. "McGowan: 'I'm still Barbarella'." Digital Spy, 15 April 2008.
  14. ^ [1] Rodriguez, McGowan team for 'Red Sonja'
  15. ^ Varese Sarabande Product Details - Grind House: Planet Terror
  16. ^ "http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2464&src=blender_ed"
  17. ^ Weinsteins ready for 'Grindhouse'
  18. ^ Fling Ground Up 'Grindhouse'
  19. ^ "Rodriguez and McGowan Go Public with Relationship". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=16893. Retrieved 2007-10-13. 
  20. ^ "Rose McGowan Engaged to Her 'Grindhouse' Director". Zap2it.com. http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-rosemcgowanrobertrodriguezengaged,0,6182927.story?coll=zap-movies-headlines. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  21. ^ "McGowan + Rodriguez Engaged". The Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0586643/. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 
  22. ^ Rose McGowan is single again
  23. ^ Maxim Mar 1999 Maxim Online.com
  24. ^ [2] IMDB.com
  25. ^ "Boston Terrier Rescue Net" © 2005 ThePetGazette.com
  26. ^ NY Post - Narrow Escape (03/18/07)
  27. ^ Rose McGowan loves the absurd
  28. ^ Craig Ferguson interviews Rose McGowan on The Late Late Show in May 2005
  29. ^ "People: Rose McGowan’s IRA claim causes outrage | News". The First Post. 2008-09-11. http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/people,1373,actress-rose-mcgowan-says-she-would-have-been-a-member-of-the-ira,44435. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
  30. ^ "Northern Ireland | Fury over actress's IRA comments". BBC News. 2008-09-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7609856.stm. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 

External links


 
 
Learn More
A Knight to Remember: Charmed (TV Episode) (2001 Fantasy TV Episode)
Love's a Witch: Charmed (TV Episode) (2003 Fantasy TV Episode)
Southie (1999 Album by Original Soundtrack)

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