Calista Flockhart Biography

Name:Calista Kay Flockhart

Date of Birth:November 11, 1964

Plaxe of Birth:Freeport, Illinois

Calista Kay Flockhart  is an American actress who is primarily recognized for her work in television.Calista Flockhart  is best known for playing the title character in the Fox comedy-drama series Ally McBeal for which she won a Golden Globe Award.Calista Flockhart  starred as Kitty Walker McCallister on the ABC drama, Brothers & Sisters.Flockhart is the wife of actor Harrison Ford.

Early life

Flockhart was born in Freeport, Illinois, the daughter of Kay, a teacher of English, and Ronald Flockhart, an executive for Kraft Foods.  Calista Flockhart parents are retired and live in Morristown, Tennessee.  Calista Flockhart has one older brother, Gary.  Calista Flockhart mother, Kay Calista, reversed her own first and middle names in naming her Calista Kay. Calista also had a great-grandmother named "Calista".

Because her father's job required the family to move often, Flockhart and her brother grew up in different places including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Norwich, New York. As a child, she wrote a play called Toyland in which she performed to a small audience at a dinner party.

Flockhart attended Shawnee High School in Medford Township, New Jersey. Following her graduation in 1983, Flockhart attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While there, she attended a specialized and competitive class, lasting from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In her sophomore year at Rutgers, Flockhart met aspiring actress Jane Krakowski, the best friend of her roommate. Later they would both work together on Ally McBeal.

Flockhart's acting ability was recognized when William Esper (Mason Gross' theatre director and Flockhart's acting teacher) made an exception to policy by allowing Flockhart to perform on the main stage. Though this venue is usually reserved for juniors and seniors, Harold Scott insisted that Flockhart perform there in his production of William Inge's Picnic. Flockhart graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre in 1988, as one of only a few students who successfully completed the course.  Calista Flockhart was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni on May 3, 2003.

After receiving her degree, Flockhart moved to New York City in 1989, where she remained until 1997, living with three other women in a two-bedroom apartment and working as a waitress and aerobics instructor, while she simultaneously sought auditions.

Career

Early careerIn spring 1989, Flockhart made her first television appearance in a minor role in an episode of Guiding Light as a babysitter.  Calista Flockhart made her professional debut on the New York stage, appearing in Beside Herself alongside Melissa Joan Hart, at the Circle Repertory Theatre. Two years later, Flockhart appeared in the television movie Darrow. Though she later appeared in films Naked in New York (1993) and Getting In (1994), her first substantial speaking part in a film was in Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford.

Flockhart debuted on Broadway in 1994, as Laura in The Glass Menagerie. Actress Julie Harris felt Flockhart should be hired without further auditions, claiming that she seemed ideal for the part. Flockhart received a Clarence Derwent Award for her performance. In 1995, Flockhart became acquainted with actors such as Dianne Wiest and Faye Dunaway when she appeared in the movie Drunks. Later that year, Flockhart starred in Jane Doe as a drug addict. In 1996, Flockhart appeared as the daughter of Dianne Wiest and Gene Hackman's characters in The Birdcage. Throughout that year, she continued to work on Broadway, playing the role of Natasha in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters.

Ally McBealIn 1997 Flockhart was requested to audition for the starring role in David E. Kelley's Fox television series, Ally McBeal. Kelley, having heard of Flockhart, wanted her to audition for the contract part. Though Flockhart at first hesitated due to the necessary commitment to the show in a negotiable contract, she was swayed by the script and traveled to Los Angeles to audition for the part, which she won.  Calista Flockhart  earned a Golden Globe Award for the role in 1998. Flockhart also appeared on the June 29, 1998, cover of Time magazine, placed as the newest iteration in the evolution of feminism, relating to the ongoing debate about the role depicted by her character.

Throughout her professional career, Flockhart has maintained her naturally lean figure. However, many have commented that Flockhart had become dangerously thin, particularly when the actress made red carpet appearances in clothing that revealed a somewhat emaciated physique.Calista Flockhart had maintained throughout the show's run that she was never diagnosed with either anorexia or bulimia, nor was she a user of illegal drugs.Calista Flockhart did remark, however, that while starring in the show she refrained from eating sweets, retaining her slimness with intense workouts and running.In 2006, she admitted that she had a problem at the time, and was "exercising too much" and "eating too little".

Other work Flockhart played the role of Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, a 1999 film version of Shakespeare's play. In 2000, she appeared in Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Calista Flockhart and Bash: Latter-Day Plays, later accompanying Eve Ensler to Kenya in order to protest violence against women, particularly female genital mutilation. Flockhart also starred in the Off-Broadway production of Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.

In 2004, Flockhart appeared as Matthew Broderick's deranged girlfriend in The Last Shot. In the same year, Flockhart travelled to Spain for the filming of Fragile, which premiered in September 2005 at the Venice Film Festival.

 Calista Flockhart was offered the role of Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives, but declined. The role went to Teri Hatcher. Flockhart's last appearance on television was as Kitty Walker, opposite Sally Field, Rachel Griffiths and Matthew Rhys, in the ABC prime time series Brothers & Sisters, which premiered in September 2006 in the time slot after Desperate Housewives. The show was cancelled in May 2011 after running for five years. Flockhart's character was significant throughout the series' first four years, but her appearances were reduced for the 2010–2011 season, coinciding with the departure of TV husband Rob Lowe.

Personal life

Calista Flockhart dated director Sam Mendes in the late spring and summer of 1999.

With Harrison Ford at the 2009 Deauville American Film FestivalAs of 2008, Flockhart is the national spokesperson for Peace Over Violence.

On January 11, 2001, Flockhart adopted a ten day old baby, Liam (born January 1, 2001), in San Diego.
In March 2009 it was reported that Flockhart became engaged to Harrison Ford on Valentine's Day, after more than seven years together. On June 15, 2010, they were married in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The ceremony was presided over by Governor Bill Richardson and New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Daniels.

Filmography

1993 Naked in New York Acting student

1994 Clear Cut  

1994 Gettin In Amanda Morel

1994 Quiz Show Barnard Girl

1995 Pictures of Baby Jane Doe Jane

1995 Drunks Helen

1996 Birdcage, TheThe Birdcage Barbara Keeley

1996 Milk & Money Christine

1997 Telling Lies in America Diney Majeski

1999 Midsummer Night's Dream, AA Midsummer Night's Dream Helena

2000 Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her Christine Taylor

2004 Last Shot, TheThe Last Shot Valerie Weston

2005 Fragile Amy Nicholls

Television

1989 Guiding Light Elise

1991 Darrow Lillian Anderson Television movie

1992 Lifestories: Families in Crisis Mary-Margaret Carter Episode: "The Secret Life of Mary Margaret: Portrait of a Bulimic"
1997–2002 Ally McBeal Ally McBeal 112 episodes

1998 Practice, TheThe Practice Ally McBeal Episode: "Axe Murderer"

1999 Ally Ally McBeal

2000 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Vanna Van (Voice) Episode: "Rip Van Winkle"

2001 Bash: Latter-Day Plays  Television film

2006–11 Brothers & Sisters Kitty Walker 109 episodes

Awards and nominationsYear Award Title Work Result 

1998 Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Ally McBeal Nominated

Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Won

Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated

Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Won

1999 American Comedy Award Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series Nominated

Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated

Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated

Satellite Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won

TV Guide Award Favorite Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated

Television Critics Association Award Individual Achievement in Comedy Nominated
2000 Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated

Peoples Choice Award Favorite Female Television Performer Won

Satellite Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated

TV Guide Award Favorite Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated

Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated

2001 Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated

Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated

2002 Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical Nominated

2008 Gold Derby TV Award Best Ensemble Brothers & Sisters Nominated

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated

2009 Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated.