Alison Elliott Biography (2)

Alison Elliott gained national recognition and acclaim for her portrayal of the beloved young heroine, Percy, in the 1996 film THE SPITFIRE GRILL, opposite Ellyn Burstyn. In her review of the film in The New York Times, film critic Janet Maslin described Alison's performance as radiant. Prior to that film's theatrical release, it won the Audience Award at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival. One year earlier, Alison's performance as a disgruntled femme fatale in Steven Soderbergh's THE UNDERNEATH, with Peter Gallagher, garnered equally high recognition and praise.

In 1997, Alison again appeared on screen as Millie in THE WINGS OF THE DOVE, opposite Helena Bonham-Carter. For her portrayal of this eccentric American heiress with failing health, Alison was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. The film earned great critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for four Academy Awards.

Other notable performances in Alison's career include: Accused preschool teacher Peggy Ann Buckey in the Emmy Award-winning HBO film INDICTMENT: THE MCMARTIN TRIAL; Lou Earp in Lawrence Kasdan's western epic WYATT EARP, with Kevin Costner; the title-hungry Virginia St. George in Edith Wharton's THE BUCCANEERS, for the BBC; aspiring actress turned opera star Thea Kronberg in American Masterpiece Theatre's THE SONG OF THE LARK, for PBS; and Helen Keller's longtime mentor, teacher, and friend Annie Sullivan in The Wonderful World of Disney's presentation of THE MIRACLE WORKER, for ABC.

Alison recently completed shooting the feature film BIRTH for director Jonathan Glazer, starring opposite Nicole Kidman and Lauren Bacall. She can also be seen later this year on the TV mini-series A WRINKLE IN TIME, based on the beloved children's book of the same name, as Mrs. Who, starring opposite Alfre Woodard and Kate Nelligan.

Alison was born in San Francisco, however spent several years as a child living in Tokyo and traveling throughout Asia with her family. Upon returning to the United States, Alison discovered her fondness for acting while attending a liberal arts-intensive high school in San Francisco. At the age of eighteen she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career as an actress. She currently divides her time between Los Angeles and New York.

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