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Helen Hunt

Helen Hunt has garnered high praised throughout her career. From her earliest work in community theater, to the New York Broadway stage, to her film and television performances, critics continuously recognize her for her outstanding performances. She was last seen on Broadway, starring opposite John Turturro, in the Yasmine Reza play, Life (x) 3. Hunt also recently starred in HBO's acclaimed Empire Falls co-starring Ed Harris and Paul Newman; and the romantic comedy A Good Woman, with Scarlet Johansson and Tom Wilkinson. Hunt's other recent film appearances include the Woody Allen film, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, opposite Charlize Theron, Dan Aykroyd and Allen; Robert Altman's Dr. T. and the Women, opposite Richard Gere; Pay It Forward, alongside Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment; Castaway with Tom Hanks; and What Women Want with Mel Gibson.

Hunt's portrayal of a single mother / waitress in Jim Brooks' As Good As It Gets opposite Jack Nicholson garnered her a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Oscar for Best Actress. She previously starred in Twister directed by Jan De Bont, and won a Blockbuster Award for Best Actress in an action/adventure film for her role in the mega-hit.

Seven times nominated for an Emmy in as many seasons, she won the award four times for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Jamie Buchman on Mad About You. Her work on the hit series also earned her five Golden Globe Awards, a coveted Screen Actors Guild Award, and three American Comedy Awards. Additionally, she was twice named Best Actress by the Viewers for Quality Television. Hunt enjoyed rave reviews for her performance in the sleeper hit The Waterdance, written and directed by Neal Jimenez. Her additional film credits include Kiss of Death, Mr. Saturday Night, Peggy Sue Got Married, Next of Kin, Miles From Home, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Project X. Hunt made her acting debut on television in 1973's Pioneer Woman and has starred in over 15 telefilms including Bill: On His Own, Choices of the Heart, Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story, Into the Badlands, The Miracle of Kathy Miller and In the Company of Darkness. Hunt also had a two-year stint on St. Elsewhere and made guest appearances on the critically acclaimed China Beach. Her performance in HBO's The Hitchhiker, earned her an ACE Award nomination. Hunt also starred in the PBS American Playhouse series, Land of Little Rain and in the short-lived but critically acclaimed ABC series, My Life and Times.

In 1989 realizing a dream, Hunt performed on Broadway in Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town at the Lyceum Theater co-starring with Eric Stoltz and Spalding Grey. In the summer of 1990, Hunt assumed the coveted role of ‘Bianca' in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Taming of the Shrew with Tracey Ullman and Morgan Freeman at the Delacourte Theater. Hunt again starred on Broadway in the Lincoln Center production of Twelfth Night, directed by Nicholas Hytner and costarring Paul Rudd, Philip Bosco and Kyra Sedgwick. More recently, she starred opposite Tim Robbins in a Los Angeles production of The Guys for The Actors' Gang.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2006.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Helen Hunt Facts

Birth NameHelen Elizabeth Hunt
OccupationActress
BirthdayJune 15, 1963 (60)
SignGemini
BirthplaceLos Angeles, California, USA
Height5' 6" (1m68)  How tall is Helen Hunt compared to you?
Awards1998 Academy Awards: Best Actress (for As Good As It Gets)
1998 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical (for As Good As It Gets)
1998 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Best Female Actor in a Leading Role (for As Good As It Gets)
1997 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (for Mad about You)
1995 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (for Mad about You)
1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series (for Mad About You)
1994 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (for Mad about You)

Selected Filmography

Monsters University
Cast Away
Twister
Soul Surfer
What Women Want
As Good As It Gets
Mad About You
A Good Woman
Continue » Find more details on the Helen Hunt Movies page