Rosanna Arquette began her professional acting career in 1977, eventually securing an Emmy Award nomination for her performance in the 1982 television film The Executioner's Song. A versatile performer, she navigated both independent dramas and mainstream studio productions while establishing a body of work that spanned over four decades in the United States film and television industries.
Early Roles and Breakout
Born in New York City in 1959 to parents Lewis Arquette and Brenda Olivia Nowak, she emerged from a family of actors. Her early screen appearances included Blake Edwards' 1981 film S.O.B. She gained significant notice with the 1983 lead role in John Sayles' Baby It's You. In 1985, she earned the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Desperately Seeking Susan, a project that featured her alongside Madonna.
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Following her success in the mid-1980s with films such as Lawrence Kasdan’s Silverado and Martin Scorsese’s After Hours, Arquette experienced a career setback with the commercial failure of 8 Million Ways to Die. She subsequently relocated to Europe, where she performed in Luc Besson’s The Big Blue in 1988. Upon returning to the United States, she continued to accumulate film credits including Pulp Fiction, Crash, and The Whole Nine Yards.
Directing and Activism
Arquette expanded her professional scope into directing and producing, notably with the documentaries Searching for Debra Winger in 2002 and All We Are Saying in 2005. In 2017, she became a prominent voice in the movement against systemic sexual harassment in the film industry, alleging that Harvey Weinstein had impeded her career after she rejected his advances. She participated in the 2019 documentary Untouchable, which examined Weinstein’s conduct.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, New York City
- Nationality: United States
- BAFTA Award: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (1986)
- Sitges Film Festival Award: Best Actress (1989)
- Directing credits: Searching for Debra Winger (2002), All We Are Saying (2005)
- Notable early television role: The Executioner's Song (1982)
Questions readers ask
Did Rosanna Arquette inspire the Toto song 'Rosanna'?
No, while band members played along with the public assumption that it was about her, the songwriter David Paich stated the song was based on numerous girls he had known.
Has she directed any films?
Yes, she directed and produced the documentaries Searching for Debra Winger (2002) and All We Are Saying (2005).
Achievements
- BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role — 1986
- Worked as actor, film producer and television actor
