Actress Uma Thurman was born on April 29, 1970 in the family of the famous Swedish model, and currently practicing psychotherapist Nena von Schleebrugge, and Robert Thurman, an American writer, professor at Columbia University, public figure specializing in Eastern religions, who was the first American to take monastic vows. Buddhist monks.
At one time, with his close friend the Dalai Lama, he carefully prayed and meditated in the mountains of Tibet.
The amazing family of an extraordinary actress
The girl lived in India for a long time with her parents, then the family moved to the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, where Uma and her three younger brothers (also endowed with unusual Tibetan names) grew up in a rather unusual atmosphere; the doors of their house were always open to guests, the most frequent of whom were Buddhists. In general, the family was quite unusual and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Eastern philosophy.
Being different from others (Uma was a head taller than her peers), monstrous shyness, a catastrophic dislike of her own appearance (Uma considered herself a terrible ugly person), and unusual upbringing were an obstacle in communicating with peers for the clumsy and nervous girl, who had a mischievous, boyish character, and I wore the dress for the first time only at the prom. Uma often changed schools, which only intensified her suffering, since constantly being in the status of a “new girl” further aggravated her dislike for herself. Like most children, the girl had a negative attitude towards her own name, dreaming of being called Diane. However, over time, the name given to her in honor of the Indian goddess of light and beauty and meaning “bliss giver” became a source of pride for the future Hollywood actress.
Goal: conquer the world
At the age of 15, future actress Uma Thurman, having a one-time experience of successful theater acting in a school production, discovered a craving for acting. And she left the walls of the educational institution, deciding to devote her life to acting. Like many dissatisfied individuals, Uma took pleasure in putting on a mask and playing someone else’s life, which radically transformed the future actress, eliminated her shyness, and made her open and liberated.
She moved to New York with the goal of conquering the world, and at first she worked as a waitress and dishwasher to be able to pay for acting courses on her own. Unfortunately, the acting career of the future star did not work out right away, so she began to try herself in the modeling business, especially since her height and “flat” figure – the standard of modeling agencies of that time – contributed to this. The Click Models agency signed a contract with Uma Thurman, and after a while the girl, who quickly gained popularity and became a sought-after model, already had her own agent. In 1985, some six months after changing her place of residence, Uma’s face appeared on the covers of such notable publications as Glamor and Vogue.
The beginning of an acting career
16-year-old Uma’s debut as an actress took place in the low-budget “Kiss Daddy Goodnight” (1987), where she played a seductively insidious seductress, and the talented person was noticed only after the cameo role of the goddess Venus, innocent and at the same time sensual, in the movie “ The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" directed by Terry Gilliam, in which she played a young diva flirting with an older admirer. Uma's performance was highly praised by critics, as were the love episodes with her participation. And after the release of the film, the talented girl gained a reputation as an actress with erotic role-playing overtones, and this despite her rather extraordinary appearance: a large nose, a height of 183 centimeters and foot size 43.
Sacrifices for a career
Actress Uma Thurman dropped out of school at age fifteen. She began studying acting. She earned her livelihood by washing dishes, working as a waitress and as a model. The girl was looking for roles for herself, moving from city to city for this purpose.
In 1987, she had the opportunity to appear on the screens. She starred in the low-budget film “Kiss Daddy Goodbye.” The thriller failed, but some critics praised Uma for her transformation. The following year, the actress received a small but significant role in the film “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.” She played the goddess Venus. The following roles fell one after another.
Debutante among the greats
Subsequently, she got the role of a sly, cheerful girl named Georgia in a good film about teenagers, temptations and talent - “Johnny, Be Smart.” By the way, this film became an impetus for the development of the careers of such actors as Anthony Michael Hall and Robert Downey Jr. But Uma Thurman was truly noticed only after her unsurpassed role as a young French aristocrat in “Dangerous Liaisons” directed by Stephen Frears (1988), a film that received three major Academy Awards. The film's co-stars included Michelle Pfeiffer, John Malkovich and Glenn Close. Moreover, Uma managed to enter this famous cast easily, clearly showing how seductive the lanky and ridiculous heroine can be, how much pleasure communication with her promises.
In 1990, Uma Thurman, an actress endowed with great talent, played in the comedy film “Home is where the heart is.” Unfortunately, it was not noted by critics, who nevertheless did not ignore the talented actress, despite the minor role. Like other actors of a similar level, Uma Thurman, an actress whose height does not fall within the usual limits, easily transformed into a variety of images - sexual, social, historical - and was ready to play any different types.
Career development
The role in the film “Johnny Be Good,” in which actress Uma Thurman played a sly, cheerful girl, turned out to be successful. In 1988, critics and viewers were able to appreciate the sexuality of the actress. She played the role of a young aristocrat in the work of Stephen Frears called “Dangerous Liaisons”.
Thurman easily transformed herself from film to film. It is not surprising that the attention to her person from directors and producers increased. After the release of Philip Kaufman’s film “Henry and June” in 1990, the actress was a success. She has proven that she is capable of character roles that depend not on external beauty, but on acting skills.
Thurman then worked with such famous actors as Richard Gere, Kim Basinger, John Malkovich, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
First experience of marriage
In the same 1990, Uma Thurman, an actress who was quite famous and in demand by that time, married her film partner Gary Oldman; however, the marriage lasted only two years and ended in divorce due to the husband’s constant drinking and infidelity.
Great fame came to Uma Thurman after her role as the innocently vicious wife of writer Henry Miller in the film “Henry and June,” which was classified as a pornographic film for its explicit erotic scenes. The girl, having amazed absolutely everyone with her frankness, merged with the image of a hysterical sick woman to such an extent that it was difficult to imagine the real June Miller as any other. After this film, Uma was elevated to the rank of actresses who are popular not only for their beautiful appearance, but also for their talented acting. This was followed by the role of the stubborn Made in John Irvine’s film “Robin Hood”.
The year 1992 became a test for Uma, as the difficulties of acting life almost pushed her to leave the world of cinema. However, such a decision could be considered only a momentary weakness of a strong woman; actress Uma Thurman continued her film career with great zeal and passion, which developed quite successfully. Over a 10-year period, Uma starred in 17 films, most of which she played supporting roles. These are “Final Diagnosis” with Kim Basinger and Richard Gere, “Jennifer Eight” with Andy Garcia and John Malkovich, “Mad Dog and Glory” with Robert De Niro, as well as the complex and unconventional story “Even Girls Are Sad Sometimes.” Despite the meager box office receipts, these films established Uma's reputation as a first-class actress.
The unique Uma Thurman - actress
The actress’s filmography required a push, which was “Pulp Fiction” - the unsurpassed work of Quentin Tarantino, which became the most high-profile film of the 1990s, an immortal masterpiece that will be in demand at all times. Uma in the role of Mia became his best decoration and won an Oscar. After filming the film, Uma became very close to Quentin Tarantino; the director and actress trusted each other endlessly. Quentin largely left Uma to independently create the character of the heroine.
After the tremendous success in “Pulp Fiction,” actress Uma Thurman, whose biography is of genuine interest to many of her fans, began to receive a large number of invitations, but mostly starred in romantic films: “A Month by the Lake” (1995), “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” " and "Beautiful Girls" (1996), as well as "Batman and Robin" (1997), which became the biggest creative failure of her entire career. Moreover, the viewer, unlike the critics who appreciated Uma’s talented performance, was only interested in her seductive body. Therefore, fans elevated Uma to the rank of a sex symbol, which embarrassed the actress and even became a reason for her to refuse several roles.
Bad movies, bad marriage
1997 was marked for Uma with the release of the frank film “Gattaca”, where she played with her future husband Ethan Hawke. After failing at the box office, this sci-fi film became the best and most believable version of the future of humanity. In May 1998, actress Uma Thurman married Hawke, gave birth to a daughter, and some time later a son was born. Family life did not prevent the spouses from successfully building a career, and Ethan had his personal life on the side (with a Canadian model). However, the husband came to Uma to confess, and she, acting like a wise woman, took him back. The union of Uma and Ethan broke up in 2004.
1998 was marked by the release of not very successful films “The Avengers” and “Les Miserables”. Uma Thurman is an actress whose photo adorns the pages of many printed publications not only because of her beautiful and extraordinary appearance. That’s why she played excellently even in these films, like in Woody Allen’s “Sweet and the Ugly.”
The 2000s became more successful for Uma Thurman; the actress did not hesitate to show her acting talents and played exactly as the director intended. This is the historical film by Roland Joffe “Vatel”, then the drama “The Golden Chalice” by James Ivory (which took part in the Cannes Film Festival), then “Historical Blindness”, in which Uma, who also acted as a producer, won the Golden Globe as best actress .
Family
Uma Thurman's personal life has always been of interest to fans, and the actress has always talked about it quite openly. She had her first serious relationship, which ended in official marriage, quite early. At the age of 20, Uma Thurman married actor Gary Oldman. But her husband’s frequent infidelities, as well as his addiction to alcohol, forced the girl to file for divorce just two years after the wedding.
The next relationship was not too happy - Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke lived together for only 7 years. The actress met her second husband during filming. A whirlwind romance ended in a wedding. In marriage, the actress gave birth to two children - daughter Maya Ray and son Levon Rohan. But having children did not help save the family: due to Hawk’s constant infidelities, the couple divorced.
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After that, the actress completely immersed herself in work and raising children. But fate brought her together with financier Arpad Brusson. This time the woman decided not to tie the knot again. In 2012, Uma Thurman and Arpad Brusson became the parents of a charming baby, whom they decided to name Rosalind. And two years after that, the couple decided to separate.
Not long ago, news emerged that Uma Thurman was having an affair with director Quentin Tarantino. They have been friends for a long time. But in the relationship between the actress and the director there are many moments that suggest something more than just friendship. Author: Natalya Petrova
"Kill Bill"
In 2002, Quentin Tarantino again invited Uma to collaborate; she played in the picturesquely cruel project “Kill Bill”, after the release of which Tarantino fully returned to his former glory. The plot of this film was invented by the director and Uma Thurman back in the days of Pulp Fiction. The filming, which took place in five countries, was very difficult and required Uma to have absolute mastery of martial arts on camera, so she diligently studied fencing with Japanese swords and combat techniques for three months.
The success of the film, which became a cult classic upon release, was undeniable. According to critics who accepted the film with open arms, there are only a few such stylish films in the world classics. The second part of Kill Bill, released a year later, consolidated the success of the previous film. For both films, Uma Thurman received about $25 million in fees and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Then Gary Gray invited the actress to his film “Be Cool”; This was followed by roles in the films “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”, “Accidental Husband”, “My Best Lover”.
Incessant ovation
Uma Thurman, whose films differ significantly from each other, received the long-awaited recognition of the public and film critics thanks to her meeting with Quentin Tarantino. The director took her for the role of Mia, which brought the actress an Oscar and fame all over the world.
The next few works did not bring the desired success. Thurman did not get the most successful pictures. Success returned to the actress at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Quentin Tarantino again offered her cooperation. This time the film was more violent. It was about the Kill Bill project. In order for Uma to agree to filming, the director had to wait about a year while his muse was pregnant. But the wait was worth it.
Although for many viewers, the role of Mia, played by Uma Thurman (“Pulp Fiction”), remains the most memorable.
Life roles of Uma Thurman
In 2007, the actress began a difficult relationship with billionaire financier Arpad Busson, which ended in 2009 only to resume again in 2010. In 2012, the couple had a girl, Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalaun Florence Thurman-Busson, and for each of them this was already the third child.
One of the actress’s latest works, strangely unlike her previous films, is the social melodrama “Motherhood,” released in 2009. The film turned out to be a forced, completely false and unsuccessful comedy. In 2010, Uma Thurman starred as Medusa the Gorgon in the film “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” by one of the best Hollywood directors, Chris Columbus, author of the brilliant comedy “Home Alone.” The 2010 melodrama “The Wedding,” filmed by the young director Max Winkler, became Uma Thurman’s next work.
The actress has plans for half a dozen films, including the third part of the epic “Kill Bill” by her favorite director Quentin Tarantino.
Uma, like many Hollywood stars, is involved in charity work and is a member of the Place on Earth organization, which supports American orphans. To this day, Uma, along with Goldie Hawn and Richard Gere, sponsors monks in Tibet.
Rosalind Arusha Arkadin Altalun Florence Thurman-Busson
Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson
After two failures, Uma began relationships with show business stars. The actress began an affair with Swiss financier Arpad Busson. For seven years they got together and parted, twice Busson asked Uma for her hand in marriage, twice she broke off the engagement without ever marrying him. Nevertheless, Uma gave birth to her third child, a girl with the charming name Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalun, Florence Thurman-Busson, from him.
This relationship ended in 2014. After this, Thurman did not make official statements about the novels. During the interview, the actress says that she spends a lot of time doing yoga, loves her dogs, and spends long evenings knitting “ugly” things. The actress admits that she considers knitting a good exercise for the brain, but she has never been able to knit something worthwhile.
Uma Thurman: actress after plastic surgery
At the beginning of 2020, Uma Thurman once again surprised her fans, though not with a new role, but with a new face. At the presentation of the new mini-series in New York, the 44-year-old actress attracted the attention of those around her with some changes in her appearance, which, according to most, not only deprived her of the individuality inherent exclusively to Uma Thurman, but was also unlikely to benefit her.
It turns out that Uma Thurman is an actress for whom plastic surgery at a certain period in her life became the only way to improve her appearance? Apparently, this is actually the case, but, most likely, the actress became a victim of incompetent plastic surgeons, although she herself claims that she simply gave up decorative cosmetics.
Scandal
Dear Friend (2012)
A very small role will bring success and incredible emotions. By the age of 15, the dreamy girl will understand that she wants to do only this, drop out of school and come to her parents to present them with a fact: she is leaving for New York to become an actress.
Suspecting that her parents might be against it, Uma decided that the best way to defend herself was to attack. Arriving home, she made a terrible scandal there, breaking dishes and even smashing an antique mirror, trying to prove that she had found her calling and was no longer going to study other than acting.
However, the Buddhist family accepted their daughter's decision with humility. Dad handed Uma three hundred dollars and a book about samurai, mom packed sandwiches for the road. And the future star went to an unknown, but terribly interesting new magical world.
