Angela Bettis

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Angela Bettis bigraphy, stories - Film

Angela Bettis : biography

January 9, 1973 –

Angela Marie Bettis (born January 9, 1973) is an American film and stage actress, film producer, and director best known for her lead roles in the 2002 TV adaptation of the Stephen King novel Carrie, the title character in May (2002), and in Girl, Interrupted as an anorexic psychiatric patient Janet Webber.

In addition to her work in film, Bettis also starred in two Broadway productions: The Father in 1996 with Frank Langella, and as Abigail Williams in a 1996 production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible alongside Liam Neeson and Laura Linney.

Life and career

Bettis was born in Austin, Texas, to Mary Lynn (née Guthrie) and Richard Joseph Bettis, and graduated from Westlake High School.

Her debut role was a lead in the romantic tragedy, Sparrow, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, at the age of eighteen. After that film she attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She later went on to star in a film called The Last Best Sunday, before supporting Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted and Kim Basinger in Bless the Child.

In 2002, she starred as Abigail Williams in a production of The Crucible on Broadway alongside Laura Linney and Liam Neeson.

Bettis is most famous for her work in independent horror films, and especially her working relationship with writer/director Lucky McKee. Her title role in McKee’s 2002 film May won her something of a cult following. Since then, she has appeared in McKee’s Masters of Horror episode, "Sick Girl", and provided a voice-over for his film The Woods. In 2006, their May roles reversed, when McKee acted for Bettis in her directorial debut, Roman, based on a McKee script. In 2011, she played a major role in McKee’s adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s The Woman.

Bettis starred as Carrie White in Carrie, a made-for-TV remake of Brian De Palma’s 1976 classic, and headlined Tobe Hooper’s Toolbox Murders, an in-name-only remake of an obscure 1970s horror film. She also starred in the crime thriller Scar.

She had a recurring role on the TV show Dexter’s fifth season as Emily Birch, the first victim of Jordan Chase.

Producing

In addition, Bettis has help to produce some films through the small production company Mo-Freek which is owned by Kevin Ford.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Sparrow Maria Storia di una capinera original title
1999 The Last Best Sunday Lolly Ann Summers
1999 Girl, Interrupted Janet Webber
2000 Bless the Child Jenna O’Connor
2001 Perfume Wilemina
2001 Vallen Caitlin
2002 People Are Dead Angela the Broadway actress Producer
2002 May May Dove Canady Cult hitCatalonian International Film Festival for Best ActressSilver Raven on the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy FilmFangoria Chainsaw Award for Best ActressMálaga International Week of Fantastic Cinema Award for Best ActressNominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
2002 Coastlines Effie Bender
2003 Hollywould Holly Short film
2004 Toolbox Murders Nell Barrows Nominated — Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress
2004 Love Rome Mary
2005 The Circle Jay
2005 Last Days of America America the Woman Short film
2006 The Woods Voice in the Woods Voice
2006 Roman Elixer Bluff Acting Troup Also director, voice
2007 When Is Tomorrow Rachel Producer
2007 Scar Joan Burrows
2008 Wicked Lake The Mother
2008 Blue Like You Red Short film
2010 Drones Amy
2010 All My Friends Are Funeral Singers Zel
2010 My Alien Mother Mother Producer
2011 The Woman Belle Cleek
2011 Legs Jen Producer
2012 Sinister Fran scenes deleted