Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Rebecca De Mornay
August 29, 1959
Santa Rosa, California, US
67 Years Old
Virgo
Who Is Rebecca De Mornay?
Rebecca De Mornay is an American actress and producer known for her intense performances and striking screen presence. Her roles often blend vulnerability with a compelling, sometimes unsettling, depth.
She broke into the public eye with her star-making role as Lana in the 1983 film Risky Business. Her performance alongside Tom Cruise became instantly iconic, launching her career into Hollywood's mainstream.
Early Life and Education
Born Rebecca Jane Pearch in Santa Rosa, California, De Mornay's early life saw family shifts after her parents' divorce, taking her stepfather's surname. Her mother relocated the family to Europe, shaping a nomadic childhood across various locations.
She attended the independent Summerhill School in England and completed high school in Germany, becoming fluent in German and French. Returning to the US, she honed her acting craft at the Lee Strasberg Institute.
Notable Relationships
Rebecca De Mornay has navigated a string of high-profile romances throughout her career, including relationships with actors Tom Cruise and Harry Dean Stanton. She was also briefly engaged to legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen in the early 1990s.
Her marriage to writer Bruce Wagner lasted from 1986 to 1990. De Mornay later had two daughters, Sophia and Veronica, with sportscaster Patrick O'Neal, with whom she maintained a relationship from 1995 to 2002.
Career Highlights
Rebecca De Mornay's filmography is anchored by impactful roles in several defining movies that showcased her range. She gained critical attention for her performance as Lana in Risky Business and delivered a chilling portrayal as Peyton Flanders in the commercially successful thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.
Beyond acting, De Mornay has also ventured into production, notably serving as an executive producer for Never Talk to Strangers and working on other projects like The Winner. She also directed an episode of The Outer Limits.
She received a Best Actress award at the 1992 Cognac Festival du Film Policier for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Signature Quote
“It was personally jarring, and thrilling and discombobulating to have become famous so quickly.”