Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals Introduction

Beals was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Jeanne, an elementary school teacher, and Alfred Beals, who owned a grocery store. Her father was African-American and her mother was Irish American. She has two brothers, Bobby and Gregory. Her father died when Beals was ten years old and her mother re-married to Edward Cohen. She graduated from the Francis W. Parker School and Yale University, receiving a B.A. in American Literature, 1986.

Jennifer Beals Career

Beals had a minor role in the 1980 film My Bodyguard (1980), and came to fame with her starring part in Flashdance (1983). After the release of the film, it was revealed that many of the dance scenes in the movie were actually performed by double Marine Jahan.

Beals stars in Showtime Network's "The L Word," where she plays Bette Porter, an Ivy League educated lesbian. Beals has always avoided nude scenes during her career. Ironically, even though she has done countless lesbian love scenes during her tenure on "The L Word," she is the only regular cast member to refuse to appear nude in them.