Movie(s): "A Midsummer Night's Dream"; "The Birdcage"; "Drunks"; "Getting In"; "Jane Doe"; "Milk and Money"; "Naked in New York"; "Quiz Show"; "Telling Lies in America"
Broadway Productions: "The Glass Menagerie"; "Three Sisters"
Off-Broadway Productions: "All For One"; "Beside Herself"; "Bovver Boys"; "Sons and Fathers"; "Sophistry"
Television Roles: "Ally McBeal"; "Darrow"; "Guiding Light"; "Lifestories, Families in Crisis: The Secret Life of Mary Margaret: Portrait of a Bulimic"
Breif History: Calista Flockhart was born in the town of Freeport, Illinois on November 11, 1965. Her father, Ronald, who worked for Kraft Foods, Inc., continued to climb the "corporate ladder", which resulted in constant moves. The Flockharts have lived in Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey. As a child, Flockhart was teased about her "unique" name. They'd ask her if her name came from an Indian Tribe, and Flockhart would begin to change her name to more "normal" names, such as Carol.
Trying to make the best of her frequent moves, Flockhart joined many extra-curricular activities. While in upstae New York, she took up the flute in the junior-high-school band. When the Flockharts moved to New Jersey, she took up cheerleading. "I was very passionate," Flockhart said, "When our team would lose, I would cry." Flockhart also was an active member in the drama club, as well as the Student Council at Shawnee High.
In 1989, Flockhart graduated with a bachelors degree in fine arts, at Rutgers University. Flockhart took odd jobs after this time, such as aerobics teaching, and waitressing. That same year, she made her big debut in New York at the Circle Repertory Theater in Beside Herself. Flockhart also performed in The Glass Menagarie, Sophistry, Three Sisters and All For One.
In 1992, Flockhart had a stunning performance in the HBO series "Life Stories, Families in Crisis", appearing in The Secret Life of Mary-Margaret: Portrait of a Bulimic. She also appeared in such movies as Quiz Show, Getting In, Naked in New York, and Drunks in the following three years.
A small part, that made her more "well-known" as an actress was the role of Gene Hackman and Dianne Weist's eighteen-year-old-bride-to-be daughter in the 1996 comedy film The Birdcage. In 1997, Flockhart appeared along with Brad Renfro and Kevin Bacon in the independent film Telling Lies in America.
Flockhart vowed not to do television roles, as she was loyal to the theater. This philosophy almost led to Flockhart missing the turning point of her career. Ally McBeal Co-Producer Jeffrey Kramer said that, "All along we kept hearing about this Calista Flockhart, a theatrical actress in New York, but we were told that she would just not do television." Encouraged by her friends, Flockhart decided to look-over the part of Ally McBeal, and fell in love with the writing. Flockhart decided to give television a shot, and flew to Los Angeles to audition for the role of Ally McBeal. As Flockhart walked in for the audition, Ally creator David E. Kelley knew at their first meeting that Flockhart was the perfect match for the Ally McBeal character, and was given the role. The first words from her mouth were, "Oh great, now I have to move."
Flockhart spent most of her late 1997 and 1998 years filming for "Ally McBeal", but did take a break to appear at a celebrity event called The Vagina Monologues talking about female abuse, with actresses Winona Ryder, Glenn Close, and others. Flockhart also won a Golden Globe award for her work on Ally McBeal in February, 1998. She was also nominated for best actress in a Comedy Series for the 1998 Screen Actors Guild Awards and People's Choice awards, but lost both.
During the summer of 1998, Flockhart flew to Italy to film her most recent motion picture, A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on the Shakespearean play. Flockhart returned to America that fall, to appear at the Primetime Emmy Awards, where she again lost a nomination for best actress in a comedy series.
After her appearance at the Emmys, rumors began circulating that Flockhart was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Bulimia and Anorexia were the most popular of the phrases, and the gossip has been unrelenting since. Flockhart continuously denies the rumors, stating that she is perfectly healthy and is much healthier than last year (1998). Flockhart has been working out in-between shooting the second series of Ally McBeal, by kickboxing and weight lifting. One of the side-affects to a (mental) disorder such as anorexia is the wasting away of muscles, and by viewing recent photos of Flockhart, it doesn't appear that she having anorexia is in any way a reality.
Flockhart was nominated again for best actress in a comedy series for the 1999 Golden Globes, 1999 SAG Awards, and the TV Guide Awards - and lost all three. Ally McBeal, however, won at the Golden Globes and SAG (Screen Actors Guild) awards for best comedy series.
Currently, Flockhart is wrapping up the second season of Ally McBeal and is awaiting the release of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and her 1996 shelved movie, Jane Doe. Flockhart is still single, and doesn't seem to have an interest in anyone at the moment.
Other Info:
| The Birdcage | Telling Lies In America | Getting In |
| Milk and Money | Quiz Show | Drunks |
