Mind of her own
By Louis B. Hobson
Calgary Sun
March 5, 2002
Jennifer Connelly shines in spotlight opposite Crowe
HOLLYWOOD - Having a special man in her life has changed Jennifer Connelly's world.
"I'm no longer as shy as I used to be. I have to be more gregarious for him," says Connelly, referring to her four-year-old son Kai.
"I'm part of the Greenwich Village mom's society. I love him so very much and feel so very protective of him. "Since having Kai, I've taken stock of who I am. I understand myself more and like myself more."
Connelly did not marry Kai's father, photographer David Dugan and has been dating actor Josh Charles, who she will only refer to as a friend.
"I don't live with Kai's father but we raise him together. I haven't watched any of my movies with Kai, but David recently showed him Labyrinth when they spent a weekend together."
Connelly, 31, has made 20 films since her debut in 1984 in Sergio Leone's epic historical drama Once Upon a Time in America.
Connelly made a series of forgettable exploitation films, including Seven Minutes in Heaven, Some Girls and Hot Spot before being featured opposite Bill Campbell in The Rocketeer in 1991.
She and Campbell dated during and after filming.
Connelly says she hasn't spoken to her former flame for "quite a while but I'm so happy he's doing so well on (the TV series) Once & Again."
In 2000, Connelly appeared in Waking the Dead with Billy Crudup, Requiem for a Dream with Ellen Burstyn and Pollock with Ed Harris.
Particularly harrowing was the filming of Requiem in which Connelly plays a drug addict who turns to prostitution to pay for her fixes. "For me, it proved emotionally draining to go to those places. It was a lot to carry for five weeks of filming, so immediately after we wrapped Requiem, I went to Costa Rica with my best friend just to cleanse my mind."
No sooner had Connelly returned from her vacation than she got a call to audition for A Beautiful Mind.
Connelly plays Alicia Nash, the young physics student who married her mathematics professor John Forbes Nash Jr., only to discover he was a paranoid schizophrenic.
Connelly admits she was more than a little intimidated at having to audition with Russell Crowe, who had casting approval on this Ron Howard film.
"Russell has a reputation for being an intense actor. Ron insisted we read all the really emotional scenes for the film and Russell got so into his character he had me weeping into masses of Kleenex.
"Ron let me know that same day I had the role."
Connelly has been nominated for a best supporting actress Golden Globe, received that honour from the American Film Institute and is considered a frontrunner for an Oscar nomination.
"I can't imagine who wouldn't be flattered by an Oscar nomination ... I feel I got the prize just getting the role."
A Beautiful Mind is based on a true story. Much has been made over Connelly's resemblance to the real Alicia.
"I met Alicia. She's from El Salvador. She didn't remark on any resemblance, but then again she really just wanted to know as much as possible about Russell.
"That's basically what every woman I've met recently wants to know."
Connelly will next star in The Incredible Hulk for director Ang Lee.