Rene Marie Russo, born on February 17, 1954, in Burbank, California, is an acclaimed American actress and former model.
She began her career in the 1970s as a top fashion model, gracing covers of magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan.
Russo made her film debut in Major League and gained prominence with roles in Lethal Weapon 3, Ransom and The Thomas Crown Affair.
After a hiatus, she returned to acting in films like Thor and Nightcrawler, earning critical acclaim.
Siblings
Rene has a total of seven siblings from her father’s side.
She has three half-brothers, namely Jim, Anthony, and David, and one half-sister named January Debra.
Additionally, she has a full sister named Toni Russo.
Russo’s father, Nino Russo, was a sculptor and mechanic who left the family when she was two years old, leading her mother to raise Rene and Toni as single parents.
Career
Russo’s career began in the late 1970s as a successful model, where she quickly rose to prominence and became one of the top models of her time.
Known for her striking features and strong presence, she worked with prestigious fashion houses and graced the covers of major magazines such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan.
After several successful years in modeling, Russo decided to pursue acting.
She made her film debut in Major League, a sports comedy where she played the role of a team owner’s girlfriend.
Russo’s breakthrough came with her role in Lethal Weapon 3, where she starred alongside Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as Lorna Cole, a police officer who becomes romantically involved with Riggs (Gibson).
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This role solidified her status as a leading actress.
In 1996, she starred in Ransom, directed by Ron Howard, playing the wife of a kidnapped child opposite Mel Gibson again.
The film was a commercial success and showcased her dramatic acting skills.
Russo further established herself with her portrayal of Catherine Banning in The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), a stylish remake of the 1968 film.
Her performance as an insurance investigator who becomes romantically involved with a thief was well-received and highlighted her ability to blend charm with intelligence.
After appearing in several successful films during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Russo took a brief hiatus from acting to focus on her family and personal life.
However, she made a notable return to film with Thor, where she played Frigga, the mother of Thor.
In 2014, Russo received widespread acclaim for her performance in Nightcrawler, where she played Nina Romina, a news director who becomes involved with a morally ambiguous videographer portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal.
Russo continues to be active in the industry, reprising her role as Frigga in Thor: Love and Thunder and engaging in various projects that showcase her talent and adaptability.
Awards and accolades
Russo has received significant recognition throughout her career, accumulating 4 wins and 30 nominations for various awards.
Notably, she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2015 for her role in Nightcrawler.
Additionally, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same film.
Russo’s performance in Nightcrawler also earned her accolades from the San Diego Film Critics Society, where she won Best Supporting Actress.
Throughout her career, she has received nominations from prestigious organizations, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and the Razzie Awards.
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