Julia Ormond

English actress Julia Ormond rose to fame in the mid-90s after appearances in Legends of the Fall and Sabrina. She has recently reemerged, however, with a slew of projects slated for 2008.

Julia Karin Ormond was born January 4, 1965 in Epsom, Surrey, England. Her mother was Josephine Ormond, a lab technician, while her father, John Ormond, was a software designer. Ormond was born into a privileged but troubled family. Her father was a millionaire by his thirtieth birthday, but he left the family when she was still very young.

She began her schooling at Guildford High School and completed her high school studies at the private Cranleigh School. Knowing she wanted to act, she pursued her secondary education at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. She completed her training in 1988.

Ormond, like many actors before her, began her career primarily onstage. She appeared in everything from The Rehearsal to Wuthering Heights. For her work on Faith, Hope and Charity, Ormond took home the London Drama Critics’ Award for Best Newcomer. She also secured a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her turn in My Zinc Bed by David Hare.

Making the jump to television, Ormond made her onscreen debut in the 1989 mini-series Traffik. Her role was small, but the production was well-received, and Ormond took her next job with a one-episode appearance on the television series Ruth Rendell Mysteries.

It was 1991, however, that launched Ormond into the public eye. She portrayed the lead role in Young Catherine opposite acting greats Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Plummer. For her work, Ormond earned a Gemini Award nomination.

Keeping within the historical genre, Ormond next took a lead in 1992’s Stalin with Robert Duvall portraying the title character.

But her real introduction to a wide audience came in the 1994 romantic drama Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, and Karina Lombard. Riding on the film’s success, Ormond had back to back hits with First Knight opposite Sean Connery and Richard Gere and the remake Sabrina with Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear.

Veering away from Hollywood blockbusters, Ormond next took the lead in the more independent Smilla’s Sense of Snow. Her costars included Jim Broadbent, Tom Wilkinson, and Richard Harris. Her next critical success came in 2001 with Varian’s War opposite William Hurt. For her role, Ormond took home a Satellite Award.

She never hurt for work, but Ormond’s career slowed considerably after this. It wasn’t until the thriller I Know Who Killed Me with Neal McDonough and Lindsay Lohan that she reclaimed some of her previous attention.

Proving in demand once again, Ormond has five works in various stages of completion, all of which are due for a 2008 release.

In her personal life, Ormond was married to fellow actor Rory Edwards from April 1989 to 1994. After the divorce, Ormond was linked to Gabriel Byrne.

She remarried, however, in 1999 to Jon Rubin. They have one child and are still currently together.