---
name: "Jessica Lange"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jessica-lange"
fi1m_id: "jessica-lange"
imdb_id: "nm0001448"
tmdb_id: 4431
wikidata_id: "Q173585"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 April 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T21:35:05.071749+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jessica Lange

## Identity

Jessica Lange

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jessica-lange
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jessica-lange
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001448
- **TMDB ID:** 4431
- **Wikidata ID:** Q173585
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Lange, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173585, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001448/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4431

Actor. Born 20 April 1949 in Cloquet, Minnesota, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 April 1949, Cloquet, Minnesota, USA
- **Active:** 1979–2003
- **Also known as:** Jessica Phyllis Lange
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 4 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 84 (1), 1980s 85 (1), 1990s 71 (1), 2000s 78 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 68 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $521m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Lange, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173585, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001448/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4431

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Tootsie*](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md) (85), [*Big Fish*](https://film.one/film/big-fish.md) (78), [*Cape Fear*](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1991.md) (71)
- **Tubi:** [*All That Jazz*](https://film.one/film/all-that-jazz.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Jessica Lange

> Jessica Lange can make a supporting character’s feelings matter without asking the film to stop and admire her. We value the warmth and comic judgement as much as the intensity for which she is known.

In *Tootsie* (1982), Jessica Lange gives Julie Nichols feelings we have to take seriously, even with Dustin Hoffman busy at the centre of the farce. She keeps the tenderness clear without losing the comedy’s rhythm. We were moved by Julie because Lange makes her feelings credible in a story built around a disguise. It is a performance worth remembering whenever her reputation for emotional intensity threatens to obscure everything else she does.

Her breakthrough paired *Frances* (1982) with *Tootsie*, after a debut in *King Kong* (1976) that drew dismissive notices. The two 1982 roles helped establish both the intensity and the lighter touch. *Blue Sky* (1994) drew on her ability to suggest turmoil through small physical details. Later, *American Horror Story* (2011) renewed her profile through several different roles.

Sydney Pollack’s ensemble in *Tootsie* helps explain why the gentler work succeeds. Editors Fredric Steinkamp and William Steinkamp leave room for Lange and Teri Garr to register alongside Hoffman, keeping the exchanges quick without hurrying past the responses. Dave Grusin’s music sometimes encourages tenderness that Lange has already supplied. The screenplay is less generous, giving a man too much authority to explain women’s experiences. Lange and Garr make us wish it would listen to their characters more often.

In Tim Burton’s *Big Fish* (2003), her Sandra Bloom brings a comparable warmth to the domestic scenes. The film is too pleased with its whimsy, and its family conflict sometimes treats doubt as a defect. Lange does not add to that insistence on being liked. Her presence lets those scenes settle, giving us a reason to stay with the family when the detours become tiresome.

Repeated casting as troubled women risks making audiences expect the same performance. The warmth in *Big Fish* and comic judgement in *Tootsie* are good reasons not to settle for that expectation. Start with *Tootsie*, and give her at least as much attention as the man in the disguise.

## Biography

Jessica Lange is an American actress. Born Jessica Phyllis Lange on 20 April 1949 in Cloquet, Minnesota, she made her professional film debut in the 1976 remake of *King Kong*.

She received Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in *Tootsie* (1982) and Best Actress in *Blue Sky* (1994). Lange is one of the few performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, with two Oscars, three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. Other notable film roles include those in *All That Jazz* (1979), *Cape Fear* (1991), *Rob Roy* (1995) and *Big Fish* (2003).

She has also appeared in the FX anthology series *American Horror Story* (2011–2014).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Big Fish* (2003), Fi1m 78, as Sandra Bloom (senior) — [page](https://film.one/film/big-fish.md)
- *Cape Fear* (1991), Fi1m 71, as Leigh Bowden — [page](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1991.md)
- *Tootsie* (1982), Fi1m 85, as Julie Nichols — [page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md)
- *All That Jazz* (1979), Fi1m 84, as Angelique — [page](https://film.one/film/all-that-jazz.md)

## Complete filmography (51)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Long Day's Journey into Night* (2026), as Mary Tyrone
- *The Great Lillian Hall* (2024), as Lillian Hall · Executive Producer
- *Marlowe* (2023), as Dorothy Quincannon
- *The Politician* (2019), series, as Dusty Jackson
- *FEUD* (2017), series, as Joan Crawford, Lillie Mae Faulk · Producer
- *Wild Oats* (2016), as Maddie
- *Horace and Pete* (2016), series, as Marsha
- *The Gambler* (2014), as Roberta
- *Scorsese's Women* (2014), as Star
- *In Secret* (2014), as Madame Raquin
- *The Vow* (2012), as Rita Thornton
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, as Fiona Goode, Constance Langdon, Sister Jude Martin, Elsa Mars, Constance Langdon / Sister Jude Martin / Fiona Goode / Elsa Mars
- *Grey Gardens* (2009), as Big Edie
- *Sybil* (2007), as Dr. Cornelia Wilbur
- *Bonneville* (2006), as Arvilla Holden
- *Neverwas* (2005), as Katherine Pierson
- *Don't Come Knocking* (2005), as Doreen
- *Broken Flowers* (2005), as Carmen
- *Big Fish* (2003), as Sandra Bloom (senior) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/big-fish.md)
- *Masked and Anonymous* (2003), as Nina Veronica
- *Prozac Nation* (2003), as Mrs. Wurtzel
- *Normal* (2003), as Irma Applewood
- *Titus* (1999), as Tamora
- *Cousin Bette* (1998), as Cousin Bette
- *Hush* (1998), as Martha Baring
- *A Thousand Acres* (1997), as Ginny Cook Smith
- *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1995), as Blanche DuBois
- *Rob Roy* (1995), as Mary MacGregor
- *Losing Isaiah* (1995), as Margaret Lewin
- *Blue Sky* (1994), as Carly Marshall
- *Night and the City* (1992), as Helen Nasseros
- *O Pioneers!* (1992), as Alexandra Bergson
- *Cape Fear* (1991), as Leigh Bowden — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1991.md)
- *Men Don't Leave* (1990), as Beth Macauley
- *Music Box* (1989), as Ann Talbot
- *Far North* (1988), as Kate
- *Everybody's All-American* (1988), as Babs Rogers Grey
- *King Kong Lives* (1986), as Dwan (archive footage)
- *Crimes of the Heart* (1986), as Meg Magrath
- *Sweet Dreams* (1985), as Patsy Cline
- *Country* (1984), as Jewell Ivy · Producer
- *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1984), as Maggie
- *Tootsie* (1982), as Julie Nichols — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/tootsie.md)
- *Frances* (1982), as Frances Farmer
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Maggie Pollitt, Alexandra Bergson
- *The Postman Always Rings Twice* (1981), as Cora Papadakis
- *How to Beat the High Cost of Living* (1980), as Louise
- *All That Jazz* (1979), as Angelique — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/all-that-jazz.md)
- *King Kong* (1976), as Dwan
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Alexandra Bergson
- *The Year of Magical Thinking*, as Joan Didion

## Gallery

- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-9e26ad65aac3.jpg) Jessica Lange — iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Lange_PF_2013.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![1990 Academy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. S](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-db4c1181a5c8.jpg) 1990 Academy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. S — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Jessica_Lange_%282105878187%29.jpg/1280px-Jessica_Lange_%282105878187%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![1990 Academy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. S](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-abc3f1813db5.jpg) 1990 Academy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. S — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Jessica_Lange_%282106639962%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![1990 Academy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. S](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-94e3ce7be3ec.jpg) 1990 Academy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. S — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Jessica_Lange_%282106640732%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-0c374d91162d.jpg) Jessica Lange — Image via TMDB
- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-109d25d75427.jpg) Jessica Lange — Image via TMDB
- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-b7b7132865f1.jpg) Jessica Lange — Image via TMDB
- ![Jessica Lange - 2012](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-357ed91f7822.jpg) Jessica Lange - 2012 — Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Jessica_Lange_2012.jpg/1280px-Jessica_Lange_2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jessica Lange - 2012](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-488d28550bf0.jpg) Jessica Lange - 2012 — Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Jessica_Lange_2012_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Jessica_Lange_2012_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-d626143877b9.jpg) Jessica Lange — Image via TMDB
- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-2423691f1c20.jpg) Jessica Lange — Image via TMDB
- ![Jessica Lange](https://film.one/media/person/98195/gallery-6a301bb0147a.jpg) Jessica Lange — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won, 4 nominated

- 1995: Best Actress (won), for *Blue Sky*
- 1990: Best Actress (nominated), for *Music Box*
- 1986: Best Actress (nominated), for *Sweet Dreams*
- 1985: Best Actress (nominated), for *Country*
- 1983: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Tootsie*
- 1983: Best Actress (nominated), for *Frances*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1976: New Star of the Year – Actress (won), for *King Kong*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 3 won

- 2014: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *American Horror Story: Coven*
- 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *American Horror Story: Murder House*
- 2009: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Grey Gardens*

### Other awards — 5 won

- CineMerit Award 2024: CineMerit Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2016: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (won)
- Lucie Award 2012: Lucie Award (won)
- Crystal Award 2000: Crystal Award (won)
- Theatre World Award 1992: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jessica-lange