---
name: "Liza Minnelli"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/liza-minnelli"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 March 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 88
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T05:38:01.368312+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."
---

# Liza Minnelli

Actor. Born 12 March 1946 in Hollywood, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 March 1946, Hollywood, California, USA
- **Active:** 1972–2003
- **Also known as:** Liza Minelli
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 88, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 88 (1), 1980s 88 (1), 2000s 87 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 88 to 75 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Music 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $45m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liza_Minnelli, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14441, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591485/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/66776

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Cabaret*](https://film.one/film/cabaret.md) (88)

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

## Fi1m on Liza Minnelli

> Minnelli plays women who want to be looked at, and lets us see what is under the bright surface. On the small club stage of *Cabaret* it is extraordinary; her later films mostly asked for the energy and not the rest.

Sally Bowles sits astride a bentwood chair in a bowler hat and black stockings and sings 'Mein Herr' at a roomful of people who have paid to look at her, and Liza Minnelli does not so much perform the number as insist on it. The movement is angular and unpredictable, the whole body arguing for attention. Off stage, in a shabby fur, she still looks half in costume, which is Charlotte Flemming's doing and also the point. Sally wants to be seen so badly she has stopped seeing anything else, and Minnelli plays her as loud, pushy and a little exhausting, because that is what such a woman is.

The wanting is the through-line. Pookie Adams in *The Sterile Cuckoo* (1969), her first large film part, is a needy, eccentric girl; Sally in *Cabaret* (1972) is the same appetite with better songs; Francine Evans in *New York, New York* (1977) and Linda Marolla in *Arthur* (1981) both decide to be cheerful and then dare the world to argue. She has said she considers herself an actress first, a dancer second and a singer third, and the films bear that out more than the legend does. What she acts, every time, is the gap between the bright face and whatever is behind it. The television special *Liza with a Z* (1972), made with Bob Fosse the same year as *Cabaret*, is where the look was fixed: the pixie cut, the eyelashes, the slouchy clothes cut to move in.

Fosse is the director who got the best of it. He keeps the numbers on a tiny club stage and will not let the film open out, so her size has walls to hit, and David Bretherton cuts 'Maybe This Time' against Sally and Brian in the boarding house so that a song becomes a scene. It moved us more than we expected. Her face at the end of the last note has given up before the applause starts, and that small collapse tells you more about Sally than any of the dialogue does. John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote her the songs, on stage and on screen, for a big alto that fills a room without help.

The usual charge against her films is that she is manic and everything is built towards the finale, and *New York, New York* is where it is most often laid. Scorsese directed her twice, and both times the films wanted her voltage. Few directors seem to have wanted her quiet, and it is fair to wonder whether the sequins got in the way. Later work is guest turns, *Arrested Development* among them, and a great deal of concert stage. Start with *Cabaret*, and watch the chair number twice, once for the legs and once for the eyes, which are doing something quite different.

## Biography

Liza Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She was born on 12 March 1946 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actress and singer Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli.

She began her stage career with an Off-Broadway appearance in the 1963 revival of *Best Foot Forward* and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in *Flora the Red Menace* (1965). Minnelli received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in *Cabaret* (1972).

Her other film roles include *The Sterile Cuckoo* (1969), *New York, New York* (1977) and *Arthur* (1981).

*Sources: biography.com, britannica.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Arrested Development* (2003), Fi1m 87, as Lucille Austero — [page](https://film.one/tv/arrested-development.md)
- *The King of Comedy* (1982), Fi1m 88, as Liza Minnelli — [page](https://film.one/film/the-king-of-comedy.md)
- *Cabaret* (1972), Fi1m 88, as Sally Bowles — [page](https://film.one/film/cabaret.md)

## Complete filmography (33)

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

- *Smash* (2012), series, as Liza Minnelli
- *Drop Dead Diva* (2009), series, as Lily Wells
- *Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's* (2009), as (archive footage)
- *Rosie Live* (2008), series, Actor
- *The Oh in Ohio* (2006), as Alyssa Donahue
- *Arrested Development* (2003), series, as Lucille Austero — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/arrested-development.md)
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Beth Harner
- *Jackie's Back!* (1999), as Liza Minnelli
- *Kokkino Veloudo* (1996), series, as Guest
- *The West Side Waltz* (1995), as Cara Varnum
- *Parallel Lives* (1994), as Stevie Merrill
- *Stepping Out* (1991), as Mavis Turner
- *Liza Minnelli: Visible Results* (1990), Actor
- *Arthur 2: On the Rocks* (1988), as Linda Marolla Bach
- *Sam Found Out: A Triple Play* (1988), as Three Characters
- *Rent-a-Cop* (1987), as Della Roberts
- *A Time to Live* (1985), as Mary-Lou Weisman
- *Salute to Lady Liberty* (1984), Actor
- *The Princess and the Pea* (1984), as Princess Alecia
- *The King of Comedy* (1982), as Liza Minnelli — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-king-of-comedy.md)
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Princess  Alecia
- *Arthur* (1981), as Linda Marolla
- *New York, New York* (1977), as Francine Evans
- *A Matter of Time* (1976), as Nina
- *Silent Movie* (1976), as Liza Minnelli
- *Lucky Lady* (1975), as Claire
- *Journey Back to Oz* (1972), as Dorothy (voice)
- *Cabaret* (1972), as Sally Bowles — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/cabaret.md)
- *Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon* (1970), as Junie Moon
- *The Sterile Cuckoo* (1969), as Pookie Adams
- *Charlie Bubbles* (1968), as Eliza
- *The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood* (1965), as Little Red Riding Hood
- *In the Good Old Summertime* (1949), as Veronica and Andrew's Daughter (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-7a71207fd882.jpg) Liza Minnelli — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/LIZA_MINELLI_1997.jpg/1280px-LIZA_MINELLI_1997.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Wash. D.C. 1999 (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-2cc0e8e983ab.jpg) Wash. D.C. 1999 (2018) — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel  Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Liza_Minnelli_wave.jpg/1280px-Liza_Minnelli_wave.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Liza_Minnelli honored in Gray Line New York’s "Ride of Fame" in March 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-c7eb859a7807.jpg) Liza_Minnelli honored in Gray Line New York’s "Ride of Fame" in March 2011. — Joella Marano at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellasportfolio/, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Liza_Minnelli_2011.jpg/1280px-Liza_Minnelli_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Liza Minnelli judges a pet contest in the West VillageLiza Minnelli with Dog (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-58bf1a3d98d2.jpg) Liza Minnelli judges a pet contest in the West VillageLiza Minnelli with Dog (2006) — Boss Tweed, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Liza_Minnelli_2006.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-77e48a37fe13.jpg) Liza Minnelli — Image via TMDB
- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-6e6d12a24a62.jpg) Liza Minnelli — Image via TMDB
- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-721d8d0ecfbf.jpg) Liza Minnelli — Image via TMDB
- ![Minnelli on Arthur Ashe Court (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-f236a441e220.jpg) Minnelli on Arthur Ashe Court (2007) — Boss Tweed, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Liza_Minnelli_at_the_2007_US_Open.jpg/1280px-Liza_Minnelli_at_the_2007_US_Open.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Legend and New York Icon, Liza Minnelli, Honored in Gray Line New York’s "Ride of Fame" March 8, 2011](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-ca88d6bb97e6.jpg) Legend and New York Icon, Liza Minnelli, Honored in Gray Line New York’s "Ride of Fame" March 8, 2011 — Joella Marano from Manhattan, NY, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Liza_Minnelli_%40_Legend_and_New_York_Icon%2C_Liza_Minnelli%2C_Honored_in_Gray_Line_New_York%E2%80%99s_%22Ride_of_Fame%22.jpg/1280px-Liza_Minnelli_%40_Legend_and_New_York_Icon%2C_Liza_Minnelli%2C_Honored_in_Gray_Line_New_York%E2%80%99s_%22Ride_of_Fame%22.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-a1ab6acf4632.jpg) Liza Minnelli — Image via TMDB
- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-109fbc8b268e.jpg) Liza Minnelli — Image via TMDB
- ![Liza Minnelli](https://film.one/media/person/305081/gallery-acc651b00a0c.jpg) Liza Minnelli — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 1973: Best Actress (won), for *Cabaret*
- 1970: Best Actress (nominated), for *The Sterile Cuckoo*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1973: Golden Globe Awards (won)

### Other awards — 7 won, 1 nominated

- GLAAD Vanguard Award 2005: GLAAD Vanguard Award (won)
- Grammy Legend Award 1990: Grammy Legend Award (won)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1989: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (won), for *Rent-a-Cop*
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1984: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1978: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won)
- Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year 1973: Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1965: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won)
- Theatre World Award 1963: 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/liza-minnelli