--- name: "Melanie Griffith" canonical: "https://film.one/person/melanie-griffith" fi1m_id: "melanie-griffith" imdb_id: "nm0000429" tmdb_id: 29369 wikidata_id: "Q176455" roles: ["Actor"] born: "9 August 1957" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 71 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-10-04T22:54:57.362011+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." --- # Melanie Griffith ## Identity Melanie Griffith - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/melanie-griffith - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** melanie-griffith - **IMDb ID:** nm0000429 - **TMDB ID:** 29369 - **Wikidata ID:** Q176455 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Griffith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176455, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000429/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29369 Actor. Born 9 August 1957 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 9 August 1957, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA - **Active:** 1986–2017 - **Also known as:** Melanie Richards Griffith - **Golden Globes:** 2 Golden Globes (2 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (2), 1990s 47 (1), 2010s 74 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 69 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 3 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Romance 3, Crime 1, Thriller 1, War 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $185m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Griffith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176455, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000429/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/29369 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*Something Wild*](https://film.one/film/something-wild.md) (82) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Melanie Griffith > Melanie Griffith makes sexual confidence look easy and male embarrassment funny. We like her best when a film lets her be more than the woman causing trouble, as Jonathan Demme’s *Something Wild* does. In *Something Wild* (1986), Melanie Griffith’s Audrey Hankel is comfortable with the attraction that leaves Jeff Daniels’s Charles Driggs wondering how much to show. Her ease gives his hesitation its comic rhythm, without making him look foolish for wanting her. We laughed at his attempts to seem relaxed beside her, then felt unexpectedly fond of him, because Daniels makes the embarrassment small enough to recognise. Griffith helps by never needing to force the contrast between them. The early parts included *Night Moves* (1975), followed by greater attention with *Body Double* (1984). *Something Wild* gave her recklessness and comic timing room to develop, before *Working Girl* (1988) brought her mainstream breakthrough as ambitious secretary Tess McGill. The vulnerability she brings to that part matters as much as the confidence: it makes a woman intent on getting ahead easier to care about. Demme is the crucial collaborator here, because he stays interested in Audrey after establishing what she does to Charles. Ray Liotta’s threatening Ray Sinclair draws sharper reactions from both leads without taking the film away from them. Griffith keeps Audrey from becoming simply the woman who gives Charles permission to enjoy himself; she holds our attention in her own right. The weakness is the script’s retreat towards familiar trouble, leaving Griffith and Daniels doing more interesting work than the plot. The limits become clearer in the later work: Griffith’s accents and vocal delivery drew criticism in *Shining Through* (1992) and *A Stranger Among Us* (1992). Her distinctive, girlish voice is not equally persuasive in every part, and a delivery that sounds worked at can make a character harder to believe. Later supporting work includes Charlotte Haze in Adrian Lyne’s *Lolita* (1997). Start with *Something Wild*, and allow for the plot becoming more predictable than either of its leads. ## Biography Melanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She was born on 9 August 1957 in Manhattan, New York City, to actress Tippi Hedren and advertising executive Peter Griffith. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional School at the age of 16 and made her feature film debut in Night Moves (1975). Griffith rose to prominence with her performance in Body Double (1984). She played Audrey Hankel in Something Wild (1986) and Tess McGill in Working Girl (1988), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Her other credits include Buffalo Girls (1995), RKO 281 (1999), Lolita (1997) and The Disaster Artist (2017). She has received additional Golden Globe nominations and a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, themoviedb.org.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *The Disaster Artist* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Jean Shelton — [page](https://film.one/film/the-disaster-artist.md) - *Shining Through* (1992), Fi1m 47, as Linda Voss — [page](https://film.one/film/shining-through.md) - *Working Girl* (1988), Fi1m 80, as Tess McGill — [page](https://film.one/film/working-girl.md) - *Something Wild* (1986), Fi1m 82, as Audrey Hankel — [page](https://film.one/film/something-wild.md) ## Complete filmography (84) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *By Design* (2026), as Narrator (voice) - *The High Note* (2020), as Tess - *Howard* (2018), as Karen (archive footage) - *The Pirates of Somalia* (2017), as Maria Bahadur - *The Disaster Artist* (2017), as Jean Shelton — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-disaster-artist.md) - *J.L. Family Ranch* (2016), as Laura Lee - *Day Out of Days* (2015), as Kathy - *Back to the Jurassic* (2015), as Tyra - *Nerd Herd* (2015), as Celeste - *Automata* (2014), as Dr. Susan Dupré / Cleo (voice) - *Yellow* (2014), as Patsy - *Thirst* (2014), as Sue - *The Grief Tourist* (2013), as Betsy - *Call Me Crazy: A Five Film* (2013), as Kristin - *Dino Time* (2012), as Tyra (voice) - *DTLA* (2012), series, as Kimberly - *Raising Hope* (2010), series, as Tamara Collins - *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, as Clara Williams — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md) - *A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures* (2010), as Snow (voice) - *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Melanie Griffith - *Viva Laughlin* (2007), series, as Bunny - *Twins* (2005), series, as Lee Arnold - *Lethal Seduction* (2005), as Miranda Wells - *The Night We Called It a Day* (2003), as Barbara Marx - *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, as Brandie Henry — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md) - *Tempo* (2003), as Sarah - *Shade* (2003), as Eve - *Stuart Little 2* (2002), as Margalo (voice) - *Tart* (2001), as Diane Milford - *The Book That Wrote Itself* (2000), as Melanie Griffith - *Cecil B. Demented* (2000), as Honey Whitlock - *Forever Lulu* (2000), as Lulu Mcafee - *RKO 281* (1999), as Marion Davies - *Crazy in Alabama* (1999), as Lucille Vinson - *Another Day in Paradise* (1998), as Sid - *Celebrity* (1998), as Nicole Oliver - *Shadow of Doubt* (1998), as Kitt Devereux - *Lolita* (1997), as Charlotte Haze - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *Mulholland Falls* (1996), as Katherine Hoover - *Two Much* (1995), as Betty - *Now and Then* (1995), as Teeny - *Buffalo Girls* (1995), as Dora DuFran - *Nobody's Fool* (1994), as Toby Roebuck - *Milk Money* (1994), as V - *Born Yesterday* (1993), as Billie Dawn - *A Stranger Among Us* (1992), as Emily Eden - *Shining Through* (1992), as Linda Voss — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/shining-through.md) - *Paradise* (1991), as Lily Reed - *The Bonfire of the Vanities* (1990), as Maria Ruskin - *Pacific Heights* (1990), as Patty Palmer - *In the Spirit* (1990), as Lureen - *Women and Men: Stories of Seduction* (1990), as Hadley (segment "Hills Like White Elephants") - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Melanie Griffith (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Working Girl* (1988), as Tess McGill — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/working-girl.md) - *Stormy Monday* (1988), as Kate - *The Milagro Beanfield War* (1988), as Flossie Devine - *Cherry 2000* (1987), as Edith 'E.' Johnson - *Something Wild* (1986), as Audrey Hankel — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/something-wild.md) - *Body Double* (1984), as Holly Body - *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Christine von Marburg — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md) - *Fear City* (1984), as Loretta - *Roar* (1981), as Melanie - *Golden Gate* (1981), as Karen - *She's in the Army Now* (1981), as Pvt. Sylvie Knoll - *The Star Maker* (1981), as Dawn Barnett Youngblood - *Underground Aces* (1981), as Lucy - *The Cheryl Ladd Special* (1979), as Ellie - Waitress - *Steel Cowboy* (1978), as Johnnie - *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor - *Daddy, I Don't Like It Like This* (1978), as Girl in Hotel Room - *Carter Country* (1977), series, Actor - *One on One* (1977), as The Hitchhiker - *Joyride* (1977), as Susie - *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, Actor - *The Garden* (1977), as Young Girl - *Once an Eagle* (1976), series, as Jinny Massengale - *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), series, as Julie - *The Drowning Pool* (1975), as Schuyler - *Smile* (1975), as Karen - *Night Moves* (1975), as Delilah "Delly" Grastner - *The Harrad Experiment* (1973), as Student (uncredited) - *Smith!* (1969), as Extra (uncredited) - *American Housewife*, series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Melanie Griffith](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-94be3324fd98.jpg) Melanie Griffith — Pamela Price, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Melanie_Griffith_2016_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Antonio Banderas y Melanie Griffith en 2010.](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-3b8cd644bd65.jpg) Antonio Banderas y Melanie Griffith en 2010. — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Antonio_Banderas-Melanie_Griffith-2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith at the Shrek Forever After premiere at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-836c6b4a6ef2.jpg) Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith at the Shrek Forever After premiere at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Antonio_Banderas_and_Melanie_Griffith%2C_2010_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Antonio_Banderas_and_Melanie_Griffith%2C_2010_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson at the APLA benefit, 9/7/90 (revised) (1990)](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-8aa8e1d798ce.jpg) Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson at the APLA benefit, 9/7/90 (revised) (1990) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Don_Johnson_%26_Melanie_Griffith.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Melanie Griffith](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-89052261a521.jpg) Melanie Griffith — Image via TMDB - ![Melanie Griffith](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-c383c69a881c.jpg) Melanie Griffith — Image via TMDB - ![Melanie Griffith](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-bd438f3441ca.jpg) Melanie Griffith — Image via TMDB - ![Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith on the red carpet at the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post but pleas](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-d694b30a89ae.jpg) Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith on the red carpet at the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post but pleas — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Don_Johnson_%26_Melanie_Griffith_%28252960392%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![61st Annual Academy Awards, 1989. NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you ](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-597587f88d4c.jpg) 61st Annual Academy Awards, 1989. NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Don_Johnson_and_Melanie_Griffith_%282084573498%29.jpg/1280px-Don_Johnson_and_Melanie_Griffith_%282084573498%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Melanie Griffith](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-1ebbf0790339.jpg) Melanie Griffith — Image via TMDB - ![Melanie Griffith](https://film.one/media/person/118796/gallery-c77d16176492.jpg) Melanie Griffith — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1989: Best Actress (nominated), for *Working Girl* ### Golden Globes — 2 won - 1988: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (won), for *Working Girl* - 1975: Golden Globe Ambassador (won) ### Other awards — 3 won, 1 nominated - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1996: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (won), for *Mulholland Falls* - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1992: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (won), for *A Stranger Among Us* - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1991: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (nominated), for *The Bonfire of the Vanities* - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress 1984: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Body Double* *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/melanie-griffith