Trivia

Well-known in Hollywood for the exhausting research she does for each of her portrayals and for her affinity of playing lurid roles.

Lived side by side with Jack Black and Nicole Kidman during filming Margot at the Wedding (2007), because they wanted to perfect their roles as a dysfunctional family.

Jennifer chose her second middle name "Jason" from that of her and her father's friend, the actor Jason Robards.

The daughter of actor Vic Morrow and actress-screenwriter Barbara Turner, Morrow (nee Morozoff) died during the filming of the movie Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) when he was killed in a helicopter accident. Leigh and her father were estranged at the time of his death and he left her $100 in his will. Leigh is of entirely Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her paternal grandparents, Harry Morozoff and Jean Kress, were emigrants from Russia. Her maternal grandfather, Alexander Turner, was an emigrant from Austria, and her maternal grandmother, Pearl Pauline Zises, was born in New York, to Austrian-born parents.

After reading the script for the movie Backdraft (1991), Jennifer reportedly told its director, Ron Howard, that she wished that she could be the fire because it has the best part.

Counts Dog Day Afternoon (1975) as the very first movie to emotionally impact her. Though only 13-years-old when it was released, she managed to see it numerous times.

Has become somewhat famous for having turned down many roles in some popular movies. She also turned down a recurring role on the TV show Lost (2004), which was eventually played by Cynthia Watros and the role of Bree on the TV series Desperate Housewives (2004), which was eventually played by Marcia Cross.

She won the role in The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) over Winona Ryder and Bridget Fonda.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 48, a son Rohmer Emmanuel Baumbach on March 17, 2010. Child's father is her now ex-husband, Noah Baumbach.

Had a small part as Marion in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). However, when its director Stanley Kubrick asked Jennifer to do some re-shoots, she was not available to do that. Her entire part was reshot by Marie Richardson.

The song "Jennifer Jason Leigh" by the punk band J Church has lyrics made up from interview quotes.

Jennifer lost weight down to 86 pounds for her role as an anorexic teenager in the TV-movie The Best Little Girl in the World (1981).

Jennifer lived with Eric Stoltz for five years during the '80s. She was considered for the role of Veronica in The Fly (1986). Stolz was the title character in The Fly II (1989).

In 1997, Jennifer appeared in Faith No More's music video "Last Cup of Sorrow". Its plot was derived from Alfred Hitchcock's film Vertigo (1958).

She was one of several actresses considered by Jane Campion for the Holly Hunter role in The Piano (1993), but she was unable to meet with her because she was shooting Rush (1991) at the time.

Won two 1990 Critic Society awards for her portrayal of Tralala in Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), and as Susan Waggoner in Miami Blues (1990).

Frequently worked with maverick director Robert Altman who, before his maverick days, worked with her father, Vic Morrow, on the sixties television series Combat! (1962).

Dario Argento offered her the female lead in his film The Stendhal Syndrome (1996), but she turned it down. It was eventually played by his daughter Asia Argento.

Auditioned for the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992).

She has received three separate career tributes - at the Telluride Film Festival in 1993, a special award for her contribution to independent cinema from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2002, and a week-long retrospective showing of her film work held by the American Cinematheque at Los Angeles' Egyptian Theatre in June 2001.

Reportedly auditioned for the role of Violet in Pretty Baby (1978), but the part went to Brooke Shields instead.

She won the role in Washington Square (1997) over Meg Ryan and Anne Heche.

Auditioned for the Nicole Kidman role in To Die For (1995).

Jennifer attended the strict Stagedoor Manor summer camp in upstate New York which trains teenagers in acting, singing, and dancing. Her classmates include actor Zach Braff from NBC's Scrubs (2001), writer-director Todd Graff, and actress-singer Mandy Moore.

She has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).

Jennifer has acted with three of the four acting Baldwin brother in five different movies: Miami Blues (1990) and Lymelife (2005) with Alec Baldwin; Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) with Stephen Baldwin; and Backdraft (1991) with William Baldwin.

Announced that she had filed for divorce from husband Noah Baumbach, citing irreconcilable differences, and is seeking spousal support and primary custody of their son Rohmer (24 November 2010).

Member of the jury at the "Venice Film Festival" in the year 2000.

She signed on for the film Spread (2009) but later backed out, and was replaced by Anne Heche.

Selected as one of "America's 10 Most Beautiful Women" by Harper's Bazaar Magazine, 1989.

Allegedly auditioned for the role of Sarah Connor in The Terminator (1984) but director James Cameron considered her too young for the part. Linda Hamilton ended up playing the part. In Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) she played a character with a last name of Hamilton.

Has an older sister, Carrie Ann Morrow, and a younger half-sister, actress Mina Badie. Her ex-stepfather is director Reza Badiyi.

Returned to work five months after giving birth to her son Rohmer in order to film her guest appearance on Weeds (2005).

Jennifer Jason Leigh didn't get pregnant till age 47 and gave birth at 48.

Ex-daughter-in-law of Jonathan Baumbach.

Born at 12:33pm-PST.