Calista Flockhart
Calista Kay Flockhart (born November 11, 1964) is an Emmy Award-nominated, as well as Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild Award- and Theatre World Award- winning American actress, primarily on television. She is best known for playing the title character of Ally McBeal (1997–2002). She now plays Sally Field’s feuding daughter, Kitty Walker, on the ABC drama, Brothers & Sisters.
Biography
Early life
Flockhart was born in Freeport, Illinois, the daughter of Kay, a teacher of English, and Ronald Flockhart, an executive for Kraft Foods. Flockhart has Greek, English, Irish and Italian ethnicity. She has one older brother, Gary. Her mother reversed her own first and middle names in naming her Calista Kay. (The name Calista comes from Greek kallista, meaning “most beautiful.”) Because her father’s job required the family to move often, Flockhart was raised with her brother in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Norwich, New York, and New Jersey. As a child, she wrote a play called Toyland in which she performed to a small audience at a dinner party.
Flockhart attended Shawnee High School in Medford Township, New Jersey. Following her graduation in 1983, Flockhart attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While there, she attended a specialized and competitive class, lasting from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In her sophomore year at Rutgers, Flockhart met aspiring actress Jane Krakowski, the best friend of her roommate. Later they would both work together on Ally McBeal.
Flockhart’s acting ability was recognized when William Esper (Mason Gross’ theatre director and Flockhart’s acting teacher) made an exception to policy by allowing Flockhart to perform on the main stage. Though this venue is usually reserved for juniors and seniors, Harold Scott insisted that Flockhart perform there in his production of William Inge’s Picnic. Flockhart graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre in 1988 as one of only a few students who successfully completed the course. She was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni on May 3, 2003.
After receiving her degree, Flockhart moved to New York City in 1989 where she remained until 1997, living with three other women in a two-bedroom apartment and working as a waitress and aerobics instructor while she simultaneously sought auditions.
Early career
In spring 1989, Flockhart made her first television appearance in a minor role in an episode of Guiding Light as a babysitter. She made her professional debut on the New York stage, appearing in Beside Herself alongside Melissa Joan Hart at the Circle Repertory Theatre. Two years later, Flockhart appeared in the television movie Darrow. Though she later appeared in films Naked in New York (1993) and Getting In (1994), her first substantial speaking part in a film was in Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford.
Flockhart debuted on Broadway in 1994, as Laura in The Glass Menagerie. Actor Julie Harris felt Flockhart should be hired without further auditions, claiming that she seemed ideal for the part. Flockhart received a Clarence Derwent Award for her performance. In 1995, Flockhart became acquainted with actors such as Dianne Wiest and Faye Dunaway when she appeared in the movie Drunks. Later that year, Flockhart starred in Jane Doe as a drug addict. In 1996, Flockhart appeared as the daughter of Dianne Wiest and Gene Hackman’s characters in The Birdcage. Throughout that year, she continued to work on Broadway, playing the role of Natasha in Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters.
Personal life
Flockhart has been romantically involved with actor Harrison Ford since meeting him at the 2002 Golden Globe Awards after she spilled wine on his award. The pair were dating within a week.When approached to star in the film Indiana Jones 4, Ford requested that Flockhart co-star as his love interest. Though the film producers agreed, Flockhart was not ultimately involved in the project. On January 11, 2001, she adopted a baby boy, born ten days prior, whom she named Liam.
She continues to support charities such as Public Schools Arts, and causes such as breast cancer research. She is the national spokeswoman for Peace Over Violence.
Filmography (selected)
Films
- Frágiles (2005)
The Last Shot (2004)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999)
Telling Lies in America (1997)
Milk & Money (1996)
The Birdcage (1996)
Drunks (1995)
Pictures of Baby Jane Doe (1995)
Quiz Show (1994)
Getting In (1994)
Clear Cut (1994)
Naked in New York (1993)
Television
- Brothers & Sisters (2006-2008)
Ally McBeal (1997-2002)
Bash: Latter-Day Plays (2001)
Saturday Night Live (2000)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (2000)
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
Ally (1999)
The Practice (1998)
Lifestories: Families in Crisis (1992)
Darrow (1991)
The Guiding Light (1952)