Lee Grant

Lee Grant (born Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; October 31, during the mid-1920s) is an acclaimed American actress, documentarian, and director. Her illustrious career kicked off with her film debut in 1951, making a mark as a young shoplifter in William Wyler's 'Detective Story'. This role earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress and the Best Actress Award at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival. Grant's career has been marked by a series of highs and lows, one of the lows being blacklisted during the 1950s. For 12 years, from 1952 onwards, she was largely prevented from finding employment in acting, only occasionally securing work in various domains. From the mid-1960s, Grant rebuilt her acting career, starring in 71 TV episodes of Peyton Place and playing lead roles in films like 'Valley of the Dolls' and 'In the Heat of the Night'.

In addition to her impressive onscreen performances, she won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for 'The Maids' in 1964, bagged two Emmys, and earned an Oscar for her supporting role in 'Shampoo' in 1975. Later, she started focusing on directing. In the mid to late 20th century, she directed numerous documentaries. Among her directorial achievements, the highlight has been her 'Down and Out in America' documentary that tied for the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1987. Even as she approaches her centenary, Lee Grant remains active and celebrated in Hollywood, continuing to be an inspiration for many.