Madeleine Stowe

Madeleine Stowe (born August 18, 1958) is a widely acclaimed American actress. Her career began with television appearances before landing a pivotal role in the 1987 crime-comedy film Stakeout. She subsequently starred in notable films such as Revenge (1990), The Last of the Mohicans (1992), 12 Monkeys (1995), and We Were Soldiers (2002). For her performance in the 1993 independent film Short Cuts, she received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. From 2011 to 2015, Stowe was the main antagonist, Victoria Grayson, in the ABC drama series Revenge, earning her a nomination for the 2012 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.

In her early life, Stowe was the oldest of three children, born and raised in Los Angeles. Her father was a civil engineer from Oregon and her mother was from a prominent Costa Rican family. Stowe originally aspired to become a concert pianist, dedicating significant time to piano lessons. However, her focus shifted following the death of her Russian-born music teacher, Sergei Tarnowsky. Her acting career began at a Beverly Hills theater, which led to appearances on TV and films. Despite a break in her acting career to focus on family, Stowe returned with films like The Proposition, Playing by Heart, and The General's Daughter. The 2000s saw her screen appearances lessen as she concentrated on motherhood, eventually returning in 2011 with her acclaimed role in Revenge.