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_.