In the glimmering world of Hollywood, stars rise and fall, often leaving us wondering, “Whatever happened to…?” Today, we’re turning the spotlight back onto a face that once graced our screens with an undeniable charm and talent – Madeline Stowe.
This radiant actress, best known for her roles in films like “The Last of the Mohicans” and “12 Monkeys,” and the hit TV series “Revenge,” has seemingly stepped away from the limelight in recent years.
Join us as we delve into the captivating journey of Stowe, tracing her steps from her heyday in Hollywood to her life today. We’ll explore her illustrious career, her personal life, and the reasons behind her apparent retreat from the silver screen. So, buckle up and get ready for a nostalgic trip down memory lane as we uncover the story of Madeline Stowe – where she’s been, what she’s been up to, and what the future might hold for this beloved star.
Background
Stowe was born on August 18, 1958, at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, California. She is the oldest of 3 children born to Robert Stowe, a civil engineer from Oregon, and Mireya Mora Steinvorth, of Costa Rica.
Her mother’s Costa Rican family was quite prominent, boasting multiple politicians, including presidents.
Before becoming a Hollywood legend, Stowe was trained as a classical pianist. From age 10-18, she worked alongside her Russian-born music teacher Sergei Tarnowsky who believed strongly in her ability, even teaching her from his deathbed.
However, once he passed away at age 92, Stowe quit playing.Stowe was not interested in taking college classes and instead volunteered to perform at a theater in Beverly Hills.
It was at one of her performances that a movie agent saw her. The agent would help Stowe secure minor roles in television and film productions, including her debut appearance in an episode of the drama series Baretta.
Later, she would appear in The Amazing Spider-Man, Barbary Jones, and Little House on the Prairie.
Stowe played Mary in the television movie The Nativity in 1978 before starring in two NBC miniseries: Beulah Land (1980) and The Gangster Chronicles (1981), where Stowe would meet her future husband, Brain Benben.
Acting Career
Stowe’s early acting career would set the stage for her to rise into Hollywood stardom.
She landed her first breakthrough role in the movie Stakeout (1987) starring Richard Dreyfuss and Emilio Estevez, which debuted at number one at the box office.
Soon after, she played alongside David Carradine in the 1988 film Tropical Snow before co-starring with Mark Harmon in Worth Winning (1988).
In the 1989 thriller Revenge, she starred with Kevin Costner, and later she worked alongside Jack Nicholson in The Two Jakes (1990).
Perhaps one of her most infamous years was 1992, in which she starred with Kurt Russell in Unlawful Entry and with Daniel Day-Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans, which garnered critical acclaim and skyrocketed her to an A-list movie star.
In 1993, Stowe was part of an award-winning cast in the film Short Cuts.
She would win the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, and a Volvo Cup for Best Ensemble Cast for her portrayal of the wife of a lying and adulterous police officer.
Stowe starred in Blink, China Moon, and Bad Girls the following year before receiving a Saturn Awards nomination for her role in 12 Monkeys (1995).
People magazine named Stowe as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1994, and Empire magazine chose her as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" in 1995.
From 2011 to 2015, She played Victoria Grayson on the ABC drama series Revenge, receiving multiple nominations for the role.
What is Madeleine Stowe doing now?
Madeline Stowe has been staying active in the entertainment industry, though taking on more limited roles compared to the peak of her career.
Stowe’s most recent project is a TV series titled “Welcome to Derry,” which is currently in production. It is an upcoming horror television series developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs.
The series serves as a prequel to Muschietti’s films in the “It” series, which are based on Stephen King’s novel “It.” The series is set to take place in the 1960s, before the events of “It: Chapter One,” and will also include the origin story of Pennywise the Clown.
The cast also includes Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar and Stephen Rider. The series is scheduled to be released on the streaming service Max in 2024.
Prior to this, she appeared in the Netflix series “Soundtrack” in 2019, where she played the character Margot Weston. The show, which also starred Paul James, Jenna Dewan, and Callie Hernandez, was a musical drama that followed the love stories connecting an eclectic group of people in Los Angeles.
In 2016, Stowe took on the role of Lillian in the TV series “12 Monkeys.” The show, which is based on the 1995 film of the same name. However, Stowe does not play the same character in the “12 Monkeys” television show as she did in the original 1995 film. In the film, Stowe played the character Dr. Kathryn Railly and in the tv series, she played the character of ‘Lillian.’
In a recent interview, Stowe shared her thoughts on the changing landscape of Hollywood. She noted the shift in movie budgets, with studios now favoring either high-budget films or those under $15 million, leading many actors to transition to television.
She also touched on the #MeToo movement, sharing that she was fortunate to have never experienced a #MeToo moment in the industry.
However, she acknowledged the rampant issues and emphasized the importance of not letting the experiences of actresses overshadow the struggles of everyday women in the workplace.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Stowe took to the internet to publicly announce her support by thanking frontline workers.
She also mentioned how important it is to flatten the curve and thanked individuals for doing their part while navigating the uncertainty of the times.
In 2016, Madeleine Stowe and her husband experienced a terrifying scenario when they met a burglar during a home invasion.
The event took place in the middle of the night. As a result, Stowe was robbed of valuables, including jewelry, worth an estimated $75,000.
The burglar was later captured when police foiled his plan for another home invasion.
Personal Life
Stowe married Brian Benben in 1982. She had met Benben, also an actor, on set when they were both starring in the NBC miniseries The Gangster Chronicles in 1981.
In 1996, they had their daughter May Theodora Benben, prompting Stowe to slow down her Hollywood career.
While never fully stepping away, she did star in a few television shows in the 2000s but focused mainly on raising her daughter.
As of 2022, the family calls Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, their home. However, while raising their daughter, the couple created a home base further from the hustle and bustle of the City of Angels at a ranch west of Austin, Texas.
In addition to her family and career, Stowe spent time in Haiti helping to found the Artists for Peace and Justice organization in 2008 and currently serves on the Board of Directors.
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