'''Jennifer Beals''' (born December 19, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former teen model and American film actress who is best known for her role as Alexandra "Alex" Owens in the 1983 movie ''
Flashdance'' and as Bette on the lesbian themed drama series ''The L Word
right|thumb|250px|Jennifer Beals in the 1983 movie Flashdance.
Beals was born to an African-American father (who died when she was ten), and an Irish-American mother. Beals is a graduate of Francis W. Parker School and Yale University, receiving a B.A. in American Literature. She has participated in more than fifty movies.
Jennifer was married to Alexandre Rockwell from 1986 to 1996. In 1998, she married Ken Dixon. She and Dixon had a daughter in October 2005, and Dixon has two children from a previous marriage.
Beals is currently starring in Showtime Network's ''
The L Word'', where she plays Bette Porter, an Ivy League educated biracial woman. She will also star in the upcoming horror film The Grudge 2.
Selected filmography
*''Troubled Waters'' (2006) (in production)
*''
The Grudge 2'' (2006) (post-production)
*''Desolation Sound'' (2005)
*''
Catch That Kid'' (2004)
*''
Runaway Jury'' (2003)
*''They Shoot Divas, Don't They?'' (2002) (TV)
*''
Roger Dodger'' (2002)
*''
13 Moons'' (2002)
*''
The Feast of All Saints'' (2001) (TV)
*''After the Storm'' (2001) (TV)
*''
The Anniversary Party'' (2001)
*''Out of Line'' (2001)
*''Militia'' (2000)
*''A House Divided'' (2000) (TV)
*''Fear of Flying'' (2000)
*''Without Malice'' (2000) (TV)
*''
The Last Days of Disco'' (1998)
*''The Spree'' (1998)
*''
The Prophecy II'' (1998)
*''The Twilight of the Golds'' (1997)
*''Wishful Thinking'' (1997)
*''
Devil in a Blue Dress'' (1995)
*''Let It Be Me'' (1995)
*''
Four Rooms'' (1995)
*''
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle'' (1994)
*''The Night Owl'' (1993)
*''Indecency'' (1992)
*''In the Soup'' (1992)
*''
Vampire's Kiss'' (1989)
*''
The Bride'' (1985/I)
*''
Flashdance'' (1983)
Trivia
*After the release of ''
Flashdance'', it was revealed that some scenes in the movie where athletics were required were actually performed by double Marine Jahan.
*She is a close friend of Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino often stayed at Beals' home while struggling as an aspiring director before ''Pulp Fiction''. They appeared together in ''
Four Rooms''.
*Despite her advanced state, Beals' pregnancy was not adapted into the story-line of The L Word's third season. However, during the first episode of the season her pregnancy is noticeable.
*Beals was a
