Selma Blair | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Blair in 2024 | |
| Born | Selma Blair Beitner (1972-06-23)June 23, 1972 (age 53) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | New York University University of Michigan (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Selma Blair (bornSelma Blair Beitner; June 23, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles inCruel Intentions,Legally Blonde,The Sweetest Thing, and theHellboy franchise.
Blair, born inSouthfield, Michigan, emerged from a background in legal and political involvement: both her parents were lawyers and her father was active in theU.S. Democratic Party. Blair's upbringing was predominantly Jewish. She initially pursued photography atKalamazoo College before moving to New York to become involved in the arts, graduating from theUniversity of Michigan. Blair's early career was marked by numerous auditions to land her first roles in television and film, with her breakthrough inCruel Intentions and subsequent mainstream success in projects likeLegally Blonde andHellboy.
After being diagnosed withmultiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018, she has shared her experience with the condition, contributing to her advocacy work. In 2021, Blair starred inIntroducing, Selma Blair, a documentary about her life since being diagnosed with MS. Her autobiography,Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, was published byKnopf in 2022.
Selma Blair Beitner[1][2] was born on June 23, 1972,[3] in theDetroit suburb ofSouthfield, Michigan, the youngest of four daughters of Molly Ann (née Cooke) and Elliot I. Beitner. Her maternal grandfather was the founder ofPenn Fruit and she spent a great deal of her childhood in Philadelphia.[4] Both of her parents were lawyers; her father was a labor arbitrator and was active in theU.S. Democratic Party until his death in 2012; her mother died in 2020. Her parents divorced when Blair was 23. Selma and her sister Elizabeth officially changed their surname to 'Blair'; in her memoir, Blair wrote that, following a concerted effort on the part of her father's girlfriend to derail her career, she did not speak to her father for 12 years.[5][6]
Blair's father and maternal grandfather were Jewish; her mother and her Scottish maternal grandmother were Anglican, but Selma and her sisters had a Jewish upbringing and Selma formally converted to Judaism in the second grade. HerHebrew name is 'Bat-Sheva'.[7][8][9]
Blair attendedHillel Day School inFarmington Hills, andCranbrook Kingswood inBloomfield Hills. She then spent two years (1990–1992) studying photography atKalamazoo College.[10]
At age 21, Blair moved toNew York City, where she lived atThe Salvation Army.[11] Intending to become a photographer, she attendedNew York University (NYU), and took acting classes at theStella Adler Conservatory, the Column Theater, and Stonestreet Studios. She returned to Michigan, transferred from NYU to theUniversity of Michigan and, in 1994, graduatedmagna cum laude with a triple major in photography, psychology, and English. She then returned to New York City to pursue a career in the arts.[12][13]
In 1990, during her time at Cranbrook Kingswood, Blair was involved in a production ofT.S. Eliot’sMurder in the Cathedral. She considered it a failure, but her English teacher told her not to give up; that was the first time she thought she could be an actress. In 1993 in New York, an agent discovered her in an acting class and Blair signed with her. After 75 auditions, Blair got her first acting job, a TV ad for the Theater of Virginia.[14]
Blair won her first professional role in a 1995 episode of the children's sitcomThe Adventures of Pete & Pete. In 1996, she landed her firstfeature film role in the comedyThe Broccoli Theory.[15] In 1997, she made her first appearance in a mainstream feature film, the comedyIn & Out. She auditioned six times for the role and remained on-set for several weeks, but most of her scenes were cut from the film's final version.[16]
Her first lead role was in the filmStrong Island Boys.[17] She then won the lead in the 1997 fantasy filmAmazon High. The film, which was proposed as a third show set in the Hercules and Xena mythological genre, did not air, but portions of it were used in the 2000Xena: Warrior Princess episode "Lifeblood".[18][19] She was considered for the role ofJoey Potter inDawson's Creek, a role which ultimately went toKatie Holmes.[20] She subsequently appeared in several independent and short productions, including the award-winningDebutante.[21][22]
Blair achieved her breakthrough in the 1999coming-of-age dramaCruel Intentions.[23] It received mixed reviews, withVariety finding "newcomer" Blair "too broad" and "overdoing [her role]'s clumsiness".[24] The film made US$75.9 million internationally and brought Blair a nomination for theMTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and a win for "Best Kiss", shared with co-starSarah Michelle Gellar.[25]Cruel Intentions has since developed acult following.[26][27]
In 1999, Blair starred as Zoe Bean onZoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane, and was nominated for theTeen Choice Awards for "TV – Breakout Performance".[citation needed] In 2000, following her performance in the teen comedyDown to You, Blair won theYoung Hollywood Award for "Exciting New Face".[28] In 2000 and 2002, Blair was included inVanity Fair's "Hollywood's Next Wave of Stars" issues.[29]
Blair co-starred in the 2001 hit comedyLegally Blonde, portraying a preppy, snobby law student;The Hollywood Reporter found her to be a "strong presence" in her role.[30] The film topped the US box office in its opening weekend; it grossed US$96.5 million in North America and US$141.7 million worldwide.[31] She next starred as a college student having an affair with her professor in the 2001 independent dramaStorytelling. It premiered at the 2001Cannes Film Festival;SPLICEDwire cited Blair and co-starLeo Fitzpatrick for "painfully authentic performances as an emotionally insecure coed and her cerebral palsy-stricken dorm neighbor and lover".[32] In its review,View Auckland noted: "The acting, throughout, is excellent, with Selma Blair giving a mature performance that suggests better roles await her than those she's had so far."[33] Blair next appeared in the 2002 comedyThe Sweetest Thing. While the film was generally panned,[34][35] it grossed US$68.6 million worldwide. Blair appeared with her co-starts from the film on the cover ofRolling Stone and was nominated for theTeen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy for her work in the film.[36][37]
In 2004, Blair took on the role ofLiz Sherman, adepressedpyrokinetic superhero,[38] inGuillermo del Toro's blockbuster fantasy filmHellboy, co-starringRon Perlman. Based onMike Mignola'spopular comic book series, the film was favorably received by critics;The New York Times remarked: "Blair's heavy-lidded eyes seem to be at half mast from some lovely lewd fantasy. With her sleepy carnality and dry, hesitant timing, she is a superb foil for Mr. Perlman's plain-spoken bravado."[39]Hellboy topped the box office in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, and ultimately grossed US$99.3 million.[40][41]
Also in 2004, Blair played the role of an exhibitionist dancer inJohn Waters' satirical sex comedyA Dirty Shame, alongsideTracey Ullman. The film received a mixed response;A.V. Club described the production as a "proud retreat back into the sandbox of sexual juvenilia" and a "potty-mouthed manifesto from an elder statesman of shock", while pointing out that Blair and Ullman "throw themselves headfirst into the insanity, reveling in the forfeiture of dignity, self-respect, and self-consciousness their roles demand".[42] Blair also took part on the social projectThe 1 Second Film as a producer, and was included on theFHM list of "The 100 Sexiest Women of 2004".[43][44]
From 2005 to 2007, Blair appeared in a string of independent films. In 2008, she reprised her role ofLiz Sherman inHellboy II: The Golden Army, where her character had a larger role than its predecessor.[45] The film garnered largely positive reviews from critics and became a worldwide commercial success, grossing US$160 million.[46] Blair was nominated for theScream Awards for Best Actress in a Fantasy Movie or TV Show.[47]
In 2008, Blair starred as a drug-addicted and alcoholic mother inLori Petty's independent dramaThe Poker House. It received generally favorable reviews from critics,[48][49] withThe Hollywood Reporter considering Blair's performance one of her best.[50][51]
Also in 2008, Blair accepted the titular role on theNBC sitcomKath & Kim.[52] The sitcom, which was based on the Australian television series of the same name, was canceled after one season.[53][54]
In 2009, Blair returned to the stage, when she took on the lead role of Kayleen inRajiv Joseph'sGruesome Playground Injuries. In 2010, Blair she lent her voice to narrate theaudiobook ofThe Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition, originally written byHolocaust victimAnne Frank. Her performance received a 2011Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children nomination.
In 2012, Blair returned to television as the female lead with the premiere ofFX'sAnger Management, co-starringCharlie Sheen. She starred in 53 episodes as Dr. Kate Wales, Sheen's neurotic therapist and love interest.[55] The series premiered to mixed critical reviews,[56] but broke ratings records with 5.74 million viewers in its debut and ranks as the most-watched sitcom premiere in cable history.[57][58] Blair left the show in June 2013, during the shooting of the second season, due to disagreements with Sheen, who fired her via text message.[59][60][61][62][63]
In 2012, Blair narratedXfinity TV commercials, including theLondon 2012 Olympics ads.[64] In 2014, she obtained her first television role sinceAnger Management when she was cast as Joanna in theAmazon's comedy pilotReally.[65] The pilot was not picked up but, in February 2016, Blair co-starred in theFX miniseriesAmerican Crime Story: The People vs. O. J. Simpson.[66][67][68]
In October 2012, Blair starred in the political satire sketchThe Woman for Romney, about the campaign proposals ofMitt Romney, formerRepublican Party nominee for the2012 United States presidential election.[69]
In 2018, Blair was cast in a recurring role on theNetflix science-fiction drama seriesAnother Life; it ran from 2019 to 2021 before being canceled.[70][71]
In September 2022, Blair became a contestant onseason 31 ofDancing with the Stars but left in the fifth week of the competition because of her deteriorating health.[72][73]
Her next film role is in the Israeli project,Stay Forte by Doron Eran. The film focuses onAlon Shamriz, Yotam Haim, and Samer Talalka, three Israeli men takenhostage byHamas during theOctober 7 attack on Israel. They were mistakenly identified as a threat by Israeli soldiers during fighting in northern Gaza and killed.[74][75] The film went into production in late 2024, with filming taking place inGeorgia.[74]
Blair is known for her fashion-forward style, and for her frequent radical hairstyle changes.[76][77] She lent her image to theMarc Jacobs-Brian Bowen Smith clothing line,[78][79] and has worked with several other fashion designers, includingKaren Zambos,Martin Margiela,Isaac Mizrahi,Reinaldo Herrera, andStella McCartney.[80][81][82][83][84]
She was featured in the 2002Pirelli Calendar,[85] and, in 2005, appeared inThe New York Times Magazine award-winning photography gallery, "The Selma Blair Witch Project: Fall's Dark Silhouettes Have a Way of Creeping Up on You" by the art photographerRoger Ballen, at thePalau Robert inBarcelona in 2012.[86][87]
Blair also appeared withRainn Wilson singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for the 2008Gap winter ad campaign, and was included inGlamour's list of the 50 Most Glamorous Women of 2008.[88][89]
In 2010, Blair posed withDemi Moore andAmanda De Cadenet for a spread inHarper's Bazaar magazine.[90] In 2012, she became the spokesperson for, and first actress to appear on, the "Get Real For Kids" campaign.[91] In the spring of that year, she releasedSB, a line of handbags and wallets which she designed.[92]
She has appeared on covers and photo spreads of other magazines, includingCR Fashion Book magazine in February 2016.[93] In 1999, she appeared inSeventeen, and in subsequent years, inVanity Fair,Marie Claire,Vogue,Glamour,Rolling Stone,The Lab Magazine,Interview,Dazed & Confused,Hunger, andElle.[94][95] She has been the face of fashion housesChanel,Miu Miu andGAP.[96] She presented parts of the collection ofChristian Siriano at a celebration of his 10th stage anniversary atMasonic Hall duringNew York Fashion Week 2018. In 2020, she appeared as a judge on aProject Runway special.[97]
On January 24, 2004, Blair married writer and producerAhmet Zappa atCarrie Fisher's mansion inBeverly Hills, California. They lived in Los Angeles in a 1920s-era home they bought for $1.35 million.[98] She filed for divorce from Zappa on June 21, 2006, citing "irreconcilable differences." The divorce became final in December 2006.[99][100][101]
Blair has dated actorsJason Schwartzman andDavid Lyons and, from 2008 to 2010, dated herKath and Kim co-starMikey Day.[102][103]
In 2010, Blair began dating fashion designer Jason Bleick; they have a son, Arthur Saint Bleick.[104][105][106] In September 2012, they announced that they had separated.[102][107]
In 2022, Blair and her ex-boyfriend, filmmaker Ron Carlson, whom she had been seeing since 2017, requested temporary restraining orders against each other, with both claiming physical abuse.[108] The order requests were mutually dismissed.[109]
_reception_on_the_South_Lawn%2c_Monday%2c_October_2%2c_2023%2c_at_the_White_House.jpg)
In October 2018, Blair revealed that she had been diagnosed withmultiple sclerosis in August of that year.[110] In a 2023 interview withBritish Vogue, Blair said that her symptoms had begun to manifest themselves when she was a child, and that her un-diagnosed MS had caused brain damage. As the condition worsened, she was heavily medicated, developed a dependency on alcohol and attempted suicide.[111] She was inspired to reveal the news as a way to thank Allisa Swanson, her costume designer, who had become her unofficial "dresser" for her role in theNetflix seriesAnother Life, saying that Swanson "gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, (and) buttons my coats."[110][112] Blair wrote about her experiences with multiple sclerosis in her memoir,Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, which was published in May 2022.[113]
On May 27, 2012, Blair was a special guest at theNational Memorial Day Concert at theU.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. She presented the story of Brigette Cain, a war widow who lost her husband (Pfc. Norman L. Cain III) inAfghanistan.[114][115]
Blair supportedMarianne Williamson for the2014 congressional elections.[116]
Blair's charity work and philanthropic causes include Marc Jacobs' Skin Cancer Awareness Campaign,H&M's Fashion Against AIDS 2011 Campaign,[117] Children's Action Network,[118]AmFAR AIDS Research 2011,[119]Lange Foundation (dedicated to saving homeless and abandoned animals),Bulgari-Save the Children 2012 Ad Campaign,[120]No Kid Hungry,[121] Staying Alive Foundation and theNational Multiple Sclerosis Society.[122] On October 2, 2015, she received the Universal Smile Award duringTHE SMILE GALA LA 2015 to benefit children withcleft lip and palate.[123] She was included as one of theSilence Breakers selected as the 2017Time Person of the Year.[124] In December 2021,Michelle Pfeiffer presented Blair with the Equity in Entertainment Award at thePower 100 Women ceremony.
In June 2022, Blair became chief creative officer of Guide Beauty, a company which creates cosmetic products for those with mobility challenges.[125] In December 2022 she was chosen as one of theBBC's 100 women.[126]
In May 2021, during the2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Blair signed an open letter by theCreative Community for Peace calling for "peace, balanced discourse and an end to inflammatory one-sided accounts" of theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict.[127]
In October 2023, in the immediate aftermath of theOctober 7 attacks, Blair expressed solidarity with Israel.[128] In February 2024, Blair made a comment, later deleted, on anInstagram video[129] related to the war, commenting, "Deport all these terrorist supporting goons. Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroyed minds. They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate."[130][131][132] The comment was criticized asIslamophobic, prompting Blair to delete it and issue a statement apologizing for her remarks.[133][134][135]
In February 2024, Blair signed an open letter by the Creative Community for Peace supporting Israel's inclusion in theEurovision Song Contest.[136]
In September 2024, Blair again expressed support for Israel and thehostages being held byHamas inGaza: "I stand with Israel. I stand with the hostages. I stand with their families — mothers, sisters, friends. These are innocent people who have been in hell and then murdered." She added that the enclave was being run by "Jihadists, the radicals, the extreme" and "terrorists".[137]
In November 2025, Blair told Israel'sYnet that October 7 was a turning point for her, convincing her to return to acting and star in an Israeli film about the hostage crisis.[138] In December 2025, Blair, who plays a hostage in the film, toldUnited Press International that the story was "not political," and added that "They're stories of human tragedy and empathy, that you want to be a part of that telling, it was one small way I could say it as an artist, not from any political front and just as a human."[139]
| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Broccoli Theory | Pretzel cart lesbian | |
| Brain Candy | Girl at rock concert | ||
| 1997 | Strong Island Boys | Tara | |
| Gone Again[140] | Ayla | Short film | |
| Arresting Gena | Drugged woman | ||
| In & Out | Cousin Linda | ||
| 1998 | Brown's Requiem | Jane | |
| Girl | Darcy | ||
| Can't Hardly Wait | Girl Mike hits on No. 1 | ||
| 1999 | Cruel Intentions | Cecile Caldwell | |
| 2000 | Down to You | Cyrus | |
| 2001 | Storytelling | Vi | Segment "Fiction" |
| Legally Blonde | Vivian Thelma Kensington | ||
| Kill Me Later | Shawn Holloway | ||
| 2002 | Highway | Cassie | |
| The Sweetest Thing | Jane Burns | ||
| 2003 | A Guy Thing | Karen Cooper | |
| Dallas 362 | Peg | ||
| 2004 | Hellboy | Liz Sherman | |
| A Dirty Shame | Caprice Stickles / Ursula Udders | ||
| In Good Company | Kimberly | ||
| 2005 | Pretty Persuasion | Grace Anderson | |
| The Deal | Abbey Gallagher | ||
| The Fog | Stevie Wayne | ||
| The Big Empty | Alice | Short film | |
| 2006 | The Alibi | Adelle | |
| The Night of the White Pants | Beth Hagan | ||
| Hellboy: Sword of Storms | Liz Sherman (voice) | Direct-to-video | |
| 2007 | Hellboy: Blood and Iron | Liz Sherman (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| Purple Violets | Patti Petalson | ||
| WΔZ | Jean Lerner | ||
| Feast of Love | Kathryn Smith | ||
| 2008 | My Mom's New Boyfriend | Emily Lott | |
| The Poker House | Sarah | ||
| Hellboy II: The Golden Army | Liz Sherman | ||
| 2011 | The Family Tree | Ms. Delbo | |
| Animal Love[141] | Sorrel | Short film | |
| The Break-In[142] | Beverly | Short film | |
| Dark Horse[143][144] | Miranda | ||
| Kingdom Come[145] | Herself | Documentary | |
| 2012 | Columbus Circle[146] | Abigail Clayton | |
| In Their Skin[147][148] | Mary Hughes | ||
| 2015 | Sex, Death and Bowling[149][150] | Glenn McAllister | |
| 2016 | Eva Hesse[151] | Eva Hesse (voice) | Documentary |
| Ordinary World | Karen Miller | ||
| Mothers and Daughters[152][153] | Rigby | ||
| 2017 | Mom and Dad[154][155] | Kendall Ryan | |
| 2019 | After | Carol Young | |
| 2020 | After We Collided | Carol Young | |
| A Dark Foe | Doris Baxter | ||
| 2021 | Introducing, Selma Blair | Herself | Documentary |
| Far More[156] | Glenn McAllister | ||
| 2025 | Stay Forte | [157][74] | |
| TBA | Silent† | Skylar | Pre-production[158] |
| There There† | Pre-production[159] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Adventures of Pete & Pete | Penelope Ghiruto | Episode: "Das Bus" |
| 1996 | The Dana Carvey Show[160] | Uncredited | Episode: "The Szechuan Dynasty" |
| 1997 | Amazon High | Cyane | Pilot |
| Soldier of Fortune, Inc. | Tish August | Episode: "La Mano Negra" | |
| 1998 | Getting Personal | Receptionist | Pilot |
| Promised Land | Carla Braver | Episode: "Designated Driver" | |
| No Laughing Matter[161] | Lauren Winslow | Television film | |
| 1999–2000 | Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane | Zoe Bean | |
| 2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess | Cyane | Episode: "Lifeblood" |
| 2002 | Friends | Wendy | Episode: "The One with Christmas in Tulsa" |
| 2003 | Coast to Coast | Stacey Pierce | Television film |
| 2004 | DeMarco Affairs | Kate DeMarco | Pilot |
| 2008–2009 | Kath & Kim | Kim | |
| 2010 | Tommy's Little Girl[162] | Lawyer / Assassin | Pilot |
| Web Therapy[163] | Tammy Hines | 3 episodes | |
| 2011 | Portlandia | Frannie Walker | Episode: "Blunderbuss"[164] |
| 2012–2013 | Anger Management | Kate Wales | |
| 2012 | Web Therapy | Tammy Hines | 2 episodes |
| Slideshow of Wieners: A Love Story[165] | Becca | Short | |
| 2013 | Out There[166] | Destiny / Larry (voices) | 2 episodes |
| Comedy Bang! Bang![167][168] | Herself / Cyber girl | Episode: "Andy Samberg Wears a Plaid Shirt & Glasses" | |
| 2014 | Really | Joanna | Pilot |
| 2016 | The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story | Kris Jenner | 3 episodes |
| Bookaboo | Herself | Post-production | |
| 2018–2019 | Lost in Space | Jessica Harris | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Heathers | Jade Duke | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Another Life | Harper Glass | Main role (season 1) |
| 2020 | DuckTales | Witch Hazel (voice) | Episode: "The Trickening!" |
| 2022 | Dancing with the Stars[169] | Herself | Contestant (season 31) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Little Theatre of The Green Goose | Various roles | |
| 2009 | Gruesome Playground Injuries[170][171] | Kayleen | Alley Theatre |
| Year | Title | Role | Artist(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Charmed | My Friend Steve | ||
| 1999 | Every You Every Me | Cecile Caldwell | Placebo | Film version |
| 2010 | Full of Regret | Katt | Danko Jones |
| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Hellboy: The Science of Evil | Liz Sherman |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2010 | The Diary of Anne Frank |
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Title | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Teen Choice Awards | Nominated | Choice TV: Breakout Star | Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane | ||
| 2000 | MTV Movie Awards | Nominated | Breakthrough Female Performance | Cruel Intentions | ||
| Won | Best Kiss | Cruel Intentions(Shared withSarah Michelle Gellar) | ||||
| Young Hollywood Awards | Won | Exciting New Face – Female | ||||
| 2002 | Teen Choice Awards | Nominated | Choice Movie: Actress Comedy | The Sweetest Thing | ||
| Young Hollywood Awards | Won | Next Generation | ||||
| 2003 | DVD Exclusive Awards | Nominated | Best Actress | Highway | ||
| 2005 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Nominated | Best Supporting Actress | Hellboy | ||
| 2008 | Scream Awards | Nominated | Best Actress – Fantasy Movie | Hellboy II: The Golden Army | ||
| 2011 | Grammy Award | Nominated | Best Spoken Word Album for Children | Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition | ||
| 2015 | Operation Smile | Won | Universal Smile Award | |||
| 2021 | Media Access Awards | Won | Visionary Award | Life's Work | Presented byKeah Brown | [172] |
| 2022 | People's Choice Award | Won | The Competition Contestant of 2022 | Dancing with the Stars | [173] | |
| 2022 | 100 Women (BBC) | Nominated | Actress | |||
| 2025 | CineHealth | Won | Lifetime Achievement | |||
The actor turns 50 on June 23
