Born in Topeka, KS; educated at San Francisco State University (acting) and the American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco. Versatile, attractive performer who, after several years of successful stage work (including a 1987 Tony nomination for Tina Howe's Coastal Disturbances), proved herself an equally adept screen actress. Bening made a disappointing debut in the lackluster comedy, THE GREAT OUTDOORS (1988), but etched an aptly uneasy portrait of the Marquise de Merteuil in Forman's VALMONT (1989); the cool subtlety of her performance caught the attention of Stephen Frears, who ironically had directed his own version of the same tale, DANGEROUS LIAISONS, six months earlier. (Bening had, in fact, auditioned for Michelle Pfeiffer's role in that film). Frears was impressed enough to cast Bening alongside John Cusack and Anjelica Huston in his gritty film noir, THE GRIFTERS (1990), adapted from the novel by Jim Thompson. Although it was her nude scenes in the film which generated the most publicity, Bening injected considerable verve and authority into her portrayal of a tough young hustler who coolly uses her body as one of the tools of her trade -- a performance intentionally modeled after Gloria Grahame's in Fritz Lang's landmark noir, THE BIG HEAT (1953). The role earned Bening an Oscar® nomination and propelled her into the front rank of Hollywood leading ladies. She went on to demonstrate her versatility by portraying nurturing, supportive wives in GUILTY BY SUSPICION and REGARDING HENRY (both 1991) before returning to a more seductive role in BUGSY (1991), opposite Warren Beatty. After a three year hiatus to marry and start a family, Bening and Beatty again co-starred, this time in LOVE AFFAIR (1994), the second remake of a 1939 film of the same title. They played two people engaged to others who fall in love after an accidental meeting. While many hoped to draw comparisons between the couple's real life romance and their film characters, the pair vehemently denied any connections. She received her second nomination, this time for Best Actress, for her work in AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999) opposite Best Actor winner Kevin Spacey. Her taut -- yet, somehow, comic -- portrayal of Spacey's suburban cheating wife was one of the year's most memorable roles. Other recent screen credits include RICHARD III and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (both 1995), MARS ATTACKS! (1996), THE SIEGE (1998), IN DREAMS and FOREVER HOLLYWOOD (both 1999), WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? (2000), "Liberty's Kids" (2002, TV series as Abigail Adams), OPEN RANCE (2003), BEING JULIA (2004), RUNNING WITH SCISSORS (2006), and THE WOMEN, A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, THE VILLA GOLITSYN and DIRTY TRICKS (all scheduled for 2008).    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1990: THE GRIFTERS    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1999: AMERICAN BEAUTY    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 2004: BEING JULIA 3 nominations