Born in Conyers, GA; educated at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh (drama). Fiery, diminutive character lead of film and TV noted for her eccentric roles and thick Southern accent. Hunter established herself on stage before coming to national prominence in 1987 with lead roles in the Coen brothers' RAISING ARIZONA (in a part written for her) and James Brooks's BROADCAST NEWS (a role that earned her an Oscar nomination). Not easily classifiable, she has not worked extensively in film but has amassed some additional noteworthy credits: MISS FIRECRACKER (1989), where she recreated her stage role of Carnelle Scott; Steven Spielberg's romantic fantasy, ALWAYS, (also 1989) where she was paired with Richard Dreyfuss; and ONCE AROUND (1991), where she was reunited with Dreyfuss amidst an impressive ensemble. Disdainful of the standard "love-interest" and devoted wife roles Hollywood films tended to offer, Hunter has sought out worthy material on stage and TV. She has won acclaim for her work in the plays of Beth Henley -- The Miss Firecracker Contest, Crimes of the Heart, The Wake of Jamey Foster and Lucky Spot. Hunter has kept busy with high-profile TV movies, most impressively in the Volker Schlöndorff-directed A GATHERING OF OLD MEN (1987), ROE VS. WADE (1989), for which she won an Emmy, and Michael Ritchie's parodic drama, THE POSITIVELY TRUE ADVENTURES OF THE ALLEGED TEXAS CHEERLEADER-MURDERING MOM (1993). In 1993, Hunter returned to mainstream Hollywood with a supporting role in THE FIRM and delivered an internationally acclaimed lead performance in Jane Campion's New Zealand feature, THE PIANO, for which she won the best actress award at that year's Cannes Film Festival and later an Academy Award®. Other notable (non-nominated) credits include COPYCAT and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (both 1995), CRASH (1996), A LIFE LESS ORDINARY (1997), LIVING OUT LOUD (1998), JESUS' SON and WOMAN WANTED (1999), O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (2000), SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER and MOONLIGHT MILE (both 2002), THIRTEEN and LEVITY (both 2003), LITTLE BLACK BOOK and THE INCREDIBLES (voice) (both 2004), NINE LIVES and THE BIG WHITE (both 2005), "Saving Grace" (2007, TV series), and FROST FLOWERS (scheduled for 2009). She was married to cinematographer Janusz Kaminski from 1995 until they separated in 2001.  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1987: BROADCAST NEWS  Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1993: THE PIANO  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1993: THE FIRM  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2003: THIRTEEN 4 nominations, 1 Award