Skip to main content
Games Radar
  • Newsarama
  • Total Film
  • Edge
  • Retro Gamer
  • SFX
Total Film The smarter take on movies
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Subscribe
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows

Recommended reading

Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer's Body
Horror Movies Star of cult hit Jennifer's Body says marketing "ruined" the horror movie's chances, but they may get another shot with a sequel 16 years later
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Drama Movies The Penguin and Barbie stars new futuristic fantasy romance is giving Suzume vibes in first trailer
Bring Her Back
Horror Movies The most exciting upcoming horror movies coming in 2025 and beyond
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer's Body
Horror Movies Jennifer’s Body star Amanda Seyfried has some ideas for the cult horror sequel – and she won’t do it without Megan Fox
Dakota Johnson as Lucy and Pedro Pascal as Harry in Celine Song's Materialists
Romance Movies New rom-com starring Marvel actors was inspired by legendary romance movies like Pride & Prejudice and The Graduate
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us season 2
Horror Shows Jennifer Aniston has addressed her surprise The Last of Us season 2 appearance: "Of all the things to survive the apocalypse"
Neytiri in Avatar
Movies The 32 greatest sci-fi movies of the 2000s
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

The Evolution Of Jennifer Connelly

Features
By Lucy published 29 October 2009

From buxom beauty to leading lady, Connelly's come a long way...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

The Film: If you're lucky enough to have viewed OUATIA in its entire, original, uncut state, you will be all-too aware of its humongous running time - just short of four hours.

Boy, do you get your money's worth.

The Role: Connelly was only thirteen when she appeared in this, her debut film, as the young Deborah, Noodles' love interest.

The Baps*: They don't exist yet. She is a child.

*Trust us. They're worth waiting for.

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
Phenomena (1985)

Phenomena (1985)

The Film: Phenomena was Dario Argento's first English-speaking feature.

Set in a creepy Swiss boarding school, the horror featured a creative serial killer, who finds lots of interesting different ways to stab his victims.

The Role: After her tinsy little part in OUATIA , Connelly bagged herself a starring role in this corker.

She played Jennifer, a girl who can communicate with insects. She also possesses psychic abilities.

So, she's a freak, then.

The Baps: Still nothing. Give them time!

Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Labyrinth (1986)

Labyrinth (1986)

The Film: One of the most iconic films of the '80s, Labyrinth was a sort of fantasy-adventure, starring Connelly, David Bowie, and a load of Jim Henson puppets.

How's that for a premise?

The Role: Connelly's Sarah is a troubled young girl who wills the Goblin King to take away her baby brother, because he's really getting on her wick.

However, when Toby is taken away, Sarah regrets her rashness.

She sets off on a quest to reclaim him. To a wicked soundtrack.

The Baps: We're getting there!

Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Career Opportunities (1991)

Career Opportunities (1991)

The Film: An average rom-com, Career Opportunities was all about two youngsters, who, when locked in a department store together, fall in love.

They do naughty things like rollerskating through the aisles. It's all fun and games until they get held hostage by thieves. Drama!

The Role: Connelly's Josie is rich and spoiled, though in a cute way, of course.

The Baps: Baaaaps! (She's 21 now, so we got the green light!)

They're finally here, and they're massive . How are they so massive? We're sure they're not as massive nowadays.

Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Mulholland Falls (1996)

Mulholland Falls (1996)

The Film: A neo-noir detective drama, Mulholland Falls follows the investigation of the mysterious death of Allison Pond, who is found dead, face-down in the ground, having broken every bone in her body. It's not awfully cheery.

What is awfully cheery is the fact that they found a sex tape of her. Which we get to see. Back of the net.

The Role: Allison is the enigmatic, lusty femme fatale. It's a role which suits Connelly remarkably well.

The Baps: Holy mackeral. This one's worth watching for the baps alone. Seriously.

Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Dark City (1998)

Dark City (1998)

The Film: It was never a huge hit in cinemas, but this one was a grower, gaining a massive cult fanbase way after its release.

It's set in a city which never experiences daylight - a surprisingly simple principle which the film a real uneasy atmosphere.

Not only that, but it's got Richard O'Brian as the ghostly, black-suited 'Stranger', Mr Hand. He's quite terrifying.

The Role: Connelly plays Emma Murdoch, protagonist John's wife.

The Baps: They're not much on show in this one, though we're sure they're still there.

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Requiem For A Dream (2000)

The Film: A tale of addiction and the struggle between fantasy and reality, RFAD is a moving, though slightly depressing, drama.

The Role: Connelly's Marion is a right old mess. She's an aspiring fashion designer, though she never quite makes it to owning her own store because of all the drugs she does.

She sinks into a well of delusion and despair as she begins prostituting herself for drugs.

The Baps: She's got the heroin-chic thing going on - all panda eyes and ribs - and there's no room for baps here. So long, baps.

Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
A Beautiful Mind (2001)

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

The Film: Another serious drama, based on a true story A Beautiful Mind featured Russell Crowe as John Forbes Nash, a gifted mathematician who suffers from a viscious mental disorder.

The Role: Alicia Nash is John's loyal wife, utterly devoted to caring for her husband. Connelly won a 'Best Supporting Actress' Oscar for her role in the film.

She also met her current husband, Paul Bettany, whilst filming. So all in all, a good hoard from this venture!

The Baps: Connelly's gone all serious, which means the baps have gone into hiding.

Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Hulk (2003)

Hulk (2003)

The Film: Ang Lee's adaptation of the Marvel superhero paved the way for a whole new world of merchandise (we've all tried on a pair of Hulk Smash Hands at Toys R Us).

It stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, the guy with the unfortunate anger management issues.

The Role: For Connelly, it's another role as a devoted, supporting, female counterpart to an uncontrollable man. Connelly plays Betty Ross, the woman who hopes to tame the big green beast.

The Baps: What's with all the baggy shirts and turtleneck jumpers, Jennifer? Come on!

Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
House Of Sand And Fog (2003)

House Of Sand And Fog (2003)

The Film: Starring Ben Kingsley, House Of Sand And Fog is the story of a woman who is evicted from her home when she can't keep up with her taxes. The house is auctioned and sold to Iranian Massoud Behrani (Ben Kingsley) and his family.

The Role: Kathy is another druggy mess. Depressed and abandoned by her husband, she is content to live in her little house and recover from her addiction. Suffice to say, she's not best pleased when she's ousted from her property.

The Baps: Depressed + reclusive = unsexy clothes. We're beginning to think it might be curtains for the baps.

Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Dark Water (2005)

Dark Water (2005)

The Film: 2005's Dark Water is a remake of the 2002 Japanese horror of the same name.

It tells the creepy story of an apartment building haunted by mainly by leaky pipes, but also by the memory of a young girl who used to live there.

The Role: Dahlia (Connelly) moves into the building with her daughter, Ceci. It's not a very jolly place to live.

The Baps: At one point in the movie, dark water goes crazy, and it turns into a veritable wet-Tshirt competition (with Connelly as the only competitor). Baps are back!

Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond (2006)

The Film: In war-torn Sierra Leone, the blood diamond trade is in full swing. It's a brutal, desperate place. Corruption reigns.

The Role: An American Journalist driven by social conscience and moral justice, Maddy Bowen wants the inside scoop on the diamonds trade.

She hopes to expose the market and prevent it from further funding the Civil War. She's dead brave.

The Baps: They're demurely hidden under practical Africa-clothes. She is forgiven this one.

Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
Reservation Road (2007)

Reservation Road (2007)

The Film: Featuring Joaquin Phoenix in a rather fetching beard, Reservation Road is a drama about the hit-and-run killing of a little boy (Phoenix & Connelly's son).

The killer happens to be the very lawyer who's helping the couple fight for justice.

It's pretty bleak.

The Role: Grace is eager to move on, but her husband (Phoenix's Ethan) is out for justice. Poor Grace.

The Baps: She's the grieving mother to a dead son. It's not baps central.

Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

The Film: Another remake, TDTESS is a fireworks display of a film. It's all mouth and trousers, though it is entertaining enough.

It's all about the arrival of an alien visitor (Keanu Reeves) sent to warn humans about the damage they're doing to the planet. It's a "shape up or ship out" deal. Chill out.

The Role: Dr. Helen Benson is a scientist who's spends a lot of time running around trying to make sense of everything.

The Baps: We have a feeling Connelly might not actually like showing off her baps. Perhaps she only did it initially so that she could get better parts in bigger films. Well, it worked!

Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Creation (2009)

Creation (2009)

The Film: Creation is a film about Charles Darwin, focusing mainly on Darwin's relationship with his wife, and the conflict between science and religion.

It stars real-life husband and wife Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly as Mr. and Mrs. Darwin. Aww.

The Role: Unfortunately for Charles (who has suffered a loss of faith after the death of his daughter), Emma Darwin is deeply religious and is uncomfortable with his research, as it undermines her beliefs.

The Baps: Never before have a pair of lovely baps been so horrifically stifled. We give up. We're going to watch Mulholland Falls again.

Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
Lucy
See more Movies Features
Read more
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer's Body
Star of cult hit Jennifer's Body says marketing "ruined" the horror movie's chances, but they may get another shot with a sequel 16 years later
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
The Penguin and Barbie stars new futuristic fantasy romance is giving Suzume vibes in first trailer
Bring Her Back
The most exciting upcoming horror movies coming in 2025 and beyond
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer's Body
Jennifer’s Body star Amanda Seyfried has some ideas for the cult horror sequel – and she won’t do it without Megan Fox
Dakota Johnson as Lucy and Pedro Pascal as Harry in Celine Song's Materialists
New rom-com starring Marvel actors was inspired by legendary romance movies like Pride & Prejudice and The Graduate
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us season 2
Jennifer Aniston has addressed her surprise The Last of Us season 2 appearance: "Of all the things to survive the apocalypse"
Latest in Movies
A Minecraft Movie chicken jockey scene
We finally know when A Minecraft Movie will be streaming, and it's in just a few days
Dakota Johnson as Lucy and Pedro Pascal as Harry in Celine Song's Materialists
New rom-com starring Marvel actors was inspired by legendary romance movies like Pride & Prejudice and The Graduate
Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle in True Detective season 1
Matthew McConaughey is set to play an iconic private investigator in a new movie from True Detective creator
Dakota Johnson as Cassandra and Sydney Sweeney as Julia in Madame Web
Madame Web star Dakota Johnson says Hollywood is "a bit of a mess" because of constant remakes: "When something does well, studios want to keep that going"
Marco Ng as Alan in The Way We Talk
A new Hong Kong drama about three d/Deaf friends brings sign language to the big screen in a different way
Black Adam
The Rock had a bizarre request for his Black Adam action figure: "Can you make me more ripped?"
Latest in Features
Grounded 2 screenshot with Summer Preview logo
After playing Grounded 2 for 30 minutes, it's clear that my favorite survival game is getting a massive glow-up
Marco Ng as Alan in The Way We Talk
A new Hong Kong drama about three d/Deaf friends brings sign language to the big screen in a different way
Kill Team: Typhon box and card decks on a wooden table
Kill Team: Typhon introduces an unexpected twist to its competitive gameplay, and I think it might be a game-changer
End of Abyss Summer Preview
I played 30 minutes of the new game from the original Little Nightmares devs, and it turns out a twin-stick survival horror Metroidvania is a recipe for spooky heaven
"Everyone in the industry said it's not possible" – The Witcher 3 at 10: diving into the legendary RPG's creation, legacy, and secret sauce that makes CDPR's quests so special
Charlie Disco performs a finisher move on an enemy in Dead as Disco's Infinite Disco mode in the demo
From Zelda-likes to Batman-style action, here's the 20 Steam Next Fest demos you have to play this June before they disappear
  1. Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour screenshot
    1
    Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review: "Mostly a fancy toy and not much more"
  2. 2
    MindsEye review: "An uninspired and forgettable sci-fi action adventure that feels like a Netflix movie you watch while on your phone"
  3. 3
    The Alters review: "More tactile and story-heavy than the Frostpunk dev's earlier games, but the fight for survival is just as fierce"
  4. 4
    Splitgate 2 review: "A slick and enjoyable free-to-play FPS, but a disappointing sequel"
  5. 5
    Date Everything review: "A masterclass in character design full of wonderful faces I love meeting, but juggling so many means sacrificing depth"
  1. The Yautja in Dan Trachtenberg's animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers
    1
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  2. 2
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  3. 3
    Karate Kid: Legends review: "Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)"
  4. 4
    Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning review: "Wraps up this spy franchise in spectacular style with Tom Cruise in peak condition, even if its villain lacks terror"
  5. 5
    Final Destination Bloodlines Review: "Meticulous murderous mayhem"
  1. Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, Ruth Madeley as Shirley, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge Stewart, Varada Sethu as Belinda, Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, Millie Gibson as Ruby, Bonnie Langford as Mel, Susan Twist as Susan Triad, and Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble in Doctor Who: 'The Reality War.'
    1
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  2. 2
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
  3. 3
    Rick and Morty season 8 review: "Largely plays it too safe after years of crossing boundaries"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 spoiler review: 'The Interstellar Song Contest' is "a blast and sets the stage for a thrilling season finale"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 5 spoiler review: 'The Story & The Engine' is "one of the most original and ambitious episodes this show has produced in years"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...