Catherine Keener Biography:

Overlooked by Hollywood for not possessing a classical leading lady look, dark-haired and sharp-featured Catherine Keener took an alternative route to success, carving out roles in independent films.

After graduating from college, Keener found work as a casting agent, forming a close friendship with fellow casting director Gail Eisenstadt, who encouraged Keener to pursue acting and cast her in her first film role as a cocktail waitress in About Last Night.

Following small roles in Dennis Hopper's Backtrack and Blake Edwards' Switch, Keener received her big break as the level-headed and loving Yvonne, confronting Brad Pitt's would-be pop star in Tom DiCillo's writing-directing debut Johnny Sued, which began her longstanding collaboration with the director.

Enjoying a bit of role reversal in Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich, she earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination as the sexy, bitchy Maxine.

She then finished another productive year as Nick Nolte's abandoned girlfriend whom Jeff Bridges involves in the resolution of an old con in Simpatico. That same year she gave birth to a baby boy. The tireless actress continued to turn up in such quirky films as Death to Smoochy, Full Frontal, and eccentric director Spike Jonze, follow-up to Being John Malkovich, Adaptation (all 2002).

With such a series of diverse and equally engaging performances, Catherine Keener is surely one of the industry's best-kept secrets.