Gina Gershon has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry since her uncredited debut as a dancer in the 1981 production of Beatlemania. She has established herself as a character actress and one of the leading icons of American camp.
Gina's breakthrough role came 14 years after her movie debut, when she played the predatory bisexual, Nomi Malone, in director Paul Verhoeven's kitsch classic Showgirls (1995). This role cemented her reputation as a versatile actress and solidified her status as a sex symbol.
Born in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, Gina was the youngest of three siblings. Her parents, Mickey and Stanley Gershon, were an interior decorator and a salesman, respectively. Her paternal grandparents were from Russian Jewish families, while her maternal grandparents were born in Holland and Belgium to Jewish families from Poland.
Gina's early interest in acting led her parents to move to Beverly Hills, where she attended Beverly Hills High School and appeared in several school productions. She went on to study at Emerson College in Boston and later transferred to New York University, where she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama in 1983.
Gina's early film roles included appearances in Pretty in Pink (1986),Cocktail (1988),and Red Heat (1988). She has also appeared in numerous stage productions, including the Broadway revival of Cabaret (1972) and Boeing Boeing (2008),for which she won a Tony Award.
In addition to her acting career, Gina is a children's book author. Her book, Camp Creepy Time, was published in 2008 and tells the story of a boy who discovers aliens at his summer camp. The book was optioned by DreamWorks and is set to be adapted into a film.
Gina has also released a CD, In Search Of Cleo, featuring nine songs that she wrote or co-wrote. Throughout her career, Gina has been known for her versatility, playing a wide range of roles and genres. She remains a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, known for her unique look and smoldering sex appeal.
