SFSU Magazine Summer 2005

Annette at a Glance

Education: Graduated from SFSU's College of Creative Arts in 1980 with honors

First role: Narrator in Spanish version of "Three Little Pigs" in sixth grade

If she never acted, she might have been: "A grade school teacher. I love working with children."

Words to live by: "If it's challenging and difficult, it's worth doing."

Personal hero: Her sister-in-law, Billy, who recently lost her battle with cancer

On being a mother and an actor: "It's such a privilege to do both."

Life imitating art: Annette's husband has expressed interest in becoming "The American President."

Resting on her nightstand: Ian McEwan's "Saturday," and it may be resting there for a while. Like any working mother, Bening says she reads "a few pages in bed at night and falls asleep."

Knew she'd be a star? "I certainly dreamt about being an actor. But no, I never envisioned I'd be here."

Next appearing in: "The Cherry Orchard" on stage at The Mark Taper Forum in February, and "Running With Scissors," a film to be released sometime next year.

Film Credits:
The Great Outdoors ~ Valmont ~ The Grifters ~ Guilty By Suspicion Regarding Henry ~ Postcards From The Edge ~ Bugsy ~ Love Affair ~ Richard III ~ The American President ~ In Dreams ~ Mars Attacks! ~ The Seige ~ American Beauty ~ What Planet Are You From? ~ Open Range ~ Being Julia ~ Mrs. Harris