- published: 01 Jul 2010
- views: 1419
Diana Scarwid (born August 27, 1955) is an American actress. Scarwid has done work in film, television and theater.
Scarwid was born in Savannah, Georgia, and left Georgia at the age of 17, heading to New York to become an actress. She graduated from Pace University and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts simultaneously, completing the dual program as an honor student. Scarwid was active in the University of Georgia Theater Workshop, the National Shakespeare Conservatory, and the Film Actor's Workshop at Burbank Studios.[citation needed]
Scarwid married Eric Scheinbart, a physician, in 1977. The couple have two children, Jeremy and Ursula.
Scarwid's first film appearance was in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby (1978). She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as John Savage's girlfriend in Inside Moves (1980).
Scarwid is perhaps most recognized for her next role, that of Christina Crawford, the abused adopted daughter of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford in the 1981 film Mommie Dearest. The film, originally conceived as a dramatic piece, was derided as being over-the-top, then eventually assumed a second life as a camp classic. Scarwid received generally good reviews although several critics claimed that her Southern accent surfaced in several scenes. She later appeared in Silkwood (1983), Psycho III (1986) and the film version of Brenda Starr (1993) starring Brooke Shields.