Uma Thurman Gallery

Uma Karuna Thurman (Born in Mexico City, Mexico on April 29, 1970) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. She performs predominantly in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action thrillers. She is best known for her work under the direction of Quentin Tarantino. Her most popular films include Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Pulp Fiction (1994), Gattaca (1997) and the two Kill Bill movies (2003–04).

She is the "face" of Virgin Media in the United Kingdom and, along with Scarlett Johansson, models handbags and other items for designer Louis Vuitton. At 6ft (1.83 m) tall, she is one of the tallest actresses in American movies.

Thurman grew up mostly in Amherst, Massachusetts and Woodstock, New York. She is described as having been an awkward and introverted girl who was teased for her tall frame, angular bone structure, unusual name (sometimes using the name “Uma Karen” instead of her birth name) and size 11 feet (Thurman's large feet would later be filmed by Quentin Tarantino in the films he made with her). When she was 10 years old, a friend's mother suggested a nose job.


Thurman began her career as a fashion model at age 15. She signed with the agency Click Models. Standing almost six feet tall with a lanky frame, Thurman was a success, and her modeling credits included Glamour Magazine. In 1989, she appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine's annual “Hot issue”.

Thurman made her movie debut in 1988, appearing in four films that year. Her first two were the high school comedy Johnny Be Good and the teen thriller Kiss Daddy Goodnight.. Thurman appeared inThe Adventures of Baron Munchausen, playing the goddess Venus alongside Oliver Reed’s Vulcan. During her entrance Thurman briefly appears nude in a homage to Botticelli’s painting The Birth of Venus. With a budget of $46 million and box office receipts of only $8 million, the film was a commercial failure.

Her breakthrough came in her role as Cecile de Volanges in Dangerous Liaisons. Actresses Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer earned Oscar nominations for their performances, and Thurman drew attention for her topless scene in the film. At the time, she was insecure about her appearance, and fled to London for almost a year, during which she wore only loose, baggy clothing.

Soon after the release of Dangerous Liaisons, the media were eager to profile Thurman. She was praised by her co-star John Malkovich, who said of her, “There is nothing twitchy teenager-ish about her, I haven’t met anyone like her at that age. Her intelligence and poise stand out. But there’s something else. She’s more than a little haunted”.