She smokes cigars. The good ones. She can slam a shot of hard tequila without even wincing. She
boxes with legendary rock star Bob Dylan. In a 1996 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she
boldly states, "As an actress I have one rule for myself, F--k the rules." During that same
interview, she successfully manages to get EW journalist Benjamin Svetky...well, let’s just say, he
had a few drinks as the interview ensued. A smart move. If the interviewer is a bit buzzed, the
subject has more "control" over the story angle. It's classic Gina Gershon. Yet this defiantly
self-assured young actress exudes in more than just confidence. "She's clever and genuine."
says a production assistant for Dino DeLaurentiis Productions, (co-producers of the film noir
"Bound" with Jennifer Tilly). "Gina Gershon was captivating on set." he continues, “Everyone
loved working with her. She kept us all laughing.
Gina Gershon is of French and Russian descent and spent her childhood in Los Angeles where
she was born. Gershon is a classically trained New York stage actress who studied theater at The
American Conservatory, and New York University. She's an intensely private person by choice,
which is an exceptionally admirable quality. In an industry guided primarily by image and
innuendo, Gina Gershon is a rather distinctive change of pace. Gershon tells Detour Magazine in a
candid 1995 interview, "I have to say, I don't mind becoming successful, but I want everyone to
stay out of my personal life. I pride myself on discretion and secrecy." Gina Gershon prefers to be
identified with the intricately meshed characters she portrays. Her film experience goes beyond
the word intrinsic. Gershon's work literally exudes in subtle tones of seductive accuracy.
While film is by far her most compelling medium, Gershon has also done a few critically
acclaimed television performances. She garnered rave reviews for her role as Nancy Barbato
Sinatra in the CBS mini-series, "Sinatra". Gershon was featured on "The Days and Nights of Molly
Dodd" and the Emmy award winning Hallmark Hall of Fame production of the classic, "Miss Rose
White". Recently, Gershon did a brief cameo appearance on the ABC sitcom Ellen. She was
cleverly placed in a dream sequence as a grocery store clerk for Ellen Degeneres "Coming Out
Episode". A superb theater actress, Gershon's stage credits include, "Camille", John Robin Baitz's
"Substance of Fire", and William Matrosimone's "Nanatawi". She is a founding member of the New
York-based theater company, "Naked Angels", where she has appeared in numerous productions.
Gershon's initial film performance was in a little known film entitled "3:15" directed by Larry
Gross, who also wrote "Hours", "Pretty in Pink" followed with Molly Ringwald. The brief roles led
to roles in "Cocktail" opposite Tom Cruise, "Red Heat" opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, and
Robert Altman's, "The Player". Gina's other film credits include John Sayle's "City of Hope", Paul
Schrader's "Touch", "Joey Breaker", "Out For Justice", the Showtime Original film, "Love
Matters", and"Prague Duet" with Rade Serbedizija in the Czech Republic.
The first time she met Dutch director Paul Verhoven "Basic Instinct", "Total Recall", she managed
to draw him into a massive debate about Jung, Nietzshe, and Jesus. She calmly tells Elle
magazine in a 1995 interview, "We hit it off immediately. He loves smart, independent, powerful
women. The more powerful a woman is "sexually, intellectually" the more he responds. That being
the case, Gershon was a literal "strip-in" for the role of Cristal in Verhoven's "Showgirls". The
flagrantly publicized film itself was a desperately pathetic attempt by screenwriter Joe Esterhas
(Basic Instinct) to uncover a darker side to the infamous Vegas Showgirl mystique. The writing
was more than horrible. Critics ripped through Showgirls with a vengeance. Gershon, however,
made the shoddy dialogue flow. She was the only one left standing in a major film disaster. In fact,
the film gave Gershon a richly woven cult status. "It's become this big thing, like The Rocky Horror
Picture Show," Gina tells Entertainment Weekly. "All these drag queens show up at midnight
screenings wearing hospital gowns and cowboy hats. RuPaul came up to me once, and not only
knew Cristal's lines and dance routines, but the color lipstick she wore. That's when I knew I had
really done my job." In a rather brazen move, Gershon decided not to attend the 1995 premiere
party for the Box Office Bomb "Showgirls", opting to instead attend the "To Die For" (starring
Nicole Kidman) premiere party, which took place on the same night. (excellent choice, considering
the fact that everyone from the ‘Showgirls’ party left rather abruptly after the screening).
Not many film stars could have pulled off such a coup. Gina Gershon is a cool and sophisticated
survivor. She’s a scrapper. An intellectual Mountain Dew commercial with a bit more attitude and
finesse. But don't be seduced merely by her exotic beauty. There's so much more to Gina Gershon
than a devilishly sexy smile and eyes that seem to reach beyond the very core of understanding.
Gina Gershon possesses an inherently raw talent. A talent which far surpasses the Hollywood
"standard" for success. Her work is consistantly precise. Each performance teeters a bit closer to
flawless.
"Bound", the appropriately titled suspense thriller placed Gina Gershon opposite Oscar nominee
Jennifer Tilly. As always, Gershon turned in a stellar performance. This highly unconventional film
about two women who rip-off the mob, was a huge hit at The Sundance Film Festival in 1996.
"Bound" was produced by Dino DeLaurentiis Productions in association with Spelling
Entertainment, and released by Gramercy Pictures. Gershon played Corky, the lesbian ex-convict
with a precision only matched by actor Joe Pantanlio's performance as Ceasar, the money
laundering mobster. Since I played a very glamorous character in Showgirls," explains Gershon,
"It gave me an opportunity to play a cool, tough role that reminded me of the characters James
Dean would play in his movies." With Gershon's keen sense of adeptness, Corky quickly evolved
into a female variation of early Marlon Brando, James Dean, and a brash Richard Gere. "This was
a role that literally everyone said not to take, ” Gershon tells Entertainment Weekly. "My agents
thought it was crazy. But when I read the script I just thought it was amazing." The script, written
by Larry and Andy Washowski ("Assasins"), was filled with numerous unanticipated plot twists. It
flowed with sexual undertones.
Filming the erotic love scenes between Tilly and Gershon was an arduous process. "The biggest
problem was that Jennifer and I couldn't stop laughing." Gershon recalls in an Interview Magazine
piece. "Larry (Washowski) would be shouting into his megaphone, "O.K., enough. Stop giggling!"
Gershon continues, "Will guys watch it and get turned on? Absolutely. Every guy who sees it
goes, "Oh my God, that seduction scene is so hot!" The scenes worked. This was primarily
attributed to Gina Gershon's constant attention to detail. She researched the role of Corky rather
extensively, spending time at some of Los Angeles" lesbian clubs testing Corky's lines. "These
film noir movies are popular because the women are strong and beautiful, Gershon offers. "With
Bound, of course, there's the element of sexuality between the two women thrown into the mix. And
since you don't know how things are going to end, it's fun to watch the events unfold."
For director Michael Obliwitz's newly released "This World, Then The Fireworks", Gershon stars
opposite Billy Zane "The Phantom", "Dead Calm"). The film itself is a psychological thriller that
centers around murderous twins on the grift. It's an erotic and bizarre glimpse into the pscyhotic
syblings" sorted lives. Gershon plays Carol Lakewood, an independent hooker with one dead
client and an excessively ruthless ex-husband. "Carol is a very fragmented person," Gershon
says. "Sometimes, she's like a teenager who never really grew up. Other times, she has to be
extremely aggresive and take care of herself. And sometimes with her brother Marty, she's in her
mother mode." "Even though Carol and Marty are twins," continues Gershon, "They're different.
They love, trust and protect each other, and they hate their mother, who's clearly nuts. I'm always
fascinated by family dynamics and family tradgedies." For her role, Gershon prepared extensively
by dilegently studying the intricate psychology of twins. Michael Oblivitz describes Gershon's
overall "look" for the film as "classic Ava Gardner". "The fifties is such a great period." says
Gershon, whose character wears a plethora of silks and taffetas in the film. "I think of Carol as
someone who used to have a lot of clothes and jewelry before her ex-husband screwed her over."
Director Michael Obliwitz continues, "I knew Gina had the skill and depth to play Carol."
In director John Woo's newest box office smash "Face-Off", Gershon stars opposite veteran
heavyweights Nicholas Cage and John Travolta. The film is an action thriller with a miriad of twists
and turns. Gershon plays Sasha Hassler, a sensual yet intense woman involved with the
contemptible Castor Troy, (played by Cage). Gershon adds an impassioned dimension to Sasha.
Her ability to inject precise amounts of vulnerability into Sasha gives the character a sense of
balance.
Currently Gina Gershon is on location shooting Castle Rock Entertainment's mystery thriller
"Palmetto" based on the James Hadley Case novel "Just Another Sucker". Her co-stars are Oscar
nominees Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Shue. Directed by Volker Schlondorff and written by E.
Max Frye, the film is already being tauted as a piece of "cinematic genuis".
Gina Gershon has often been compared to Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, and of course, Madonna.
The constant comparisons are mostly vapid shades of pale. There simply is no comparison. Gina
Gershon is a cut above the closest competition. Her character perceptions are instinctive
“studies” in exquisite detail. In a business where as a working actress, you are only as
successful as your last major hit, Gina Gershon simply defies the entire system.
