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Main Movie Roles 2004 - Seeing Other People 1994 - Lassie 1991 - City Slickers 1987 - Secret of My Succe$s 1986 - Ruthless People 1985 - The Legend of Billie Jean 1984 - Supergirl

BIOGRAPHY:

Helen Slater was born Helen Rachel Schlacter to Gerald Schlachter and Alice Joan Citrin, in Massapequa, Long Island, New York. Appearing in many shows as a child, she attended the New York High School of Performing Arts, graduating in 1982. Having made her acting debut in the after-school special Amy & the Angel (1982), co-starring with James Earl Jones and Matthew Modine - the only film in which she appeared as a brunette - Helen took her career very seriously. Within months of her graduation, she attended auditions for the upcoming spin-off of the famous Superman (1978) franchise, Supergirl (1984). It was to be shot in England at Pinewood Studios, where the first "Superman" movies were filmed. Slater even spoke to Christopher Reeve about playing a superhero to assure herself she could do it. After being the first to present herself for audition, she was cast as the lead in the film and her career took off.

Although Supergirl (1984) received mixed reviews, most critics were impressed with Helen's abilities. In fact, the critics' consensus was that she did a better job at keeping a secret identity (a mousy schoolgirl) than Reeve did as Clark Kent. In her next film, she was cast as a modern-day Joan of Arc in The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) with Yeardley Smith and Peter Coyote. The film, though not particularly successful, has managed to attract a somewhat cult following. She next appeared in one of her best-received roles, that of the female half of the bumbling husband-and-wife team that kidnaps Bette Midler in the comic blockbuster Ruthless People (1986), and scored again in the hit The Secret of My Succe$s (1987). Both roles helped to cement her status as an actress of note. Next, she and her friend Melanie Mayron starred in the feminist comedy Sticky Fingers (1988), a critical but not financial success. It was in this film and her next, Happy Together (1989/I), that she was able to prove that she could do comedy as well as drama. She went on to do more feature films such as City Slickers (1991), A House in the Hills (1993) and Lassie (1994), before making regular appearances on television.

Her regional stage credits include appearances in such plays as "Grease" and "Shakespeare and Friends". On Broadway, she starred in "Responsible Parties" and "Almost Romance". She also attended classes at both NYU and UCLA, trying to broaden her acting abilities. On television, she has appeared in "Caroline in the City" (1995), as well as many others. She also became a spokeswoman for Preference by L'Oreal in both TV and print ads. She is an accomplished pianist and now has an album out called "One of These Days". She co-founded the New York theater group The Naked Angels with her friend Gina Gershon. In 1990, she married award-winning editor Robert Watzke and they have a daughter, born in 1995. She stepped out of the limelight for a couple of years, appearing mainly in the occasional TV show, but came back strong in 2003, showing moviegoers and TV audiences how great an entertainer she really is.


TRIVIA:

• Was a member of the Actor's Movement Studio.
• Measurements: 32A-21 1/2-34 (filming _Supergirl (1984)_ (qv)), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
• Both she and 'Christian Slater' (qv) achieved early success in their careers playing brother and sister in _The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)_ (qv), leading many to believe they were real-life siblings. Although they share the same last name, they are not, in fact, related.
• Wrote a musical called "Ugly Duckling." Though a take on the original story, it is written for adults and centers around human characters, and she is trying to get it published.
• To add to her pianist accomplishments, she is also a classically trained singer. She released her first album, titled "One of these Days", in 2003.
• Attended and graduated from the famous New York High School of Performing Arts.
• Co-founded the New York based Theater group, The Naked Angels with 'Gina Gershon' (qv).
• Her real hair color is brown. After dying it once for _Supergirl (1984)_ (qv), she kept it blonde for her future roles until she became a spokeswoman for Preferance by L'oreal. She can be seen with her natural hair in her first feature, _"ABC Afterschool Specials" (1972) {Amy & the Angel (#11.1)}_ (qv).