Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III (born January 23, 1951) is an American airline transport pilot (ATP), safety expert, and accident investigator from Danville, California.[2][3][4] Sullenberger rose to fame when he successfully ditched US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan, New York City, on January 15, 2009, saving the lives of all 155 people on the aircraft.
Sullenberger is an international speaker on airline safety and has helped develop new protocols for airline safety. As of September 30, 2009, Sullenberger is also the co-chairman of the EAA's Young Eagles youth introduction-to-aviation program.[6] Sullenberger retired from US Airways and its predecessor airline after 30 years with them on March 3, 2010. The following May, Sullenberger was hired by CBS News as an on-air aviation expert.
He is the author of Highest Duty, a memoir of his life and of the events surrounding Flight 1549, published in 2009 by HarperCollins. He was ranked second in TIME Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009.
US Airways Flight 1549 Full Cockpit Recording
Early life
Sullenberger was born in Denison, Texas to a dentist father — a descendant of Swiss immigrants named Sollenberger[10] — and an elementary school teacher mother. He has one sister, Mary Wilson.[11] The street on which he grew up in Denison, Texas, was named after his mother's family, the Hannas.[11] According to his sister, Sullenberger built model planes and aircraft carriers during his childhood, and says he became interested in flying after seeing military jets from a nearby Air Force base from his house.[11] He went to school in Denison, and was consistently in the 99th percentile in every academic category.[12] At the age of 12, his IQ was deemed high enough to join Mensa International.[12] In high school he was the president of the Latin club,[13] a first chair flute,[13] and an honor student.[13] His high school friends have said that Sullenberger developed a passion for flying from watching jets based out of Perrin Air Force Base.[11] He was an active member of the Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison,[14] and graduated from Denison High School in 1969[13] near the top of his class of about 350.[11] At 16, Sullenberger learned to fly in an Aeronca 7DC from a private airstrip near his home. He said the training he received from a local flight instructor set the base for his aviation career for the rest of his life. Military service 1973 Air Force Academy senior class photo
Chesley Sullenberger enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy in 1969. He was selected as one of around a dozen other freshmen for a cadet glider program, and by the end of that year, he was an instructor pilot.[11] In the year of his graduation, 1973, he received the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship award, as the class "top flier". Following graduation with a B.S. degree and his commissioning as an officer, the Air Force immediately sent Chesley to Purdue University.[15]
Sullenberger served as a fighter pilot for the United States Air Force,[16] piloting McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs from 1975 to 1980.[17] He advanced to become a flight leader and a training officer, and attained the rank of captain,[18] with experience in Europe, the Pacific, and at Nellis Air Force Base, as well as operating as Blue Force Mission Commander in Red Flag Exercises.[17] While in the Air Force, he was a member of the official aircraft accident investigation board.[19] Commercial pilot
Sullenberger has been employed by US Airways or its predecessor airlines since 1980.[20][21] (Pacific Southwest Airlines was acquired by US Air, later US Airways, in 1988.) In total, he has more than 40 years and 19,000 hours of flying experience, and since 2007[18] has run his own safety consulting business,[5] Safety Reliability Methods Inc.,[16] which provides "emergency management, safety strategies and performance monitoring to the aviation industry".[5] He has also been involved in a number of accident investigations conducted by the USAF and the National Transportation Safety Board, such as Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 and USAir Flight 1493.[22] He served as an instructor, Air Line Pilots Association safety chairman, accident investigator, and national technical committee member.[16][23] His safety work for the ALPA led to the development of a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular.[17] He was instrumental in developing and implementing the Crew Resource Management course that is used by US Airways, and he has taught the course to hundreds of other airline members.[17]
Working with NASA scientists, he coauthored a paper on error-inducing contexts in aviation.[17] He has gained more than 19,000 hours of flight experience to destinations across North America, Europe and South America on Airbus A320s and similar planes since joining US Airways.[19] His résumé states that he was an air accident investigator for a National Transport Safety Board inquiry into a major accident at Los Angeles International Airport, which "led to improved airline procedures and training for emergency evacuations of aircraft".[19] Sullenberger has also been studying the psychology behind keeping an airline crew functioning during a crisis.[24] He holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate for single and multi-engine airplanes, and a Commercial Pilot Certificate rating in gliders, as well as an expired flight instructor certificate for airplanes (single, multi-engine, and instrument), and gliders.[25] Flight 1549 Main article: US Airways Flight 1549 US Airways Flight 1549 afloat in the Hudson.
On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger was pilot in command of an Airbus A320 from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. The flight was designated as US Airways Flight 1549 as well as United Airlines Flight 1919.[26] Shortly after taking off, Sullenberger reported to air traffic control that the plane had hit a large flock of birds, disabling both engines.[27] Several passengers saw the left engine on fire.[28] Sullenberger discussed with air traffic control the possibilities of either returning to LaGuardia airport or attempting to land at the Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. However, Sullenberger quickly decided that neither was feasible, and determined that ditching in the Hudson River was the only option for everyone's survival.[29] Sullenberger told the passengers to "brace for impact", then piloted the plane to a smooth ditching in the river at about 3:31 P.M.[30] All passengers and crew members survived.[30] He later said, "It was very quiet as we worked, my co-pilot and I. We were a team. But to have zero thrust coming out of those engines was shocking—the silence."[31] Sullenberger walked the length of the passenger cabin twice to make sure everyone had evacuated before retrieving the plane's maintenance logbook and being the last to evacuate the aircraft.[11][32]
Sullenberger, described by friends as "shy and reticent",[33] has been noted for his poise and calm demeanor during the crisis. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for example, dubbed him, "Captain Cool".[34] However, Sullenberger acknowledged that he had suffered some symptoms of posttraumatic stress for the first couple of weeks following the crash, including sleeplessness and flashbacks, though this condition had improved by the time of his late February 2009 interview with People magazine.[35] In a CBS 60 Minutes interview, he was quoted as saying that the moments before the crash were "the worst sickening, pit-of-your-stomach, falling-through-the-floor feeling" that he had ever experienced.[36] Speaking with news anchor Katie Couric, Sullenberger said, "One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on January 15 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."[37]
U.S. President George W. Bush called Sullenberger to thank him for saving the lives of the passengers,[38] as did President-elect Barack Obama[39] who also invited him, as well as the entire crew, to join the presidential inauguration ceremony.[40] On January 16, 2009, the United States Senate passed a resolution to recognize and honor Sullenberger, co-pilot Jeff Skiles, the cabin crew, the passengers, and the first responders involved in Flight 1549's emergency landing.[41] The United States House of Representatives passed a similar resolution of praise on January 26, 2009.[42]
Sullenberger attended the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009, where he and his wife met President Obama.[35] On January 22, 2009, he and the rest of the crew of Flight 1549 were awarded a Masters Medal by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.[43] A ceremony for Sullenberger was held on January 24, 2009, in his hometown of Danville, California, where he was presented with awards including Danville's "Key to the Town",[33] and was named an honorary Danville police officer.[44] San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Chief Richard Price presented Captain Sullenberger with his district's highest award, the Medal of Valor,[45] which has been given only a few times in the district's history.[46] Sullenberger, Skiles, and Flight 1549's cabin crew, Doreen Walsh, Sheila Dail and Donna Dent, were honored with a standing ovation during the Super Bowl XLIII pre-game ceremony on February 1, 2009.[47] Sullenberger was awarded with honorary lifetime membership in The Seaplane Pilot's Association.[48][49] Admirers of Sullenberger also started a Facebook fan site that, as of late February 2009, had half a million members.[35]
A few weeks after the crash, it was revealed that Sullenberger had lost a library book about professional ethics, Just Culture: Balancing Safety and Accountability, in the plane's cargo hold. When Sullenberger telephoned the library to notify them of the lost book, it waived the usual fees. New York City Mayor Bloomberg replaced the book when presenting Sullenberger with the Key to the City of New York.[50][51]
Sullenberger threw out the first pitch of the 2009 Major League Baseball season for the San Francisco Giants. His Giants' jersey was inscribed with the name "Sully" and the number 155 - a reference to the 155 people aboard the plane.[52]
On June 6, 2009, Sullenberger returned to his childhood hometown of Denison, Texas, to participate in that town's D-Day celebration, and to give the commencement address for his alma mater, Denison High School, marking the 40th anniversary of his own graduation from the school.[53]
Sullenberger also made an appearance in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 14, 2009, to participate in the Red Carpet All-Star Parade that took place before the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Wikinews has related news:
US Airways jet recovered from Hudson River "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot retires
Sullenberger testified before the U.S. House of Representatives's Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure on February 24, 2009, that his salary had been cut by 40 percent, and that his pension, like most airline pensions, was terminated and replaced by a "PBGC" guarantee worth only pennies on the dollar.[54] Sullenberger also mentioned his pay cut in an October 13, 2009 appearance on The Daily Show.
Sullenberger retired from US Airways and its predecessor airline after 30 years with them on March 3, 2010. He indicated, however, that his advocacy for aviation safety and the piloting profession would continue.[7]
In 2009, Sullenberger filmed a TV commercial as a spokesman for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[55] Academic life
In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Sullenberger also holds a Master's degree in Industrial Psychology from Purdue University and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.[18]
Sullenberger is a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley's Center for Catastrophic Risk Management.[3][17] He was a speaker for two panels at the High Reliability Organizations (HRO) 2007 International Conference in Deauville, France, from May 29 to 31, 2007.[2] Involvement in politics
Sullenberger is a registered Republican.[56] In October 2009, it was reported[56] that the Republican Party had approached Sullenberger about running for Jerry McNerney's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sullenberger's publicist said that Sullenberger had no desire to run for any public office.
Sullenberger was active with his union, serving as chairman of a safety committee within the Airline Pilots Association.[57] He has not donated money to political campaigns over the last two decades. Personal life
Sullenberger is married to the fitness expert and television personality Lorraine "Lorrie" Sullenberger,[30][58] with whom he has two adopted daughters,[19] Kate and Kelly.[59] The Sullenbergers reside in Danville, California.
Sullenberger authored a book called Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters about his experience aboard US Air's Flight 1549 Other awards and honors
Chesley Sullenberger was selected as the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade's Grand Marshal, which was announced on Thursday, November 5, 2009, in Pasadena, California, at the Tournament House.[60] In 2009, Sullenberger was awarded the Founders' Medal by The Air League. References from Wikipedia.com
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters (Dutch pronunciation: [kɪm ˈklɛistərs] ( listen); born 8 June 1983) is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 16 May 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 2 in singles and is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles.
Clijsters is the reigning singles champion at the US Open and the Australian Open. She has also won 41 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles titles. She has won four Grand Slam singles titles: three at the US Open, in 2005, 2009 and 2010 and one at the Australian Open in 2011. She has also been runner-up in four Grand Slam singles tournaments, and won the WTA Tour Championships singles title in 2002, 2003 and 2010. In doubles, she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2003. Clijsters announced her retirement with immediate effect on 6 May 2007,[2] but almost two years later, on 26 March 2009, she publicly declared her intent to return to the WTA tour for the 2009 summer hard court season.[3] In only her third tournament back, she won her second US Open title, becoming the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the tournament, and the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.
Kim Clijsters chided commentator Todd Woodbridge at the Australian Open
Playing style
Clijsters is recognized for her deep, powerful, well-placed groundstrokes. She can hit outright winners off both wings and from any part of the court. Her forehand is one of the best and most powerful the women's game has ever seen, yet occasionally erratic and prone to unforced errors; her backhand is more reliable and consistent, and can be hit with heavy slice as a defensive shot. Clijsters is also recognised for her all-court defence, characterized by speed and athleticism. Clijsters, along with Jelena Janković and Svetlana Kuznetsova, is among the few tennis players on either the Association of Tennis Professionals or Women's Tennis Association tours who can slide (or "straddle") on all surfaces.[5] Maria Sharapova, interviewed after losing to Clijsters in the 2005 Nasdaq-100 Open, said, "You just have to expect that she's going to get every ball back".[6] Her first serve, while not overwhelming, is placed well and earns aces and unreturnables. Clijsters tends to rush between first and second serves, which may contribute to her occasional matches with high numbers of double faults. A former World No. 1 player in doubles, Clijsters has exceptional volleys; she has no problem switching from baseline to finishing points at the net with a volley or over-head. Her mental fragility was considered her biggest weakness, and at the earlier stages of her career she was considered a "choker", often surrendering big leads in the latter rounds of Grand Slams.[citation needed] Since winning the 2005 US Open, Clijsters has gained more control over her nerves and since her return to the tour in 2009 she has been known, along with Serena Williams, as among the toughest players to beat mentally. She is now seen as capable of rising to the occasion and playing her best tennis at the important stages of matches. Clijsters is also considered to be one of the most popular players on the tour, known for her grace on the court and even temper. She has been voted the WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award by her fellow players seven times and the WTA Player Service Award three times. [edit] Personal life
Clijsters was born on 8 June 1983, in Bilzen, Limburg, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. She is the daughter of Lei Clijsters, a former international footballer, and Els Vandecaetsbeek, a former national gymnastics champion. Lei Clijsters died of skin cancer on 4 January 2009.[7] Clijsters says that she inherited footballer's legs from her father and a gymnast's flexibility from her mother.[8] Kim's younger sister Elke finished 2002 as the ITF World Junior Doubles champion and retired in 2004 after back injuries.
In December 2003, Clijsters announced her engagement to Australian Lleyton Hewitt, but their relationship ended in October 2004.[9] Clijsters is still affectionately nicknamed "Aussie Kim" by Australians. In October 2006, Clijsters announced her engagement to American basketball player Brian Lynch, who is based in Clijsters' hometown of Bree. In an interview with Sportweekend (a sports programme on Belgian Flemish television), Clijsters said that she was retiring to start a family.[2] Clijsters and Lynch married privately on 13 July 2007, at 6 am at the Bree city hall. She was married by the mayor, with sister Elke, Lynch's brother Pat Lynch, and both sets of parents present.[10]
Clijsters gave birth to a daughter on 27 February 2008, at 1:35 pm at the Vesalius hospital in Tongeren, Belgium. The girl, Jada Ellie, weighed 3.035 kg and measured 51 cm.[11] [edit] Tennis career [edit] Junior career
Clijsters was an accomplished junior player. In singles, she finished as runner-up in the 1998 Wimbledon junior event,[12] finishing 11th in the year-end singles ranking.[13] In the same year in doubles, Clijsters won the French Open title with Jelena Dokić defeating Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova in the final[14] as well the US Open with Eva Dyrberg defeating former partner Dokic in the final.[15] Clijsters ended the season as number four in the International Tennis Federation junior doubles world ranking.[13] [edit] 1999
In 1999, Clijsters made her breakthrough professionally. At her first WTA tournament in Antwerp, she qualified and lost to the eventual finalist Sarah Pitkowski-Malcor in the quarterfinal after failing to convert a matchpoint. Playing through the qualifying rounds at Roehampton, only after four others had dropped out, she made it through the main draw of Wimbledon.[16] Clijsters won six matches in a row while only losing 25 games. She defeated tenth ranked Amanda Coetzer en route to the fourth round, during which Clijsters lost to her childhood idol[17] Steffi Graf in straight sets, in difficult rainy circumstances.[16] Later that summer, Clijsters reached the third round of the US Open, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams after serving for the match. In the autumn, Clijsters won her first Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles title at Luxembourg. She followed up with her first WTA doubles title at Bratislava, partnering Laurence Courtois. At the end of the year, she was granted the WTA Most Impressive Newcomer award, the only Belgian player to have received this trophy. [edit] 2000–2002
Clijsters climbed up the rankings over the next couple of years. In 2001, she reached her first Tier I final at the tournament in Indian Wells, California, losing to Serena Williams in a match overshadowed by controversy. Clijsters also reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open, where she lost to Jennifer Capriati 12–10 in the third set. This two-hour, 21-minute match featured the longest third set in a French Open women's final. Clijsters was four times within two points of winning before Capriati prevailed. Her next important breakthrough came at the end of 2002, when she won the year-end Home Depot Championships in Los Angeles, defeating top ranked Serena Williams in the final. This was only the fifth defeat of the year for Williams and snapped her 18-match winning streak. On her way to the final, Clijsters defeated fourth ranked Justine Henin and second ranked Venus Williams, becoming just the fourth player to beat both of the Williams sisters in the same event. She also equaled the event's record for the fewest games dropped. [edit] 2003
Clijsters started her season at the Adidas International, where she won her first tournament of the year defeating Lindsey Davenport in straight sets in the final.[18] Clijsters reached the final after defeating Patty Schnyder,[19] Chanda Rubin[20] and Justine Henin.[21] At the Australian Open, Clijsters lost in the semi-final to Serena Williams 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 after holding 5 match points.[22][23] On the way to the semis Clijsters lost just fifteen games beating Samantha Reeves[24] and completing a double bagel (wherein the opposing player fails to win a single game) against Petra Mandula.[25] Then continuing to win in straight sets against Tatiana Poutchek,[26] Amanda Coetzer and Anastasia Myskina.[27] and at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, where she defeated Lindsay Davenport in the final. Clijsters in 2003
Clijsters reached the final of the WTA German Open after defeating Jennifer Capriati 6–4 in the final set.[28] In the final she played Justine Henin and squandered three match points as Clijsters lost the final set 7–5.[29] To compound the day Clijsters also lost the doubles final 6–4 in the final set.[30]
Clijsters’ third title of the year came at the Telecom Italia Masters in Rome, where she defeated Amélie Mauresmo in the final,[31][32] white washing the Frenchwoman in the final set. After Clijsters had defeated Myskina[33] and doubles partner Ai Sugiyama to make the final.[34]
At the French Open Clijsters’ reached the final for the second time in three years after defeating Nadia Petrova.[35] In the final Clijsters lost 6–0, 6–4 to Henin[36] at the US open, 7–5, 6–1. She also lost in the semi-final at Wimbledon to Venus Williams after leading by a set and a break. On 11 August 2003, Clijsters attained the World No. 1 ranking, holding the spot for 12 non-consecutive weeks during the remainder of the year, and was the first player to be top ranked by the WTA without first winning a Grand Slam singles title.
On 18 August 2003, Clijsters also attained the World No. 1 ranking in doubles, joining a very select group of only four players of Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport having reached the World number one ranking in singles and doubles simultaneously. By 2010, only Serena Williams has managed to join this group.
The World No. 1 ranking was again at stake in October during the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany. Clijsters rallied from a set down to beat Henin. The match marked only the eighth time that the top two players battled for the top ranking.[37] Even though Clijsters won that match, she finished the year ranked World No. 2, just behind Henin. [edit] 2004
Clijsters started 2004 by playing in the Hopman Cup. During the tie against Australia, Clijsters injured her ankle against Alicia Molik.[38] Clijsters was on crutches for a few days and feared she may need surgery. Clijsters pulled out of the Adidas International due to the injury[39] Clijsters did recover in time to reach her fourth career Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, where she lost once more to Henin.[40] After defeating in straight sets Marlene Weingärtner, Maria Elena Camerin (With a double bagal),[41] Dinara Safina,[42] Silvia Farina Elia,[43] Anastasia Myskina (during the match Clijsters aggravated her ankle injury)[44] and Patty Schnyder to reach the final. Clijsters then won two consecutive titles in Paris and Antwerp. In Paris Clijsters defeated local favourite Mary Pierce in the final.[45] To reach the final Clijsters defeated Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo,[46] Farina Elia[47] and Safina.[48] In Antwerp. While defending her Tier I title at the Pacific Life Open Clijsters injured her wrist during her win against Angelika Roesch, in her first match. Clijsters withdrew ahead of her second match with the injury being described as a bruised bone.[49] Clijsters withdrew from the event in Miami the next week[50] Clijsters then appeared six weeks later in her home town of Bree to play in a Fed Cup tie against Croatia[51] winning both of her rubbers. Clijsters returned to the tour in Berlin and needed three sets to see off Marta Marrero[52] Clijsters then pulled out of her second match and then was told to rest for five weeks causing her to miss the French Open.[53] Clijsters then had surgery to remove a cyst causing her to miss three months of the tour including Wimbledon and the US Open.[54][55] Clijsters also missed the Olympics, but she had already decided not to play the tournament after a dispute about clothing sponsors.[56] Clijsters returned at the Gaz de France Stars[57] she made the semi finals defeating Iveta Benešová[58][59] and Magdalena Maleeva;[60][61] before pulling out in the second set against Elena Bovina.[62][63] Clijsters had aggravated the injury and although she did not need surgery, she was out for the rest of the season.[64] As well she played down fears that the injury may force her retirement from tennis.[65] [edit] 2005
Clijsters missed the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open with injury.[66] In February, after four months out, Clijsters returned to the tour by participating in Antwerp, her first match back was against Jelena Kostanić. Clijsters won in straight sets[67] before losing to Venus Williams in the quarter-finals.[68][69]
Clijsters, completed her comeback in March and April, when she won, as an unseeded player, 17 matches in a row to claim two Tier I titles and regain a top-20 ranking. At the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, Clijsters was ranked World No. 133 at the time. The Belgian began by beating Nicole Pratt,[66] Shinobu Asagoe,[70] Anna Chakvetadze[71] and Evgenia Linetskaya[72] all without dropping a set. In the semi final Clijsters defeated World No. 5 Elena Dementieva in straight sets[73] and World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport in the final in three sets.[74] The week after that win, Clijsters defeated four top-6 players in straight sets to win the NASDAQ-100 Open. To win the title Clijsters defeated Sandra Kloesel,[75] Amy Frazier,[76] Nathalie Dechy,[77] Anastasia Myskina,[78] Elena Dementieva, Amélie Mauresmo[79] and Maria Sharapova[80] going the whole tournament without dropping a set.
Turning her attention to clay, Clijsters’ winning streak continued at the J&S Cup. Clijsters defeated Tatiana Perebiynis,[81] Maria Kirilenko,[82] and Elena Bovina. Against Bovina Clijsters’ picked up a minor shoulder injury.[83] Clijsters’ 17 match winning streak was finally ended by Svetlana Kuznetsova.[83] Playing next at the WTA German Open Clijsters defeated Yuliana Fedak[84] and Dinara Safina in straight sets before hurting her right knee[85] and retiring against Patty Schnyder.[86] Clijsters recovered in time to play the French Open.[87] Playing in the French Open for the first time in two years Clijsters defeated Meilen Tu,[88] Cervanová and Daniela Hantuchová[89] to advance to the fourth round where she lost to Davenport.[90]
Starting her grass court season at the Hastings Direct International Championships, Clijsters got off to the best possible start by winning the tournament. Clijsters defeated Jelena Janković,[91] Conchita Martínez, Mashona Washington,[92] Kuznetsova[93] and Vera Dushevina to claim her third title of the year.[94] At Wimbledon Clijsters defeated Katie O'Brien,[95] Marissa Irvin[96] Roberta Vinci[97] before facing Davenport in the last 16 for the second slam running. The result was the same as the French Open with the American winning.[98]
After Wimbledon Clijsters went on an amazing run of form where she lost just once between July and October. Clijsters’ run began at the Bank of the West Classic against Ai Sugiyama,[99] and defeated Hantuchová,[100] Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Venus Williams to win her fourth title of the year.[101] Clijsters’ streak continued in San Diego as she defeated Marta Domachowska[102] and Janković[103] before suffering her one and only defeat in this run to Shuai Peng.[104]
After the defeat to Peng, Clijsters continued the run as she went on an amazing winning streak, winning twenty two matches in a row, collecting four straight titles along the way, including her maiden Grand Slam title. The twenty two match streak started against Karolina Šprem[105] and victories over Safina, Nadia Petrova,[106] Francesca Schiavone,[107] saw Clijsters collect her fifth title of the year.[108] The streak continued in Toronto as Clijsters beat Virginie Razzano,[109] Ana Ivanović (Via a Walkover),[110] Flavia Pennetta,[111] Anastasia Myskina[112] and Justine Henin-Hardenne to win the Rogers Cup.[113] After winning three of her four US Summer Hard court tournaments, Clijsters won the US Open Series, which links all the US summer hard courts together and doubles the winners prize money at the US Open. Giving Clijsters a chance to double the $1.1 million US Open winners prize to $2.2 million.[114]
Clijsters won her maiden Grand Slam singles title at the US Open. It was her first victory after reaching four Grand Slam finals previously. Clijsters started by defeating Martina Müller,[115] Fabiola Zuluaga,[116] Ai Sugiyama[117] and María Vento-Kabchi[118] in straight sets to reach the quarter finals. Where Clijsters defeated tenth-seeded Venus Williams in the quarter-finals 4–6, 7–5, 6–1, winning 11 of the last 13 games after Williams had led 6–4, 4–2.[119] Clijsters also needed three sets to defeat top-seeded Sharapova in the semi-final.[120] At the fifth attempt Clijsters won a Grand Slam final defeating Mary Pierce in straight sets. By winning the US Open Series Clijsters doubled her US$1.1 million in prize money she received for winning the US Open, to US$2.2 million.[121][122] The pay check was the largest payday in women's sports history.[123]
On 15 September, a week after her US Open victory, it was announced that Clijsters and her coach, Marc Dehous, had parted company, which was due in part to her paying him only $9,000 of her $2,200,000 US Open winnings.[124][125]
Clijsters’ rich vein of form continued as she extended her streak to 21 wins, even without a coach at the Fortis Championships. Clijsters beat Klara Koukalová,[126] Schiavone,[127] Dechy and Lena Groenefeld all without dropping a set to win her eighth title of the year.[128] The title was Clijsters’ fourth consecutive title.[129] At the Porsche Grand Prix Clijsters defeated Šprem[130] for her twenty second consecutive match win before Dementieva ended the streak.[131]
Clijsters then won her ninth and final tournament of the year at the Gaz de France Stars, defeating Schiavone in the final, to go the whole tournament without dropping a set.[132] Clijsters defeated Ekaterina Bychkova,[133] Šprem,[134] Julia Schruff[135] and Safina[136] to make the final.
At the year-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, Clijsters was eliminated in the group stage. Clijsters lost her first match, a rematch of the US Open final, to Pierce 6–1, 4–6, 7–6[137] and her second match to Mauresmo 6–3, 7–6. This left the Belgian needing to win and hope that the results in the other matches went her way.[138] Although results did not go her way and Clijsters was eliminated with one match still to play.[139] Clijsters finished her season by defeating Dementieva, in straight sets.[140] Ending the year ranked World No. 2. [edit] 2006 Clijsters in 2006
Clijsters started the year by winning an exhibition tournament, the Watson Water Challenge, in Hong Kong. On her way to the title she defeated Jie Zheng, Elena Dementieva, and top ranked Lindsay Davenport. Clijsters then withdrew from her semi-final match at the WTA tournament in Sydney, citing a left hip muscle strain.
At the Australian Open, Clijsters defeated former champion Martina Hingis in the quarter-finals 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 before retiring from her semi-final match with Amélie Mauresmo. Despite the loss, the ranking points she accumulated were enough to regain the World No. 1 ranking, a position she last held on 9 November 2003. She was the first tennis player, male or female, to rise from outside the Top 100 (World No. 134) to World No. 1 in less than a year. Clijsters' loss to Mauresmo in the Australian Open semi-final was due to an ankle injury. Although she had been expected to miss at least eight weeks to recover, Clijsters returned two weeks later at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp. She lost the final of that tournament to Mauresmo in three sets.
Clijsters won her first title of the year at a clay court event in Warsaw, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. At the French Open in May, Clijsters reached the semi-final without losing a set, defeating Hingis in the quarter-finals 7–6, 6–1. However, she lost to Justine Henin in the semi-final 6–3, 6–2 on her 23rd birthday. She was seeded second going into Wimbledon but was again eliminated in the semi-final by Henin, also in straight sets, 6–4, 7–6(4). Clijsters at 2006 Wimbledon
Clijsters collected her second title of the year as the top seed in Stanford, defeating Patty Schnyder in the final. Clijsters then reached the final in San Diego, falling to second-seeded Maria Sharapova in straight sets. This was her first loss to Sharapova in five career meetings.
On 16 August, after receiving a first round bye at the Tier I Rogers Cup in Montreal, Clijsters faced Canadian Stéphanie Dubois in the second round. Having won the first set 6–1 and trailing 2–3 in the second set, Clijsters slipped and fell on her left wrist and was forced to retire from the match. On 18 August 2006, Clijsters announced on her official website that the condition of her wrist was worse than she had expected and that she would be unable to defend her title at the US Open. She also missed the Fed Cup final against Italy, which Italy won 3–2.[141]
Playing in Paris at the Gaz de France Stars tournament, her first event in more than two months, Clijsters successfully defended her title by beating qualifier Kaia Kanepi in the final. At the year-ending WTA Tour Championships, Clijsters lost a semi-final to Mauresmo 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 after defeating Dementieva and Kuznetsova and losing to Sharapova in the round robin phase of the tournament. [edit] 2007: Retirement
2007 was to be Clijsters’ final year on tour as she had planned in 2005 to retire at the end of the 2007 season.[142] Clijsters started the year by winning an exhibition tournament, the Watson Water Challenge, in Hong Kong. On her way to the title, she defeated Zheng Jie, Patty Schnyder, and top ranked Maria Sharapova. Clijsters then won the Medibank International in Sydney, defeating Nicole Pratt,[143] Shahar Pe'er,[144] Li Na and[145] Jelena Janković to claim the title after being match point down in the final.[146] Clijsters at the 2007 J&S Cup
At the Australian Open Clijsters was the fourth seed. The Belgian started by giving a double bagal to Vasilisa Bardina before going on to defeat Akiko Morigami,[147] Alona Bondarenkoand[148] Daniela Hantuchová[149] in straight sets. Clijsters then defeated sixth seed Martina Hingis in three sets[150] before losing to Sharapova in the semi-finals.[151]
Clijsters next played in Belgium for the final time at the Proximus Diamond Games after pulling out of the Open Gaz de France with a hip injury.[152] When Clijsters said that she was fit she hinted that she may miss the French Open.[153] Clijsters reached the final of the Diamond Games losing to Amélie Mauresmo.[154][155][156] Defeating Olga Poutchkova,[157] Ana Ivanović[158] and Tatiana Golovin[159] while on the way to the final without dropping a set.
After this event Clijsters confirmed that she would miss the French Open[160] and US Open, making Wimbledon her last Grand Slam event. The Belgian also added that her last two tournaments would be in Luxembourg and at the WTA Tour Championships in Stuttgart.[161][162]
At the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, Clijsters lost in the fourth round to Li Na in three sets.[163] After beating Akiko Morigami[164] and Sam Stosur.[165] A month later in her first clay tournament of the year, at Warsaw Clijsters failed to defend her title when she lost to Julia Vakulenko 7–6(3), 6–3.[166]
On 6 May 2007, citing injuries, Clijsters announced on her official website that she was cutting short her season and bringing forward her plans to retire from professional tennis. Clijsters decided to retire immediately from the sport.[167] [edit] 2009: Comeback
Almost two years after her retirement and one year after the birth of her daughter in February 2008 it was announced that Clijsters, along with Tim Henman, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, would play an exhibition event on Wimbledon's Centre Court in May, in order to test the new roof on centre court.[168]
While preparing for the exhibition at Wimbledon, Clijsters called a press conference on the 26 March and then announced that she was returning to professional tennis. She said that she had been inspired when preparing for the Wimbledon roof event during January 2009. Clijsters stated that she had asked for wildcards for the Cincinnati and Toronto tournaments.[169] Additionally, Clijsters had also asked for a wildcard at the US Open, after which she planned to evaluate the comeback in terms of success and the feasibility of combining it with her family life. Clijsters also stated that she preferred to think of it as a "second career" instead of a comeback, because so many factors (marriage, a baby, the recent death of her father) were different compared to her first career.[170]
At the Wimbledon exhibition Clijsters and Henman won 7–6 in a tiebreak against Graf and Agassi.[171] Clijsters also played a singles rubber against Graf, winning 6–4.[172] Clijsters said at the event she had been practicing for a month from January and had started to feel good again at the start of February, then Wimbledon was confirmed and that is what pushed her to commit to pro tennis again.[173] In July, she won both of her doubles matches with the St. Louis Aces of World Team Tennis.[174]
Clijsters started her second career at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati, following the acceptance of her wildcard. She defeated World No. 13 Marion Bartoli in the first round 6–4, 6–3.[175] In her next two matches, she defeated World No. 20 Patty Schnyder 6–2, 7–5 and World No. 6 and reigning French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–4, 4–6, 6–2. In the quarterfinals, she lost to World No. 1 Dinara Safina 6–2, 7–5.
Following Cincinnati Clijsters played at the Rogers Cup in Toronto on another wildcard. She defeated British qualifier Elena Baltacha in the first round. In the second round, she defeated World No. 9 Victoria Azarenka 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 but lost to World No. 4 Jelena Janković in the third round 1–6, 6–3, 7–5, after serving for the match at 5–3. Clijsters at the 2009 US Open
She then received a wildcard to play in the main draw of the US Open. She easily won her first round match over Viktoriya Kutuzova 6–1, 6–1. She won her second round match, defeating World No. 14 Marion Bartoli for the second time in three weeks 5–7, 6–1, 6–2. She then defeated compatriot Kirsten Flipkens 6–0, 6–2 in the third round. She went on to upset World No. 3 Venus Williams in the fourth round 6–0, 0–6, 6–4.[176] This was only Clijsters' 11th competitive match since coming out of retirement. Clijsters beat 18th seed Li Na in straight sets 6–2, 6–4 to reach the semi-finals where she faced defending champion and World No. 2 Serena Williams, winning 6–4, 7–5 after Williams was given a point penalty on match point after a dispute with an official over a foot fault call.[177] Clijsters became the first unseeded finalist at the US Open since Venus Williams in 1997, and the first wildcard to ever reach the US Open final. With her victory over Serena, Clijsters became the only player to have beaten both Williams sisters in the same tournament twice. In the final she defeated ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki 7–5, 6–3 to win her second US Open title.[178] Her US Open victory placed her in the top 20 in the world rankings. She also became the first Wild Card champion in US Open history and the first mother to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980. Clijsters is popularly known as one of the "comeback queens" of tennis.[179] Clijsters then received a wildcard to play at the 2009 BGL Luxembourg Open in Luxembourg, as the second seed. She eased through her opening match 6–2, 6–2 against Meghann Shaughnessy but fell to Patty Schnyder in a close second round encounter 4–6, 6–3, 6–7.[180]
Playing an exhibition match in Antwerp, Belgium on 10 December, Clijsters defeated rival Venus Williams 6–1, 7–5.[181] She finished the year ranked 18th.
In March 2010, Clijsters won her first Laureus World Sports Award, for her remarkable 2009 US Open comeback. She also won the WTA Comeback Player of the Year and the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award for the seventh time. [edit] 2010
Clijsters started her 2010 campaign at the Brisbane International in Australia as the top seed. She defeated Tathiana Garbin[182] and Alicia Molik[183] in the first two rounds without dropping a set. She then defeated Lucie Šafářová in three sets[184] to advance to the semifinals where she defeated Andrea Petkovic to set up a final with her rival and compatriot Justine Henin.[185] Clijsters led 6–3, 4–1 before Henin to win eight consecutive games to take the second set and lead 3–0 in the final set. Clijsters trailed 5–3 saved two match points before breaking back and forcing a final set tie break defeating her rival 6–3, 4–6, 7–6(6).[186] Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki at an official function
Clijsters' next tournament was the 2010 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season where she was seeded 15th. Clijsters advanced to the third round with straight sets wins over Valérie Tétreault[187] and Tamarine Tanasugarn.[188] In the third round Clijsters lost to the World No. 20 Nadia Petrova winning just one game in the worst defeat of her career.[189]
Clijsters did not play competitively again until March at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. She was seeded 14th but she fell to the 23rd seed Alisa Kleybanova in the third round losing a final set tie break.[190] Clijsters found form at the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open as she went on to win the title. As the 14th seed, she only dropped three games while defeating Petra Kvitová[191] and Shahar Pe'er.[192] Clijsters then defeated the defending champion Victoria Azarenka for the loss of just four games.[193] Before defeating the World No. 10 Samantha Stosur in the quarter-finals[194] and Justine Henin in a final set tie break to reach the final.[195] Clijsters went on to beat Venus Williams in straight sets in the final, ending the American's fifteen match unbeaten streak. As a result of winning the title for the second time, Clijsters' ranking rose to World No. 10.[196]
Playing her first clay tennis match in three years at the Andalucia Tennis Experience as the third seed, Clijsters advanced to the second round after beating Alexandra Dulgheru in three sets. However in the second round Clijsters lost to the World No. 258 Beatriz García Vidagany.[197] Clijsters played in Belgium's Fed Cup tie against Estonia, Clijsters defeated Maret Ani 6–4, 6–2 in her opening singles match. However, it was discovered that she had torn a muscle in her left foot which caused her to pull out of her next match against Kaia Kanepi. Doctors ruled the Belgium out for six weeks but Clijsters hoped to make an early recovery[198] She later announced in a press conference that she would have to withdraw from the rest of the clay court season, including the 2010 French Open.[199]
Clijsters returned to action at the start of the grass-court season in Eastbourne as part of her Wimbledon warm-up where she was victorious in 2005. Clijsters, as the fifth seed, defeated compatriot Yanina Wickmayer and Šafářova[200] to reach the quarter finals losing just three games. Before losing in straight sets to Victoria Azarenka.[201] Despite this loss Clijsters’ ranking rose to World No. 8 and she was seeded 8th at her first Wimbledon Championships since 2006. She started well with a straight sets wins over Maria Elena Camerin,[202] Karolina Šprem[203] and Maria Kirilenko[204] to set up a fourth round clash with 17th seed Justine Henin. Clijsters came back from a set down to beat Henin 2–6, 6–2, 6–3.[205] Clijsters lost in the quarterfinals to 21st seed and eventual finalist Vera Zvonareva in three sets.[206]
In between Wimbledon and the US hard court season, Clijsters participated in the record breaking Best of Belgium- an Exhibition extravaganza. Clijsters defeated Serena Williams in straight sets, improving her head-to-head record since her comeback against the Williams Sisters to 5–1. (3–1 against Venus who won against Clijsters at the Billie Jean Cup 2010, 2–0 against Serena)[207]
Clijsters played her next event at the 2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open held in Cincinnati where she made her comeback the previous year. This was her first event of the 2010 US Open Series. After a first round bye, Clijsters, as the 4th seed, defeated former World No.1 Dinara Safina,[208] Christina McHale[209] and Flavia Pennetta[210] in straight sets to reach the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Clijsters was leading 2–1 when her opponent, Ana Ivanović, had to retire due to a foot injury.[211] In the final, Clijsters faced 10th seed Maria Sharapova and after losing the first set, Clijsters found herself down 5–3 in the second set. She managed to save three championships on her own serve before rain interrupted play. Clijsters came back to take the second set into a tie-break and despite being down 0–3, she came back to win the second set and then went on to claim a 2–6, 7–6(4), 6–2 victory.[212] This win propelled her ranking to World No. 4[213] with her 38th singles title of her career
Clijsters played her final event of the US Open Series in Montreal at the 2010 Rogers Cup where she was seeded 5th. She reached the quarterfinals before losing to Vera Zvonareva in three sets. After coming back from 6–4, 4–1 down in the opening round to defeat Bethanie mattek Sands.[214] Clijsters at the 2010 US Open
Clijsters then competed in the 2010 US Open where she was the No. 2 seed. Clijsters advanced to the quarter finals without dropping a set defeating Gréta Arn, Sally Peers, Petra Kvitová and Ana Ivanović. There Clijsters came from a break down in the third set to defeat 5th seed Samantha Stosur 6–3 in the final set to advance to the semifinals. In the semis Clijsters faced Venus Williams winning the match in the final set to extend her US Open match winning streak to 20.[215] Tying with Venus and Monica Seles but second only to Chris Evert's 31-match winning streak from 1975–1979. In the final, Clijsters faced seventh seed Vera Zvonareva in a rematch of their Wimbledon quarterfinal meeting. Clijsters won only dropping three games on the way, to defend her US Open title, winning it for the third time; and her second as a mother, one short of the Open Era record held by Margaret Court. Clijsters extended her US Open winning streak to 21 matches. By winning US$2.2 million, she equalled her own 2005 record of the largest payday in women's sports history. Injury then kept Clijsters out until the WTA Championships. At the year-end championship, Clijsters advanced to the final, after defeating Janković[216] and Azerenka to qualify for the semi final. Clijsters lost her final group game to Zvonareva.[217] In the semi finals Clijsters beat Stosur in straight sets after surviving a car crash which wrote the car off whilst on her way to the match.[218][219] In the championship match Clijsters faced world #1 Caroline Wozniacki in a rematch of the 2009 US Open final. Clijsters finished the year at world #3 after defeating the Dane in three sets, to clinch her third WTA Championship and fifth title of the year.[220] Clijsters finished the year ranked #3 in the world.[221] Clijsters final match of 2010 was a repeat of what the Best of Belgium should have been, a match against Justine Henin. The match took place at the Diamond Games in front of a Belgium crowd. Clijsters came out the winner winning the match tie breaker 10–5.[222]
For her performance during the season, Clijsters received the WTA Player of the Year award for the second time (first one in 2005), the first player ever to win this award in the year following the win of the Come Back Player of the Year. [edit] 2011 Clijsters at the 2011 Australian Open Final
Clijsters' first competitive outing of the year was the Medibank International Sydney in Australia. In the first round, Clijsters defeated Alexandra Dulgheru in two sets, 6–1, 6–2. She then defeated Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová, Victoria Azarenka and Alisa Kleybanova to advanced to the final where she was defeated by World No. 11 Li Na from China, 7–6(3), 6–3, despite leading 5–0 in the first set.[223]
Clijsters started her strong campaign at the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park as the tournament's favorite with an emphatic 6–0, 6–0 victory over former World No. 1 Dinara Safina in the first round. This was the first time in tennis' open era that a former World No. 1 player received a double bagel loss in a grand slam tournament. Clijsters then defeated Carla Suárez Navarro 6–1, 6–3 and Alizé Cornet 7–6(3), 6–3, before winning a fourth-round match against Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 7–6(3), 6–2. In the quarterfinals, Clijsters continued her progress without dropping a set by beating the twelfth seed Agnieszka Radwańska 6–3, 7–6(4). Clijsters in Paris, 2011
She comfortably defeated World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva 6–3, 6–3, guaranteeing her accession to World No. 2, her highest ranking since her return to the tour. Clijsters won the 2011 Australian Open singles by beating Li Na 3–6, 6–3, 6–3;[224] It was her first major win outside the US and her fourth overall. Clearly emotional, Clijsters declared that she finally had earned the title "Aussie Kim".[224]
Clijsters next traveled to play at the indoor tournament in Paris. After defeating Jelena Dokić in the quarterfinals, Clijsters returned to the top of the WTA rankings for the first time in almost five years, overtaking Caroline Wozniacki.[225] Clijsters eventually progressed to the final of the competition, but was beaten by third seed Petra Kvitová in straight sets, 6–4, 6–3.
Up next for Clijsters was the Indian Wells Masters in California, where she was seeded 2nd. After receiving a bye in the first round, she faced Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia and defeated her comfortably, 6–2, 6–0. In the third round, she beat the Italian Sara Errani in three sets, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4. Clijsters had to retire in her next match against Marion Bartoli at 6–3, 1–3 with a shoulder injury.
Clijsters was the defending champion at Miami and the No. 2 seed. After defeating Anastasiya Yakimova 6–1, 6–2 and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 in the second and third round, respectively, she came back from 1–5 0–40 in the final set against Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round, winning the match 7–6(4), 3–6, 7–6(5). She eventually lost in the quarterfinals to Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, 6–3, 6–3.
On 21 April 2011, Clijsters was elected number 16 on the Time Top 100 list of most influential people, the first sports person on the 2011 listing. Her sportsmanship, involvement in charity, success as a mother combined with her anti-diva no-nonsense attitude led to her election.[226] [edit] Coaches
1992–1996: Bart Van Kerckhove 1996–2002: Carl Maes 2002–2005: Marc Dehous 2009–present: Wim Fisette
[edit] Records [edit] 2001
Clijsters became the first person from Belgium to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era.
[edit] 2003
Clijsters became not only the first Belgian—man or woman—to be ranked World No. 1, but also did so without winning a Grand Slam tournament. Clijsters is one of only six women to have been ranked World No. 1 in singles and doubles simultaneously (the others being Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Lindsay Davenport).[227] Clijsters compiled a 90–12 singles record. Her singles win total was the highest single-season total by any woman since Navratilova in 1982.[227] Clijsters was the first woman to play more than 100 singles matches in a year since Chris Evert in 1974.[227]
[edit] 2005
At the NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, Clijsters became only the second player (the first being Steffi Graf in 1995 and 1996) to win the Pacific Life Open–NASDAQ-100 Open double. En route to the Key Biscayne victory, she beat the fifth (Anastasia Myskina), fourth (Elena Dementieva), first (Amélie Mauresmo), and second (Maria Sharapova) seeds in consecutive matches. Following Clijsters's victory in the US Open Series and the subsequent US Open, she collected US$2.2 million in prize money, the largest single purse ever won by a female athlete. To that date, she held a North American hardcourt win-loss record of 36–1. Clijsters had a 22-match winning streak from August to October. During the streak, she won tournaments in Los Angeles, Toronto and Luxembourg, and the US Open. First player ever to win the WTA Player of the Year Award in the same year of winning the WTA Come Back Player of the Year trophy
[edit] 2006
In returning to the World No. 1 ranking after the Australian Open in January, Clijsters broke a rankings record. She was ranked as low as World No. 134 in March 2005, so her return to the top spot in a ten-month span was the fastest and biggest leap in women's tennis history.[citation needed]
[edit] 2009
Third unseeded and first unranked female champion of a Grand Slam title by winning the 2009 US Open. Clijsters also became the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won the Wimbledon title in 1980, and the first mother to win the US Open since Margaret Court in 1973. She defeated Danish Caroline Wozniacki 7–5, 6–3 in the US Open final. Returned to WTA rankings at number 19, equaling the highest debut ever that was set by Andrea Jaeger in 1980. Won the WTA Come Back Player of the Year trophy despite only playing three months effectively.
[edit] 2010
First woman to retain the US Open title since Venus Williams in 2001. Second woman in the Open Era to win three successive US Opens in which she played (she did not play in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 tournaments). Chris Evert won four U.S. Open Championships in a row:(1975–1978)and two additional titles in 1980 and 1982 for a total of six U.S. Opens. Martina Navratalova reached the final after two successive wins in 1985, but lost the third final to Hana Mandlíková. Steffi Graf reached the finals after two consecutive wins in 1990, but lost the third final to Gabriela Sabatini. 21 consecutive US Open match victories, second all-time to Chris Evert's 31 from 1975–1979. Third woman to win two Grand Slams as a mother, one shy of the record by Margaret Court. Repeated her own 2005 feat of earning a women's sport record paycheck of approximately US$2.2 million by winning the US Open, after ending the US Open Series as second after Caroline Wozniacki. Won the Masters (WTA Tour Championships) for the third time joining a very select group of players, consisting of Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf. Broke the US$20 million mark in career prize money at the same Masters. Became WTA year prize money leader with more than US$5 million in earnings First player ever to win the WTA Player of the Year Award in the year following the win of the WTA Come Back Player of the Year trophy (see also 2005) Both Serena Williams (2004–2008) and Amélie Mauresmo (2003–2006) became Player of the Year after having been the Comeback Player of the Year but they did not achieve this feat in consecutive years. Became most time winner of the Karen Krantzcke WTA award for fair play (7)
[edit] 2011
Inflicted the first time ever double bagel loss at a Grand Slam since the start of the open era on a former World No. 1 player – Dinara Safina – during the first round of the Australian Open. By becoming Australian Open champion, completed a consecutive winning string of the four most important hardcourt tournaments within a year: Miami Masters ("The Fifth Slam") 2010, US Open 2010, WTA Tour Championships 2010 and the Australian Open 2011. Steffi Graf (November 1987–1988 ) and Monica Seles in 1991 had accomplished this series before. Equalling the record of Margaret Court of winning three Grand Slams as a mother Received for the third time a women's sport record paycheck of approximately US$2.2 million by winning the Australian Open Became number 1 in the WTA rankings for the fourth time in her career on 14 February 2011 after the 2011 Open GDF Suez in Paris, nearly five years after being at the #1 spot in early 2006. It is also the first time Clijsters is number one in the same calendar year of winning a Grand Slam. Became the first mother to hold the number 1 ranking since the inception of the computer rankings in 1975. Ranked 16 on the Time Top 100 list of most influential people, the first sports person on the 2011 listing.
[edit] Awards
Clijsters is considered by her peers as one of the most likeable players on tour. This, combined with her accomplishments on court, has earned her numerous citations:
1999
Belgian Sportswoman of the Year WTA Most Impressive Newcomer
2000
Belgian Sportswoman of the Year Flemish Giant Award
2001
Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (for 2000) Belgian Sportswoman of the Year Flemish Giant Award
2002
Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (for 2001) Belgian Sportswoman of the Year
2003
Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award(for 2002) Belgian Sports Personality of the Year(for 2002)
2004
WTA Player Service Award (for 2003) Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award(for 2003)
2005
ITF World Champion WTA Tour Championships Race winner US Open Series Winner Belgian Sportswoman of the Year International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) Player of the Year International Tennis Writers Ambassador for Tennis WTA Player of the Year
2006
WTA Player of the Year (for 2005) WTA Comeback Player of the Year (for 2005) Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (for 2005) Member of the Belgian Sporting Team of the Year (Fed Cup – Team)
WTA Humanitarian of the Year
2007
Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (for 2006)
2009
VTV Tennis Performance of the Year Belgian Sportswoman of the Year
2010
Laureus World Comeback of the Year (For 2009) WTA Comeback Player of the Year (for 2009) Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (for 2009) Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award (for 2009) VTV Tennis Performance of the Year Flemish Giant Award Belgian Sportswoman of the Year
2011
WTA Player of the Year (for 2010)[228] WTA Player Service Award (for 2010)[228] Ranked #16 on the Time Top 100 list of most influential people
Hayden Leslie Panettiere (pronounced /ˌpænɨtiˈɛər/; born August 21, 1989)[1] is an American actress and singer. She came to professional prominence at the age of 10 with her portrayal of Sheryl Yoast in Disney's Remember the Titans, although for five years before that, Panettiere had held roles in two soap operas. She portrayed Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live (1994–1997), and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light (1996–2000). Panettiere reached a wider audience with her starring role as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes.
Hayden Panettiere "Wake Up Call"
Early lifePanettiere was born in and partly raised in Palisades, Rockland County, New York, the daughter of Lesley R. Vogel, a former soap opera actress, and Alan L. "Skip" Panettiere, a fire department lieutenant.[2][3] Panettiere is of Italian descent, her surname meaning "baker" in Italian.[4][5] She has one younger brother, fellow actor Jansen Panettiere.[6]
Although Panettiere attended South Orangetown Middle School in New York, she was educated at home from the 9th grade through high school.[7] For now, Panettiere is postponing higher education in favor of an acting career.[8]
[edit] Career[edit] Acting[edit] TelevisionPanettiere first appeared in commercials at 11 months, beginning with an advertisement for Playskool.[9] She landed a role as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live (1994–1997), and she followed that up by playing the part of Elizabeth "Lizzie" Spaulding on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light (1997–2000). While on Guiding Light, Panettiere's character Lizzie battled leukemia. For drawing the attention of daytime viewers to the disease, and for improving national awareness, the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society gave her its Special Recognition Award.[10]
For her performance in Lifetime Television's 1999 TV movie If You Believe, she was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Young Actress Age Ten or Under in the category of Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot.[11] Panettiere appeared on Fox's Ally McBeal as the title character's daughter, had a recurring guest role on Malcolm in the Middle and guest starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Panettiere became most prominent as Claire Bennet in the NBC series Heroes, which was created by Tim Kring, as a high school cheerleader with regenerative healing powers. Thanks to her role on Heroes, she became a regular on the science fiction convention circuit, invited to attend conventions around the world in 2007, including Gen Con, New York Comic-Con, and Fan Expo Canada. Panettiere has complained that her acting options are sometimes limited because "people look at [her] as either the 'popular cheerleader' type or just 'the blonde.'"[12]
In early 2007, Panettiere appeared on the MTV show, Punk'd. The appearance was engineered by her mother and involved a male "fan" discussing her work with her, instigating a jealous reaction from the man's spouse.
Panettiere in London[edit] FilmsShe has appeared in over a dozen full-length feature films.
In 1998, she provided the voice for Dot in A Bug's Life.[13] She played the role of Coach Yoast's daughter, Sheryl, in the 2000 Disney film Remember the Titans. She starred in a 2005 film, Racing Stripes where she plays a teenage girl with a pet Zebra named Stripes. She also starred in Bring It On: All or Nothing as a cheerleader and had a supporting role as Adelaide Bourbon in the recently released independent film Shanghai Kiss. In 2004, she appeared in the Disney Channel film Tiger Cruise, and in Raising Helen as Kate Hudson's adolescent niece. In 2005, she was the title character's rival in a skating contest in Ice Princess.
In June 2007, she signed with the William Morris Agency, after previously being represented by United Talent Agency.[14] Forbes estimated that she earned $2 million in 2007.[15]
In 2008, Panettiere appeared in the drama Fireflies in the Garden as a younger version of Emily Watson's character, Jane Lawrence. In September 2008, she appeared in a satirical video, a mock-PSA (public service announcement) on funnyordie.com entitled "Hayden Panettiere PSA: Your Vote, Your Choice."[16] Again, in October, Panettiere appeared in another satirical PSA video on funnyordie.com entitled "Vote for McCain: He's just like George Bush, except older and with a worse temper."[17]
In July 2009, Panettiere starred in the teen comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper. In September 2010, Panettiere was signed to star as Amanda Knox in the controversial Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy.[18] Panettiere also provided the voice of Kate, along side Justin Long in 2010's Alpha and Omega.[19]
In 2011, she replaced Anne Hathaway as the voice of Red for the animated sequel Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil. In April 2011, Panettiere appeared in the sequel of the Scream franchise, Scream 4. She played Kirby Reed, alongside Emma Roberts and Rory Culkin.
[edit] Video gamesPanettiere voices Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series of video games created by Square Enix.
[edit] SingingPanettiere was nominated for a Grammy in 1999 for A Bug's Life Read-Along (2000).[20] In 2004, she recorded a song entitled "My Hero Is You" with a video for the Disney Channel film she starred in, Tiger Cruise. The next year she recorded a song entitled "I Fly" for the Disney film Ice Princess in which she also co-starred. She recorded a song for the Hollywood Records compilation Girl Next (2006) and another song entitled "Go to Girl" for Girl Next 2 (2007). Also in 2007, She also recorded a cover for "Cruella De Vil" for DisneyMania 5, "Try" for the Bridge to Terabithia soundtrack and a ballad called "I Still Believe" for Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.
Panettiere's first single, "Wake Up Call", was digitally released on August 5, 2008. A clothing brand named Candie's announced that it was premiering an ad campaign for the single in late July. Similarly, Candie's would also provide additional promotion for the single with a television advertisement and a music video.[21]
[edit] Commercial-product endorserIn late 2006, Neutrogena made Panettiere the cover girl for their new worldwide ad campaign;[22] following in the footsteps of actresses Kristin Kreuk, Josie Bissett, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mandy Moore, Mischa Barton, Gabrielle Union and Jennifer Freeman.
In September 2007, Panettiere appeared in a Heroes-themed Got Milk? ad for which the photographs were shot by Annie Leibovitz.[23]
In February 2008, Kohl's announced that Panettiere would be their next Candie's spokesperson.[24]
[edit] Personal life Panettiere with Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia.In 2006, Panettiere began dating Stephen Colletti, the former Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County star.[25] The couple broke up in September 2007.[26] In December 2007, it was widely reported that she was dating her Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia,[27][28] though Panettiere denied these reports in an interview with GQ.[29] These reports continued through the early part of 2008,[30][31] and several sources had reported that she asked Ventimiglia to move in with her.[32][33][34] In April 2008, during an interview on the BBC's The Chris Moyles Show to promote the second season of Heroes, Ventimiglia confirmed that he was dating Panettiere.[35] They ended their relationship in February 2009.[36]
Panettiere has dated heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko. She was ringside for his knockout victory over Samuel Peter on September 11, 2010.[37] The actress confirmed on May 12, 2011 that she and Klitschko called it quits. [38]
Panettiere has a tattoo of the Italian words Vivere senza rimipianti [sic] running down her left side. The word rimpianti is misspelled in what otherwise would mean "To Live Without Regrets".[39]
[edit] ActivismIn 2007, Panettiere became an official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called the Friends of RMHC.[40]
On October 31, 2007, Panettiere joined with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to try to disrupt the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Wakayama, Japan. She was involved in a confrontation between Japanese fishermen and five other surfers from Australia and the United States (including former Home and Away star Isabel Lucas) of the group. The confrontation lasted more than 10 minutes before the surfers were forced to return to the beach, after which they left the country.[41] Parts of the confrontation can be seen on the award-winning Sundance Film Festival documentary film, The Cove. The fishermen consider the condemnation as an attack on their culture.[42]
Panettiere told E! News that an arrest warrant has been issued in Japan for her interference in the dolphin hunt, but her claim was later dismissed by the Japanese Fisheries Agency.[43][44] In November 2007, she was awarded the "Compassion in Action Award" from the animal rights group PETA for her efforts to stop the dolphin hunt in Japan.[45] She is also a vegetarian.[46][47]
On January 28, 2008, Panettiere handed a letter of protest to the Norwegian ambassador in the United States arguing that Norway should stop its hunt for whales. She also delivered a letter to the Japanese ambassador calling for the end of Japan's hunting of whales. At a 2007 Greenpeace event in Anchorage, Alaska, Panettiere defended aboriginal whaling, saying that there is a difference between commercial whaling and the whaling practiced by aboriginal tribes in the United States.[48]
In May 2008, Panettiere was involved in an eBay auction to benefit SaveTheWhalesAgain.com. The auction included tickets to a fundraising dinner hosted at the Hollywood restaurant Beso, owned by Eva Longoria, and a whale watching tour, with Panettiere, off the coast of Santa Barbara.[49] The same month, during an interview with Teen Vogue, Hayden explained how her fame gives her a platform for her activism: "The show [Heroes] put me in a place to speak for things that I'm passionate about."[50]
In September 2008, Panettiere launched her own line of calfskin leather bags for the company Dooney & Bourke. [51]
In October 2008, Panettiere delved into the presidential election, releasing a public service announcement through the website Funny or Die. In this video Panettiere mocked Republican candidate John McCain for his age and temper.[52] She subsequently made clear her intention to vote for Barack Obama, and urged other young people to vote.[53]
Panettiere also appeared in a public service announcement with DC Shadow Senator Paul Strauss endorsing voting rights for the District of Columbia.[54]
Panettiere is a teen ambassador for the Candie's Foundation, whose mission is to fight teen pregnancy. On May 6, 2009, she participated in a town hall meeting in New York City alongside Bristol Palin and Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza on the issue of teen pregnancy.[55]
[edit] FilmographyYear Film Role Notes 1994—1997 One Life to Live Sarah Victoria 'Flash' Roberts #3 Daytime TV series 1996 Aliens in the Family Young Girl 1 episode: "Too Good to Be True" (1.05) How Do You Spell God? TV movie 1996—2000 Guiding Light Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Spaulding #2 Nominated for YoungStar Award – Best Young Actress/Performance in a Daytime TV Series 1997 Unhappily Ever After Little Girl 1 episode 1998 A Bug's Life Dot (voice) Animated film Nominated for Young Artist Awards – Best Performance in a Voice Over in a Feature or TV - Best Young Actress The Object of My Affection Mermaid A Will of Their Own TV mini-series 1999 Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke Young Doris Duke miniseries Message in a Bottle Girl on Sinking Boat Touched by an Angel Diana 1 episode: "Godspeed" (5.26) If You Believe Young Susan Stone/Alice Stone, Susan's niece Nominated for Young Artist Award – Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot – Young Actress Age Ten or Under 2000 Dinosaur Suri (voice) Animated film Nominated for Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards – Youth in Film Nominated for YoungStar Award – Best Young Voice Over Talent Remember the Titans Sheryl Yoast Nominated for Phoenix Film Critics Society Award – Best Performance by a Youth in a Leading or Supporting Role Nominated for Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards – Youth in Film For award wins, see Awards section 2001—2002 Ally McBeal Maddie Harrington 10 episodes 2001 Joe Somebody Natalie Scheffer Nominated — Young Artist Award – Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ashley 1 episode: "Abuse" Chestnut Hill Molly Eastman TV movie The Affair of the Necklace Young Jeanne St.Rémy de Valois 2002 Kingdom Hearts Kairi (voice) Video game 2003 Normal Patty Ann Applewood TV film 2003—2005 Malcolm in the Middle Jessica 5 episodes 2004 Fillmore! Yumi TV series (voice), 1 episode: "Code Name: Electric Haircut" (2.09) The Dust Factory Melanie Lewis Raising Helen Audrey Davis Tiger Cruise Maddie Dolan Nominated – Young Artist Award – Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Leading Young Actress 2005 Racing Stripes Channing Walsh Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Angela Agnelli 1 episode: "Hooked" Lies My Mother Told Me Haylei Sims TV film Ice Princess Gen Harwood 2006 Bring It On: All or Nothing Britney Allen The Architect Christina Waters Mr. Gibb[56][57][58] Allyson 'Ally' Palmer released on DVD as The Good Student Commander in Chief Stacy 1 episode: "Wind Beneath My Wing" Skater Boys Kassidy Parker #2 1 episode: "Band of Gold" Kingdom Hearts II Kairi (voice) Video game 2006—2010 Heroes Claire Bennet Nominated for Saturn Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role on Television Series – 2008–2010 Nominated for Teen Choice Award – 2007 – Choice TV: Breakout For award wins, see Awards section 2007 Shanghai Kiss Adelaide Bourbon Diary of a New Girl Hannah Rochelle voice Robot Chicken guest voice 2008 Fireflies in the Garden Young Jane Lawrence Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King Princess Fairy Willow voice 2009 I Love You, Beth Cooper! Beth Cooper The Cove Herself Documentary film 2010 Alpha and Omega Kate voice Carmel Amber Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Kairi (voice) Video game 2011 Scream 4 Kirby Reed In theaters Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil Red Riding Hood voice Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy Amanda Knox Lifetime TV film [edit] AwardsNewport Beach Film Festival – Feature Film Award for Acting – Shanghai Kiss (2007) Saturn Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Series – Heroes (2007) Teen Choice Award – Choice TV Actress: Drama – Heroes (2007) Teen Choice Award – Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure – Heroes (2008) Teen Choice Award – Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure – Heroes (2009) Vail Film Festival Rising Star Award (2007) Young Artist Award – Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress – Remember the Titans (2001) Young Artist Award – Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Lead Actress – Heroes (2006) [edit] Discography[edit] SinglesYear Title Chart position Album U.S. Hot U.S. Pop 2008 "Wake Up Call" 125 97 [edit] Soundtracks and compilationsYear Song Featured 2004 "Someone Like You" (Feat. Watt White) The Dust Factory 2005 "My Hero Is You" Tiger Cruise "I Fly" Ice Princess Soundtrack and Disney Girlz Rock 2006 "Your New Girlfriend" Girl Next Vol.1 2007 "Home" Shanghai Kiss "I Still Believe" Cinderella III: A Twist in Time "Try" Music from and Inspired By Bridge to Terabithia and Disney Girlz Rock, Vol. 2 "Cruella de Vil" DisneyMania 5 "Go to Girl" Girl Next Vol.2 2011 "I Can Do It Alone" Hoodwinked Too! (Hood vs. Evil) [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] "Inseparable" Source from Wikipedia.com
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress, film director, producer as well as being a former child actress.
Foster began acting in commercials at three years of age, and her first significant role came in the 1976 film Taxi Driver as the preteen prostitute Iris for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Also that year, she starred in the cult film The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1989 for playing a rape survivor in The Accused. In 1991, she starred in The Silence of the Lambs as Clarice Starling, a gifted FBI trainee, assisting in a hunt for a serial killer. This performance received international acclaim and her second Academy Award for Best Actress. She received her fourth Academy Award nomination for playing a hermit in Nell (1994). Other popular films include Maverick (1994), Contact (1997), Panic Room (2002), Flightplan (2005), Inside Man (2006), The Brave One (2007), and Nim's Island (2008).
Foster's films have spanned a wide variety of genres, from family films to horror. In addition to her two Academy Awards she has won two BAFTA Awards for three films, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a People's Choice Award, and has received two Emmy nominations.
Jodie Foster on Ellen - Part II
Early lifeFoster was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Evelyn "Brandy" Ella (née Almond) and Lucius Fisher Foster III. Her father, a decorated Air Force lieutenant-colonel turned real estate broker, came from a wealthy background and left his wife before Jodie was born.[2] Evelyn supported Jodie by working as a film producer.[3] After appearing as a child in several commercials, Foster made her first credited TV appearance on The Doris Day Show. Her first film role was in the 1970 television movie Menace on the Mountain, which was followed by several Disney productions.
Foster attended a French-language prep school, the Lycée Français de Los Angeles, and graduated in 1980 as the valedictorian.[4] She frequently stayed and worked in France as a teenager, and she still speaks the language fluently without accent.[5] She attended Yale University, and was a member of Calhoun College. She graduated magna cum laude,[6] earning a bachelor's degree in literature in 1985. She was scheduled to graduate in 1984 but the shooting of then-President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr., in which Hinckley's fascination with Foster created unwanted adverse publicity for her,[7] caused her to take a semester's leave of absence from Yale.[8][9] She later gave the Class Day speech at her alma mater in 1994 and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the university in 1997.[6]
Fluent in French, Foster has dubbed herself in French-language versions of most of her films.[10][11] In 2004, she took a minor role in the French WW1 film, A Very Long Engagement. She also understands German[12][13] and can converse in Italian.[14]
Foster has English and Irish roots being the descendant of Mayflower passengers William Mullins and his wife Alice and of Priscilla and John Alden. Another English ancestor is Samuel Eddy born in 1608 in Kent, and one of her great-great-great grandmothers Eliza Platt was from Ireland.[15]
[edit] Career[edit] Child star Foster in her role as the 12-year-old child prostitute Iris "Easy" Steensma in Taxi Driver when she was thirteen.Foster made nearly 50 film and television appearances before she attended college. She began her career at age three as a Coppertone Girl in a television commercial and debuted as a television actress in a 1968 episode of Mayberry R.F.D.[16] She was managed by her mother.[17] In 1969, she appeared in an episode of Gunsmoke, where she was credited as "Jody Foster". She is also credited as "Jodi Foster" for her 1970 Daniel Boone role and credited as "Jodie Foster" for her 1970 Adam-12 role. Although not a regular on The Courtship of Eddie's Father, she appeared from time to time as Eddie's friend Joey Kelly.[18] She made her film debut in the 1970 TV movie Menace on the Mountain and was featured as Tallulah in Bugsy Malone in 1976. As a child, Foster made a number of Disney movies, including Napoleon and Samantha (1972) and One Little Indian (1973), and she continued to star in Disney films into her early teens. On television, she appeared in an episode of The Partridge Family titled "The Eleven-Year Itch", co-starred with Christopher Connelly in the 1974 TV series Paper Moon and alongside Martin Sheen in the 1976 cult film The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane. As a teenager, Foster made several appearances on the French pop music circuit as a singer. Commenting on her years as a child actress, which she describes as an "actor's career", Foster has said that "it was very clear to me at a young age that I had to fight for my life and that if I didn't, my life would get gobbled up and taken away from me."[19] She hosted Saturday Night Live at age 14, making her the youngest person to host at that time until Drew Barrymore hosted at the age of seven.[citation needed] She also said,
"I think all of us when we look back on our childhood, we always think of it as somebody else. It's just a completely different place. But I was lucky to be around in the '70s and to really be making movies in the '70s with some great filmmakers – the most exciting time, for me, in American Cinema. I learned a lot from some very interesting artists — and I learned a lot about the business at a young age, because, for whatever reason, I was paying attention; so it was kind of invaluable in my career."[20]
Foster made her debut (and only official) musical recordings in France in 1977: two 7" singles, "Je T'attends Depuis la Nuit des Temps" b/w "La Vie C'est Chouette"[21] and "When I Looked at Your Face" backed with "La Vie C'est Chouette". The A-side of the former is sung in French, the A-side of the latter in English. The B-side of both is mostly spoken word and is performed in both French and English. These three recordings were included on the soundtrack to Foster's 1977 French film Moi, fleur bleue.
Foster starred in three films in 1976: Taxi Driver, Bugsy Malone, and Freaky Friday. She was nominated for the Academy Award For Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Taxi Driver. She won two British Academy Film Awards in 1977: the BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performances in Bugsy Malone opposite Scott Baio and Taxi Driver opposite Robert De Niro. She received a nomination for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in Freaky Friday. As a teenager, she also starred in the Disney adventure Candleshoe (1977) and the coming-of-age drama Foxes (1980).
[edit] Target of fan obsessionJohn Hinckley, Jr. became obsessed with Foster after watching Taxi Driver a number of times,[22][23] and stalked her while she attended Yale, sending her love letters to her campus mail box and even talking to her on the phone. On March 30, 1981, he attempted to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan (shooting and wounding Reagan and three others) and claimed his motive was to impress Foster, then a Yale freshman. The media stormed the Yale campus in April "like a cavalry invasion", and followed Foster relentlessly.[24][25]
Another man, Edward Richardson, followed Foster around Yale and planned to shoot her, but decided against it because she "was too pretty".[26] This all caused intense discomfort to Foster and reporters have constantly been warned in advance not to bring up the subject in front of her, as she has been known to walk out of interviews if Hinckley's name is even mentioned.[26] In 1991, Foster canceled an interview with NBC's Today Show when she discovered Hinckley would be mentioned in the introduction.[26] Foster's only public reactions to this were a press conference afterwards and an article titled "Why Me?" that she wrote for Esquire in December 1982. In that article she wrote that returning to work on the film Svengali with Peter O'Toole "made me fall in love with acting again"[27] after the assassination attempt had shaken her confidence. In 1999, she discussed the experience with Charlie Rose of 60 Minutes II.[28]
[edit] Adult career At the 61st Academy Awards Governor's Ball, March 29, 1989.Unlike other child stars such as Shirley Temple or Tatum O'Neal, Foster successfully made the transition to adult roles, but it was not without initial difficulty, as several of the films in her early adult career were financially unsuccessful. These included The Hotel New Hampshire,[29] Five Corners,[30] and Stealing Home.[31] She had to audition for her role in The Accused. She won the part and the first of her two Golden Globes and Academy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award as Best Actress for her role as a rape survivor. She starred as FBI trainee Clarice Starling in the 1991 thriller The Silence of the Lambs, for which she won her second Academy Award and Golden Globe, and won her first BAFTA Award for Best Actress. This "sleeper" film marked a breakthrough in her career, grossing nearly $273 million in theaters[32] and becoming her first blockbuster.[33]
Foster made her directorial debut in 1991 with Little Man Tate, a critically acclaimed[34] drama about a child prodigy, in which she also co-starred as the child's mother. She also directed Home for the Holidays (1995), a black comedy starring Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr.[20] In 1992, Foster founded a production company called Egg Pictures in Los Angeles. It primarily produced independent films until it was closed in 2001. Foster said that she did not have the ambition to produce "big mainstream popcorn" movies, and as a child, independent films made her more interested in the movie business than mainstream ones.[20] She played Laurel Sommersby in Sommersby opposite Richard Gere, who would comment that "She's very much a close-up actress, because her thoughts are clear."[35]
Foster starred in two films in 1994, first in the hugely successful western spoof Maverick[36] and later in Nell, in which she starred as an isolated woman who speaks an invented language and must return to civilization. Her performance earned her nominations for her fourth Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and an MTV Movie Award, and won her a Screen Actors Guild Award and a People's Choice Award. In 1997, she starred alongside Matthew McConaughey in the science-fiction movie Contact, based on the novel by scientist Carl Sagan. She portrayed a scientist searching for extraterrestrial life in the SETI project. She commented on the script that "I have to have some acute personal connection with the material. And that's pretty hard for me to find."[citation needed] Contact was her first sci-fi film, and her first experience with a bluescreen. She commented,
"Blue walls, blue roof. It was just blue, blue, blue. And I was rotated on a lazy Susan with the camera moving on a computerized arm. It was really tough."[37]
The film was another huge commercial success[38] and earned Foster nominations for numerous awards, including a Golden Globe. In 1998, an asteroid, 17744 Jodiefoster, was named in her honor.[39] In 1999, she starred in the non-musical remake of The King and I titled Anna and the King, which became an international commercial success.[40]
Foster at the 62nd Academy Awards ceremonies in 1990.In 2002, Foster took over the lead role in the thriller Panic Room after Nicole Kidman dropped out due to a previous injury.[41] The film costarred Dwight Yoakam, Forest Whitaker, Kristen Stewart and Jared Leto and was directed by David Fincher. It grossed over $30 million in its opening weekend in the United States, Foster's biggest box office opening success of her career so far.[20] She then performed in the French-language film Un long dimanche de fiançailles (A Very Long Engagement) (2004), speaking French fluently throughout. She returned to English-language films with the 2005 thriller Flightplan, which opened once again in the top position at the U.S. box office and was a worldwide hit.[42] She portrayed a woman whose daughter disappears on an airplane that her character, an engineer, helped to design.[43]
In 2006, Foster starred in Inside Man, a thriller directed by Spike Lee and co-starring Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, which again opened at the top of the U.S. box office and became another international hit.[44] In 2007, she starred in The Brave One directed by Neil Jordan and co-starring Terrence Howard, another urban thriller that opened at #1 at the U.S. box office.[45] Her performance in the film earned her a sixth Golden Globe for Best Actress nomination and another People's Choice nomination, for Favorite Female Action Star. Commenting on her latest roles, she has said she enjoys appearing in mainstream genre films that have a "real heart to them".[46]
In 2008, Foster starred in Nim's Island alongside Gerard Butler and Abigail Breslin, portraying a reclusive writer who is contacted by a young girl after her father goes missing at sea. The film was the first comedy that Foster has starred in since Maverick in 1994, and was also a commercial success.[47]
[edit] Current projectsFoster was set to direct, as well as reunite with actor Robert De Niro, for the film Sugarland; however, the film was shelved indefinitely in 2007. Foster is developing a biopic of Leni Riefenstahl. She directs and stars opposite her Maverick co-star Mel Gibson in a black comedy titled The Beaver, out in April 2011.[48]
Foster provided her voice in a tetralogy episode of The Simpsons titled "Four Great Women and a Manicure".[49]
Foster recently stated that she would be involved with directing a sci-fi film. The film is still in the script stage, however, it is said to be a family-based film. [50]
[edit] Personal lifeFoster has two older sisters, Lucinda "Cindy" Foster (b. 1954), Constance "Connie" Foster (b. 1955), and an older brother, Lucius Fisher "Buddy" Foster[51] (b. 1957). During the filming of both Taxi Driver and The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Connie was her stand-in. Buddy Foster had his own career for several years appearing in regular spots on television shows such as Hondo and Mayberry, R.F.D. Foster and her brother have been estranged for many years. In 1997, he wrote a book titled Foster Child in which he stated "I have always assumed Jodie was gay or bisexual."[51] In the book, he writes that she was conceived in her father's office three years after their parents divorced when their mother went to him for child support. He also claims that her name was changed from "Alicia" to "Jodie" because it was a code "Jo D" for their mother's partner, Josephina Dominguez. Jodie Foster called the book:
“ A cheap cry for attention and money filled with hazy recollections, fantasies and borrowed press releases. Buddy has done nothing but break our mother's heart his whole life.[52] ”
Foster is intensely private about certain aspects of her personal life, notably her sexual orientation, which has been the subject of speculation.[53]
Foster has two sons: Charles Foster (b. July 20, 1998) and Christopher "Kit" Foster (b. September 29, 2001).[54] Foster gave birth to both children, but has not revealed the identity of the children's father(s).[55]
In December 2007, Foster made headlines when, during an acceptance speech at Hollywood Reporter's "Women in Entertainment" event, she paid tribute to film producer Cydney Bernard,[56] referring to her as "my beautiful Cydney, who sticks with me through the rotten and the bliss". Some media interpreted this as Foster coming out, as Bernard was believed to be her girlfriend since both met in 1992 during the filming of Sommersby.[56][57][58] Foster and Bernard never attended premieres or award ceremonies together, nor did they ever appear to be affectionate with each other. However, Bernard was seen in public with Foster's children on many occasions. On May 15, 2008, several news outlets reported that Foster and Bernard had "called it quits".[59][60]
Foster is an atheist[61] and does not follow any "traditional religion". She has discussed the god of the gaps.[62][63] Foster has "great respect for all religions" and spends "a lot of time studying divine texts, whether it's Eastern religion or Western religion".[35][64] She and her children celebrate both Christmas and Hannukah.[65] Some sources claim that Foster is a member of Mensa,[66][67] but Foster herself denied that she is a member in an interview on Italian TV network RAI.[68]
[edit] FilmographyList of acting credits in film and television Year Title Role Notes 1968 Mayberry, R.F.D. bit parts in 2 episodes TV series 1970 Menace on the Mountain Suellen McIver TV 1970 Daniel Boone Rachel TV series, season 6, episode 24: "Bringing Up Josh" 1970 Adam 12 Mary TV series, season 3, episode 6: "Log 55 Missing Girl" 1972 My Sister Hank Henrietta "Hank" Bennett TV 1972 Napoleon and Samantha Samantha 1972 Kansas City Bomber Rita 1972 Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, TheThe Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan Anne Chan (voice) TV series 1973 Rookie of the Year Sharon Lee TV 1973 Alexander, Alexander Sue TV 1973 Partridge Family Julie TV series 1973 Tom Sawyer Becky Thatcher 1973 Kung Fu Alethea Patricia Ingram TV series 1973 One Little Indian Martha McIver 1973 Addams Family, TheThe Addams Family Pugsley (voice) TV series 1974 Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Audrey 1974 Smile, Jenny, You're Dead Liberty Cole TV 1974 Paper Moon Addie Loggins TV series 1975 Secret Life of T.K. Dearing, TheThe Secret Life of T.K. Dearing T.K. Dearing TV 1976 Taxi Driver Iris Steensma BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (also for Bugsy Malone) Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress 1976 Echoes of a Summer Deirdre Striden aka The Last Castle 1976 Bugsy Malone Tallulah BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (also for Taxi Driver) 1976 Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, TheThe Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Rynn Jacobs Saturn Award for Best Actress 1976 Freaky Friday Annabel Andrews Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1977 Moi, fleur bleue Isabelle Tristan (aka Fleur bleue) aka Stop Calling Me Baby! 1977 Casotto Teresina Fedeli aka Beach House 1977 Candleshoe Casey Brown 1980 Foxes Jeanie Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Major Motion Picture 1980 Carny Donna 1982 O'Hara's Wife Barbara O'Hara 1983 Svengali Zoe Alexander 1984 Hotel New Hampshire, TheThe Hotel New Hampshire Frannie Berry 1984 Blood of Others, TheThe Blood of Others Hélène Bertrand aka Le Sang des autres 1986 Mesmerized Victoria Thompson 1987 Five Corners Linda Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female 1987 Siesta Nancy 1988 Stealing Home Katie Chandler 1988 Accused, TheThe Accused Sarah Tobias Academy Award for Best Actress David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (tied with Sigourney Weaver for Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey and Shirley MacLaine for Madame Sousatzka) Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Actress Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 1990 Catchfire Anne Benton aka Backtrack 1991 Silence of the Lambs, TheThe Silence of the Lambs Clarice Starling Academy Award for Best Actress BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 1991 Little Man Tate Dede Tate 1992 Shadows and Fog Prostitute 1993 Sommersby Laurel Sommersby 1994 Maverick Mrs. Annabelle Bransford 1994 Nell Nell Kellty David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama 1997 X-Files, TheThe X-Files Betty (voice) TV series, episode "Never Again" 1997 Contact Dr. Eleanor Arroway Saturn Award for Best Actress Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama 1998 Uttmost, TheThe Uttmost Herself Documentary 1998 Psycho Woman in background 1999 Anna and the King Anna Leonowens 2002 Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, TheThe Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys Sister Assumpta 2002 Panic Room Meg Altman Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 2002 Tusker Minnie Animated voice over 2003 Abby Singer Herself 2004 Very Long Engagement, AA Very Long Engagement Elodie Gordes Un long dimanche de fiançailles 2005 Flightplan Kyle Pratt Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 2005 Statler and Waldorf: From the Balcony Herself Guest appearance in episode 8 2006 Inside Man Madeline White 2007 Brave One, TheThe Brave One Erica Bain Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Irish Film Award for Best International Actress Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 2008 Nim's Island Alexandra Rover 2009 Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons Maggie Simpson (voice) TV series, episode: "Four Great Women and a Manicure" 2011 Beaver, TheThe Beaver Meredith Black Also director 2011 Elysium 2012 God Of Carnage Penelope Producer Year Title Notes 1986 Mesmerized co-producer 1994 Nell 1995 Home for the Holidays 1998 Baby Dance, TheThe Baby Dance (TV) executive producer 2000 Waking the Dead executive producer 2002 Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, TheThe Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys 2007 Brave One, TheThe Brave One executive producer Director Year Title Notes 1988 Tales from the Darkside (1 episode, "Do Not Open This Box") 1991 Little Man Tate 1995 Home for the Holidays 2011 Beaver, TheThe Beaver References from Wikipedia.com
