Thurman, Uma Karuna (1970– )

US actor. Known for her exotic beauty, sophistication, and versatile talent, she avoided the teen film genre and starred in a wide variety of independent and mainstream films, becoming one of the most highly regarded actors of her generation. She had early success in the film Dangerous Liaisons (1988), and is probably most recognized for her performances in a number of films by US director Quentin Tarantino – Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), and Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004).

She made her film debut as a teen vamp in Kiss Daddy Goodnight (1987). Other films include Henry and June (1990), Robin Hood (1991), Mad Dog and Glory (1993), Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994), The Truth About Cats and Dogs (1996), Gattaca (1997), Batman and Robin (1998), The Avengers (1998), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and The Producers (2005).

She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of renowned scholar Robert A F Thurman, a professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University in New York. She dropped out of boarding school and moved to New York City at the age of 15 to pursue an acting career, and worked as a model while pursuing film roles. She continued to work as a model during her acting career, representing the Lancôme cosmetics company and the French fashion house Louis Vuitton. She was married to English actor Gary Oldman 1990–92 and US actor Ethan Hawke 1998–2006.