Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon is an object lesson in how to do stardom properly. In her career she has been a stupendous success. Susan Sarandon's impressed in comedies, thrillers, psychological dramas, literary pieces and children's cartoons. Susan Sarandon's been involved in some of the most controversial movies of her time, but never been seen as scandal-merchant. Susan Sarandon's  shown more skin than many deemed to be soft-porn actresses, but is never taken less than seriously. Susan Sarandon's a 5-time Oscar nominee (one win) and, along with Helen Mirren, is soon to prove that 60 can be sexy. 

And she spoke out. A true daughter of the radical Sixties, she has involved herself heavily in politics, daring to hound President George W. Bush and engaging in a long running battle with New York's mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Having decided early on to use her fame for the public good, she has placed her weight behind hundreds of good causes, promoting civil rights and providing for the needy, sick and dying.

And then she goes away. Having become a mother at 39, and bearing her last child at 45, Sarandon would also properly dedicate her life to her children, keeping them rooted in normality by stepping out of the spotlight wherever possible. Susan Sarandon own personal fame was clearly not the main spur for her - she wanted far more, and got it.

Susan Sarandon was born Susan Abigail Tomalin on the 4th of October, 1946, in Jackson Heights, New York City, an area of Queens near La Guardia Airport. Susan Sarandon'd grow up, though, some 30 miles to the south-west, in Edison, New Jersey, the oldest of nine children born to Catholics Phillip Leslie Tomalin and his wife Lenora Marie Criscione, giving Susan a combustible genetic mix of Welsh and Italian. Susan Sarandon would learn how much is possible from her father, who'd been a big band singer before becoming a TV producer and then an advertising executive.