Uma Thurman is an American actress, former model, and producer from Massachusetts, who has a net worth of $45 million. Uma Karuna Thurman was born on April 29th, 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). Daughter of a Buddhist professor from the University of Columbia, Robert Thurman, and Nena von Schlebrügge (a former model born in Mexico, of German father and Swedish-Danish mother). Uma is a half-sister (paternal) of Taya, and sister of Ganden, Dechen and Mipam.
Her name comes from a chenpo, or what is the same, “the great way of the center”: mahā-madhyamaka. In Sanskrit umā karuṇa means “the mercy of [the goddess] Uma”, the Hindu goddess of light and beauty, in addition to the consort of Shivá. As a child, she and her family spent long periods in India, and received occasional visits from Dalai Lama himself.
During her childhood, her family moved constantly, because her father taught in different universities. She grew mainly in Amherst (Massachusetts) and Woodstock (New York). She was an awkward and introverted young woman who was frequently molested by her tall stature, her weird name (sometimes she used the name Uma Karen instead of the real Uma Karuna), and her feet size.
First works, 1987 – 1989.
Her film debut was in Johnny Be Good (1987) and Kiss Daddy Goodnight (1987), both with marginal success. Her next film was The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), directed by Terry Gilliam, and that although now it is almost a cult film today, at the time was commercial failure: it cost $ 46 million, and was only collected 8 million. Shortly after this premiere, magazines and other media began to interview her, and filmmakers offered her new roles. She also received praise from her colleagues in the film for her professionalism.
Consolidation and failures 1990 – 1993.
In 1990 he starred in the sexually provocative drama Henry and June along with Fred Ward. It was the first film to receive a 17-year rate in the United States, so it was not widely distributed.
In 1993, Gus Van Sant chose her to star in the failure. Even Cowgirls get the Blues; Uma was nominated as Worst Actress of the Year at the Razzies Awards. That same year, she carried out the comedy The Girl of the Gangster along with Robert De Niro, and it became another failure.
1994 – 1998.
At that time, she made a try out for what would be Quentin Tarantino’s new movie. Initially, the director was not very convinced. He had seen The gangster girl, and he did not like her performance very much – but after dinner with her everything changed. Pulp Fiction became one of the highest grossing and cult films of all time, grossing more than 107 million dollars, and with an initial cost of 8 million.
Kill Bill.
In Kill Bill, she played an efficient professional killer, in search of revenge against her former lover. This epic film, presented in two parts, was a blockbuster and achieved good ratings with critics. It meant nominations for the Golden Globe for both films, and three MTV Movie Award one for best female performance and two for the best fight.