Jennifer Connelly is best known for her girlhood debut in Labyrinth and her Oscar-winning performance in A Beautiful Mind.

Raised in Brooklyn Heights, Connelly started her career as a model. A few minor film roles led to her first significant parts in 1986's cult fantasy flick Labyrinth opposite David Bowie and 1991's The Rocketeer. What followed was a string of unwise career moves: She turned down the role of Veronica Sawyer in Heathers, and appeared in a series of duds during the 90's, seven of which featured her topless or nude. Not surprisingly, Connelly took a break from acting for a spell; she returned to the biz with parts in several independent films like Requiem for a Dream. In 2002, she earned serious cred for A Beautiful Mind, which landed her the 2002 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. However, her career has failed to capitalize on her Oscar win, as she's spent a decade in less-than memorable roles in serious flicks like Little Children and Blood Diamond.

After she had a son, Kai, during a relationship with photographer David Dugan, she met British actor Paul Bettany during the filming of A Beautiful Mind; they married in 2003 and have a son together, Stellan. [Image via Getty]