Embeth Davidtz Biography

Date of Birth: January 1, 1966

Although born in New Jersey, Embeth moved to South Africa when she was quite young. Having studied classical and contemporary drama at schools in both languages she became fluent in English and Afrikaans. She studied at Rhodes University and started acting with the National Theatre Company. Her role as Juliet from the Shakespeare's romantic tragedy received glowing reviews.

Davidtz entered films playing the daughter of an interracial couple in the South African television movie, A Private Life (1989), and went on to win the country's equivalent of an Oscar in the Afrikaaner psychological drama, Night of the Nineteenth.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1991, she began with small parts in NBC TV movies. From her first days in film, Davidtz has shown a preference for appearing in political dramas.

Fans of Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993) will recognize her for playing the abused Jewish maid Helen Hirsch, while those who love Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" series may remember her for playing the two-faced Sheila in Army of Darkness (1993). She went on to play Natasha Glenville in Bridget Jones's Diary(2001) and Elizabeth in The Emperor's Club (2002). After marrying Jason Sloane in 2002, she took a break from filmmaking, returning to play a role in the independent film Junebug (2005), opposite The O.C.'s Benjamin McKenzie. She most recently starred in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

Filmography

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Paranoia (2013)
Fragments (2009)
Fracture (2007)
Junebug (2005)
The Emperor's Club (2002)
13 Ghosts (2001)
The Hole (2001)
Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
Bicentennial Man (1999)
Mansfield Park (1999)
Simon Magus (1999/I)
The Gingerbread Man (1998)
Fallen (1998)
Last Rites (1998)
Matilda (1996)
Feast of July (1995)
Murder in the First (1995)
Schindler's List (1993)
Army of Darkness (1993)
Mutator (1991)
Sweet Murder (1990)