Gena Rowlands - Actor Profile

Gena Rowlands

Acting
Freshness: Jan 20, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Jun 19, 1930
Birth Place: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

About Gena Rowlands

Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands (June 19, 1930 – August 14, 2024) was an American actress. A four-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner, she is known for her collaborations with her late actor-director husband John Cassavetes in ten films, including A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria (1980), which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Opening Night (1977).

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Gena Rowlands reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Gena Rowlands's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 66% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Gena Rowlands remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Face of a Stranger, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Gena Rowlands Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Gena Rowlands's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Gena Rowlands.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2019 Gena Rowlands: A Life on Film Self Hit Similar →
2017 Bette Davis: Larger Than Life Self Average Similar →
2011 Olive Tess M Powell Hit Similar →
2007 Broken English Vivien Wilder-Mann Average Similar →
2007 What If God Were the Sun? Melissa Eisenbloom Hit Similar →
2006 Paris Je T'aime Gena (Quartier Latin) Hit Similar →
2006 Stardust: The Bette Davis Story Self Hit Similar →
2005 The Skeleton Key Violet Devereaux Hit Similar →
2004 The Notebook Older Allie Super Hit Similar →
2004 The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie Mrs. Evelyn Ritchie Hit Similar →
2004 Taking Lives Mrs. Rebecca Asher Average Similar →
2003 Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There Self Hit Similar →
2002 Charms for the Easy Life Charlie Kate Hit Similar →
2002 Hysterical Blindness Virginia Miller Average Similar →
2001 Wild Iris Minnie Brinn Hit Similar →
2000 A Constant Forge Self Hit Similar →
2000 Light Keeps Me Company Self Super Hit Similar →
2000 The Color of Love: Jacey's Story Georgia Porter Hit Similar →
1998 Playing by Heart Hannah Hit Similar →
1998 Grace & Glorie Grace Stiles Average Similar →
1998 The Mighty Gram Hit Similar →
1998 Hope Floats Ramona Calvert Average Similar →
1998 1001 Nights Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
1998 Paulie Ivy Hit Similar →
1996 Unhook the Stars Mildred Average Similar →
1995 The Neon Bible Mae Morgan Average Similar →
1993 Anything for John Self Average Similar →
1991 Face of a Stranger Pat Foster Super Hit Similar →
1991 Night on Earth Victoria Snelling Super Hit Similar →
1991 Once Around Marilyn Bella Average Similar →
1990 Hollywood Mavericks Self (archive footage) Average Similar →
1990 Montana Bess Guthrie Average Similar →
1988 Another Woman Marion Hit Similar →
1984 I'm Almost Not Crazy: John Cassavetes — The Man and His Work Self Super Hit Similar →
1984 Love Streams Sarah Lawson Hit Similar →
1982 Tempest Antonia Average Similar →
1980 Gloria Gloria Swenson Hit Similar →
1979 Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter Abigail Mason Super Hit Similar →
1978 The Brink's Job Mary Pino Average Similar →
1977 Opening Night Myrtle Gordon Super Hit Similar →
1976 Two-Minute Warning Janet Average Similar →
1974 A Woman Under the Influence Mabel Longhetti Super Hit Similar →
1971 Minnie and Moskowitz Minnie Moore Hit Similar →
1970 Husbands Party Guest Hit Similar →
1969 Machine Gun McCain Rosemary Scott Average Similar →
1968 Faces Jeannie Rapp Hit Similar →
1967 Tony Rome Rita Kosterman Average Similar →
1963 A Child Is Waiting Sophie Widdicombe Benham Hit Similar →
1962 Lonely are the Brave Jerry Bondi Hit Similar →
1960 Shadows Woman in Nightclub Audience (uncredited) Hit Similar →

Gena Rowlands - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Gena Rowlands?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Gena Rowlands is "Face of a Stranger" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Gena Rowlands acted in?

Gena Rowlands has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Gena Rowlands?

Other notable films include "Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter", "I'm Almost Not Crazy: John Cassavetes — The Man and His Work", and "The Notebook".