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Julie Frances Christie (born 14 April 1941 ) is an Academy Award -winning English film actress. She was also a Pop Icon of the Swinging London era of the 1960s. BIOGRAPHY Early life Christie was born in series on BBC television, entitled '' A For Andromeda ''. Early career Christie's first major film role was as Liz, the friend and would-be lover of the eponymous '' Billy Liar '' played by Tom Courtenay in the 1963 film directed by John Schlesinger . Schlesinger, who only cast Christie after another actress dropped out of his film, directed her in her breakthrough role, as the amoral model Diana Scott in '' Darling '' (1965), a role which the producers originally offered to Shirley MacLaine . Though virtually unknown before '' Darling '' (1965), Christie ended the year 1965 by appearing as Lara Antipova in David Lean 's adaptation of Boris Pasternak 's novel '' Doctor Zhivago '' (1965), which was one of the all-time box office hits, and as Dasiy Battles in '' Young Cassidy '', the John Ford-Jack Cardiff directed biopic of Irish playwright Sean O'Casey. In 1966, the 25-year-old Christie won the Academy Award for Best Actress for '' Darling '' (1965). Later, she played Thomas Hardy 's heroine Bathsheba Everdene in Schlesinger's '' Far From The Madding Crowd '' (1967) and the lead character, Petulia Danner, (opposite George C. Scott ) in Richard Lester 's '' Petulia '' (1968). '' (1965)]] In the 1970s, Christie starred in such films as 's '' Power '' (1986), but other than that, she avoided appearances in large budget films and appeared in riskier fare.'' Christie has turned down many leading roles in films such as '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They? '', '' Anne Of The Thousand Days '' and '' The Greek Tycoon ''. Christie also signed on to play the female lead in '' American Gigolo '' opposite Richard Gere , however when Gere dropped out and John Travolta was cast in the role, Christie too dropped out from the project. Gere changed his mind and took back the role, however it was too late for Christie as her part was already taken by Lauren Hutton . Julie Christie also had to drop out of the leading role in '' Agatha '' due to breaking her wrist whilst roller-skating; the part was filled by Vanessa Redgrave . Later work Christie made a comeback with her appearance as Gertrude in Kenneth Branagh 's Hamlet (1996). Despite her training, it was her first-ever venture into Shakespeare . She next starred as the unhappy wife in Alan Rudolph 's domestic comedy-drama '' Afterglow '' (1997). Critics were delighted with her performance, for which she received her third Oscar nomination. However, rather than capitalizing on her comeback, Christie continued her nonchalant attitude towards acting. Since her last Oscar nomination, she has appeared mostly in small roles in English and American films. Christie's latest portrayal is the female lead in '' Away From Her '', a film about a long-married Canadian couple coping with the wife's Alzheimer's disease. Based on the Alice Munro short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain", the movie is the first feature film directed by Christie's sometime co-star, Canadian actress Sarah Polley . She only took the role, she says, as Polley is her friend. On her part, Polley said that Christie liked her script but initially turned it down as she was ambivalent about acting. It took several months of persuasion by Polley before Christie finally accepted the role, which was written with her in mind. Christie made a brief appearance in the third 's '' Troy '', and Marc Forster 's '' Finding Neverland '', in which she played Kate Winslet 's mother. Debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11 , 2006 as part of the TIFF's Gala showcase, '' Away From Her '' drew rave reviews from the trade press, including the Hollywood Reporter, and the three Toronto dailies. The critics singled out the performances of Christie and her co-star, Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent , and Polley's assured direction. Personal life Christie has never married. Her long-time partner (since 1979) is '' The Guardian '' journalist Duncan Campbell , who prompted her reluctant return to Los Angeles, California , as that is where he has been based. Since the 1970s, Christie has been politically active and involved in multiple causes, including animal rights, environmental protection, and the anti-nuclear power movement. FILMOGRAPHY
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