‘Flashdance’ Star Jennifer Beals Opens Up About Her Career, Creative Passions and Being a Swiftie

Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA

She Still Loves “Flashdance,” the film that shot her to fame in 1983 as Alex Owens, the leg-warmer-wearing dancer whose memorable “Maniac” dance scene ended with her getting drenched by a bucket of water.

“It was an incredible jumping-off point to the rest of my career,” says Jennifer, 61.

Her First Job was at a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop in Chicago. “I was trying to save up money for college,” she says.

She’s Been A Photographer Since She Was 16. Her latest project, a book called The L Word: A Photographic Journey, documents the Showtime series.

“It’s a way to hold onto a moment in time that was incredibly special to us,” she says, calling the project “a love letter to the cast, the crew and the fans … it’s about remembering the joy and connection we all felt … it started as a personal gift for the cast and crew, but then I realized fans would love it too.”

She’s A Swiftie who attended one of Taylor Swift’s last Eras shows. “It was an extraordinary experience,” says Jennifer. “Taylor gave everything of herself, and it was a tone of acceptance and joy.”

She’s In A New Film called Hello Out There. “It’s about imagining what’s beyond what we think we know, especially in grief.”

Her Acting Idol Is Actress Gena Rowlands. “The film A Woman Under the Influence just changed everything for me,” says Jennifer. “It changed the idea of what acting could be. It was like going to the mountain and getting the tablets or something.”