Nancy Allen is an American actress who began her career in the early 1970s. She made her feature film debut in a minor role opposite Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail (1973), before being cast as Chris Hargensen in Brian De Palma's film adaptation of Carrie (1976). She subsequently had a starring role in Robert Zemeckis's comedy I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), followed by a supporting part in Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979).
Allen went on to collaborate with De Palma on several other films in the 1980s, including Home Movies (1980), the erotic thriller Dressed to Kill (also 1980; for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award), and the neo-noir Blow Out (1981). In 1984, Allen appeared in the science fiction film The Philadelphia Experiment, and later had a starring role in Abel Ferrara's The Gladiator (1986). Allen was subsequently cast by director Paul Verhoeven in the science fiction thriller RoboCop (1987) as Officer Anne Lewis, a role she reprised in the first and second sequels.
Through the 1990s, Allen appeared in several independent films and television productions, including a lead role in the French drama The Patriots (1994), directed by Éric Rochant, and a supporting role in Steven Soderbergh's crime comedy Out of Sight (1998). As a result of this performance, the following year, she appeared in the crime film Kiss Toledo Goodbye, as well as the direct-to-video horror sequel Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return. She subsequently had guest-starring roles on the television series The Division and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Film Year Title Role Director(s) Notes 1973Nancy 1975Forced EntryHitchhiker 1976CarrieChristine "Chris" Hargensen 1978I Wanna Hold Your HandPam Mitchell 19791941Donna Stratton 1980Home MoviesKristina Dressed to KillLiz Blake 1981Blow OutSally Bedina 1983Strange InvadersBetty Walker 1984CarrieTerror in the AislesHerselfAllison HayesNot for PublicationLois Thorndyke 1986Susan NevilleTelevision film 1987Sweet RevengeJillian GreyRoboCopOfficer Anne Lewis 1988Poltergeist IIIPatricia "Pat" Wilson-Gardner / Trish Wilson 1989Limit UpCasey Falls 1990RoboCop 2Anne LewisMemories of MurderJennifer Gordon/CoreyTelevision film 1993RoboCop 3Anne LewisActing on ImpulseCathy ThomasTelevision film 1994The Man Who Wouldn't DieJessie GallardoTelevision filmLes patriotesCatherine Pelman English: The Patriots 1997Against the LawMaggie HewittDusting Cliff 7Anna Bishop Also known as: Last Assassins 1998Shirley DupreyOut of SightMidge 1999Secret of the AndesBrenda WillingsKiss Toledo GoodbyeMadgeChildren of the Corn 666: Isaac's ReturnRachel ColbyDirect to video The Rage: Carrie 2 Christine "Chris" Hargensen Archive Footage uncredited 2001CircuitLouise 2008My ApocalypseLinda SavageFilmed in 1997; also known as: Quality Time 2012Bound by FleshNarrator Documentary 2020In Search of Darkness: Part IIHerself Documentary 2022In Search of TomorrowHerselfDavid A. Weiner Documentary
Television Year Title Role Notes 1983–1984Another WorldPaula JamesUnknown episodes 1984Faerie Tale TheatrePrincess ElizabethEpisode: "The Princess and the Pea" 1994Touched by an AngelMeganEpisode: "An Unexpected Snow" 1995Rachel RoseEpisode: "Valerie 23" 1995Gina RaposoEpisode: "Brooklyn" 2002Christine OgdenEpisode: "Brave New World" 2003Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCarin HealyEpisode: "Escape"
Stage Year Title Role Notes 1995–1996 Dial M For Murder Margot Wendice Broadway
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