Ann Magnuson on AllMovie

Despite her relative obscurity, redheaded performance artist Ann Magnuson has a bright star persona, a multitude of talents, and a definitive sense of style and glamour. Born in the South and schooled in the Midwest, she escaped to New York and worked on a number of projects as a theatrical collaborator with the likes of Eric Bogosian and Joey Arias. In 1985, she helped form the performance art group/rock band Bongwater along with her creative partner and guitarist Kramer. While singing and writing songs for the band, she was also building her acting career. Co-starring Bogosian and Meatloaf, her comedic social commentary special Vandemonium Plus was released on HBO Home Video along with her sly parody sketches "Made For Television." Her first few films were made by rising young directors Beth B., Sara Driver, and Susan Seidelman. She also made an appearance in the documentary Mondo New York, along with contemporaries Lydia Lunch and Karen Finley. In 1987, she made her breakthrough film performance in the romantic comedy Making Mr. Right, ideally cast as the high-fashion publicist Frankie Stone opposite the literally robotic John Malkovich. She got another juicy role the following year as older woman Joyce Fickett in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon opposite earthy teen heartthrob River Phoenix. The next year she joined the cast of the ABC sitcom Anything but Love as fashionable magazine editor Catherine Hughes. Meanwhile, Bongwater released several albums on Shimmy Disc before breaking up in 1992 after a legal dispute. Magnuson continued to make brief yet memorable appearances in feature films (Cabin Boy, Clear and Present Danger, Tank Girl) before releasing her solo album The Luv Show on Geffen Records. Staying with her acting career, she went on to appear in various supporting roles in independent films, mainstream blockbusters, and TV specials. After 2000, she turned away from comedies toward darker material in The Caveman's Valentine, Panic Room, and Night at the Golden Eagle. In 2003, she joined the cast of the FOX sitcom Wanda at Large as liberal political commentator Rita and went on tour with her one-woman show "Pretty Songs and Ugly Stories."