Barbara Hershey is an American actress, best known for her roles in films, such as ‘A Killing in a Small Town’ and ‘The Portrait of a Lady.’ For the latter, she received an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actress.’ Born and brought up in California, Barbara wanted to become an actress from a very young age. She attended drama classes while studying in high school. At the age of 17, she made her acting debut when she landed a minor role in the series ‘Gidget.’ She appeared in many films over the next two decades and was known mostly for her roles in successful films, such as ‘Heaven with a Gun’ and ‘Boxcar Bertha.’ In the 1980s, Barbara started receiving critical appreciation for films, such as ‘Hannah and Her Sisters,’ ‘A World Apart,’ and ‘The Portrait of a Lady.’ She also took up some iconic television roles during her career. She has frequently been mentioned in the lists compiled for the ‘best American actresses of all time.’