Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert (born on January 29, 1975 in Santa Monica, California) is an American actress. She decided at a young age that she wanted to be an actress after seeing her half-sister, Melissa Gilbert, in Little House on the Prairie. The roles she has played, as well as her laid back and unthreatening personality, have made her something of an icon in alternative culture.
Following appearances in TV movies and an advert for Kool Aid, at the age of thirteen she landed the role of Darlene Connor in the US sitcom Roseanne. Sara was a constant cast member during the shows run from 1988 to 1997, for which she wrote an episode called Don't Make Me Over. In fact, Sara's contribution to Roseanne was so important that the show's producers arranged the filming schedule to allow her to study at Yale University. She graduated with an arts degree in 1997.
She has appeared in two films alongside Drew Barrymore, in Poison Ivy in 1992 and Riding In Cars With Boys in 2001. She starred in several other minor roles following the final episode of Roseanne, including short film $30 (aka 30 Bucks) as part of the Boys Life 3 feature. She directed her own short film Persona Non Grata in 1998.
She has also made guest appearances in many TV shows such as The Simpsons and made a cameo appearance in High Fidelity, appearing alongside Jack Black and John Cusack.
In her teens she became a vegetarian and supports numerous organizations such as PETA, Meals On Wheels, Freedom Of Speech, Pediatric Aid Foundation, APLA and Animal Rights.
In 1993 she was nominated for the Emmy award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Roseanne as well as the Independent Spirit award for Best Supporting Female for her role in Poison Ivy. She was nominated again in 1994 for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Roseanne.
Starring Roles
- Calamity Jane, 1984
- Roseanne (TV series), as Darlene Connor, 1988 - 1997
- Runaway Ralph, 1988
- Sudie And Simpson, 1990
- Poison Ivy, 1992
- 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth, 1992
- Dead Beat, 1994
- Broken Record, 1997
- Desert Blue, 1998
- Persona Non Grata, 1998, Sara starred as a narrator as well as directing this short film
- Light It Up, 1999
- The Big Tease, 1999
- $30, 1999
- Jack & The Beanstalk, 2000, a children's animated movie for which Sara did a voice over
- Welcome To New York, 2000, TV Series
- Riding In Cars With Boys, 2001
Guest Appearances & Cameos
- The Simpsons (TV series), as Laura Powers in New Kid On The Block, 1993
- Saturday Night Live, Hosted one episode in 1994
- High Fidelity, 2000
- Biography, 2001, Appeared as herself in the episode about her half sister Melissa Gilbert
- 24, 2002, Appeared in episodes Day 2 - 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Day 2 - 9:00 am to 10:00 am, Day 2 - 10:00 am to 11:00 am and Day 2 - 11:00 am to 12:00 noon
- Ellen DeGeneres Show, 2003
- Will & Grace, 2003, Episode Fannilow
