Jennifer Lynn Connelly was born in Round Top, a hamlet in Cairo, New York, to Ilene Carol (née Schumann), an antique dealer, and Gerard Connelly, a clothing manufacturer.

At the age of 10, Connelly began her career as a child model after an advertising executive friend of her father suggested she audition. She was added to the Ford Modeling Agency's roster and started modeling for print advertisements and television commercials.

Connelly made her acting debut in Sergio Leone's gangster epic "Once Upon a Time in America", playing the role of Deborah Gelly, an aspiring dancer and actress.

Connelly starred in Jim Henson's children's film "Labyrinth", a role that marked a significant milestone in her early acting career.

Connelly appeared in the Disney adventure film "The Rocketeer", which further established her presence in the film industry.

Connelly garnered rave reviews for her portrayal of drug addiction and degradation in Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream". She also appeared in the Jackson Pollock biopic "Pollock" the same year.

Connelly won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Alicia Nash in Ron Howard's biopic "A Beautiful Mind", a film that depicted mathematician John Nash's battle with paranoid schizophrenia.

Connelly married British actor Paul Bettany after meeting during the filming of "A Beautiful Mind". The couple shares two children: Stellan Bettany and Agnes Lark Bettany.

Connelly starred in Darren Aronofsky's epic "Noah", playing the role of Naameh, the wife of Noah.

Connelly starred in the science fiction television series "Snowpiercer", a dystopian drama that aired on TNT.

Connelly appeared in the action film "Top Gun: Maverick", a sequel to the 1986 film "Top Gun".