Patricia Arquette
An actress who channeled raw vulnerability and fierce determination into unforgettable roles, from a psychic outcast to a mother fighting for justice.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actress·Birthday: April 8·Generation X
Biography
Patricia Arquette emerged from a family of performers, carving a distinct path defined by her unvarnished authenticity. Her early work in films like 'True Romance' and 'Lost Highway' showcased a magnetic, off-kilter presence that defied Hollywood conventions. It was her transformative role as a single mother in 'Boyhood', filmed over twelve years, that crystallized her ability to capture the quiet epic of ordinary life, earning her an Oscar. On television, she commanded attention as the psychic Allison DuBois in 'Medium' and delivered a searing performance as a prison activist in 'The Act'. Arquette’s career is a testament to her commitment to complex, often flawed women, using her platform to advocate fiercely for gender and wage equality in the industry.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Patricia was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Patricia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Patricia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Richard Linklater's 'Boyhood', a film shot over 12 years.
- Received two Primetime Emmy Awards, one for her lead role in the supernatural drama series 'Medium'.
- Delivered a critically acclaimed performance as Dee Dee Blanchard in the Hulu series 'The Act', earning another Emmy nomination.
- Advocated for wage equality in a landmark 2015 Oscars acceptance speech that became a cultural moment.
Did You Know?
She comes from a large acting family; her siblings include Rosanna, David, and Alexis Arquette.
She worked as a hairdresser and waitress before her acting career took off.
She is a dedicated activist who was arrested while protesting for women's rights in front of the White House.
“To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”
