Deborah Foreman

Deborah Foreman made an indelible impression on fans of 1980s pop culture with her performance in the title role of the film Valley Girl, though it was hardly her only appearance in a memorable teen flick of the era. Deborah Foreman was born on October 12, 1962 in Montebello, CA. Foreman's father was a pilot and officer in the United States Marine Corps, and as a result she moved a great deal during her childhood, spending most of her time in Texas and Arizona. Despite her fresh-scrubbed good looks, Foreman was quite shy as she entered her teens, and her mother and father suggested she take modeling lessons to help her come out of her shell. It wasn't long before Foreman began landing modeling assignments, most memorably a series of print ads for Maybelline cosmetics, and after graduating from high school, she moved from Houston, TX, to Los Angeles, CA, in hopes of launching a career as an actress. Foreman made her big-screen debut with a small role in 1982's I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can, and also landed several TV guest appearances, but Valley Girl, released a year later, was her first leading role and the film that first earned her a cult following. Inspired by Frank Zappa's hit single, Valley Girl followed the unlikely romance between fashion-conscious suburbanite Julie Richman (played by Foreman) and semi-threatening New Wave guy Randy (Nicolas Cage). The film became a surprise hit and fared unexpectedly well with critics, and in 1984 Foreman landed a role as a regular on the TV series Hot Pursuit. The show, however, only lasted one season, and Foreman soon refocused her attention on film, winning leading roles in the wacky comedy My Chauffeur and the horror film spoof April Fool's Day, as well as a memorable supporting turn in Real Genius. However, while the exhibitors' organization Sho-West named Foreman Most Promising New Star of 1986, as the 1980s wore on, she had more difficulty landing worthwhile roles, and in 1992, after the release of the film Lunatics: A Love Story (in which she played the female lead), Foreman opted to leave show business behind. Since then, Foreman has established a successful career as a graphic designer and artist, and also creates unique hand-painted furniture. Foreman still acts on occasion, appearing in commercials, short films, and episodic television.

~ Mark Deming ~ All Movie Guide