MENU
Movies

Jennifer Beals becomes a global sex symbol in 1983’s Flashdance

Full name
11 Jan 2022
5 min read
Question: in flashdance, character alex owens works a day job as a...

Flashdance is looked back upon as one of the most curious, dichotomic, well-timed and culturally-significant movies from the 1980’s.  Generally panned by critics, the movie – considered by many to be a 97-minute music video – is most remembered for its award-winning music and (still) sexy dance sequences, compliments of Jennifer Beals, who landed the lead role of Alex Owens when she was just 18-years-old.

The actress got the gig while already working a “day job” as an American literature student at Yale, which the actress deferred for a term as Flashdance filming got underway.  

Though the movie as generally viewed as videos-between-deadpan acting, the story of Owens working a day job as a (hot) welder in a Pittsburgh steel mill (with much of the movie shot in the city setting) and night job as cabaret performer -- all while battling for a shot at a legit dance career – found ample success with moviegoers.  It seemed that men and women alike were taken-in by the well-toned Beals’ mix of innocence and sensuality.

Made for a mere $7 million, the movie became the third highest-grossing domestic film of 1983, taking in over $92 million at the box office.

While the movie charts a mere 38% approval on the RottenTomatoes.com “Tomatometer”, much of the success for Flashdance is attributed to a stellar soundtrack, which was seemingly released at the best possible time, coming out in concert with this MTV-driven rise of watchable sound.  In the U.S. alone, the soundtrack album has sold over six million copies, and, worldwide, the album’s sales chart among the top-10 all-time for a film soundtrack.

Music from the Flashdance soundtrack earned dual nods at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes, with nominations for “Flashdance . . . What a Feeling,” and “Maniac.”  The former, sung and co-written by Irene Cara (of “Fame” fame), became an awards-crossover icon, ultimately taking in an Academy Award and the Golden Globe in ’83, along with a pair of Grammys in ’84.

As for Beals -- who had multiple body doubles performing Alex’s Flashdance moves – she returned to Yale to earn her degree before eventually heading back to Hollywood for a number of roles.  While none of her credits present the same memorable sweat as Flashdance, Beals has appeared popular in movies like Devil in a Blue Dress and The Book of Eli, while a lengthy run in Showtime’s The L Word have earned the actress continued praise.

Share this post
No items found.