Replaced Debra Winger for the role of Jane Craig in _Broadcast News (1987)_ .

In 10th grade she placed 8th nationally in a poultry-judging contest. (Interview, 11/95)

Moved to New York in 1980 to pursue a career in acting.

Spent a summer interning at Cortland Repertory Theatre (Cortland, New York) in 1976.

She is one of the elite eleven actors to have been nominated for both a Supporting and Lead Acting Academy Award in the same year. The other nine are: Fay Bainter; Barry Fitzgerald; Teresa Wright; Jessica Lange; Sigourney Weaver; Al Pacino; Emma Thompson; Julianne Moore; Cate Blanchett and Jamie Foxx. Emma Thompson received her double-nomination in the same year that Hunter did.

Wings of Desire (Himmel über Berlin, Der (1987)) is one of her favourite films.

Graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in drama (1980).

Started playing piano at 9.

Hunter's uncle was the first commander of the Thunderbirds, the world-famous U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron of fighter pilots.

Hired a sign language interpreter to help her create her own sign language for her role in The Piano (1993).

An accomplished pianist, she actually performed all of the piano music for her Oscar performance in The Piano (1993). Film makers selected pieces for her that matched her talent.

Her performance as Jane Craig in Broadcast News (1987) is ranked #66 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Holly and her boyfriend, Gordon MacDonald, became parents of twin boys [January 17, 2006].

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen saw her in "Crimes of the Heart" and wanted to cast her in the movie, Blood Simple. (1984). Because she was committed in another play, "The Wake of Jamey Foster", they cast her roommate Frances McDormand instead. Frances McDormand ended up marrying Joel Coen.

Was director James L. Brooks' first choice to play the female lead in As Good as It Gets (1997), but reportedly demanded too much money upfront and was passed over in favour of Helen Hunt. Hunter had previously collaborated with James L. Brooks on the 1987 film, Broadcast News (1987).

Lived in the same house as Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Frances McDormand and Sam Raimi in 1985 in Silver Lake, just outside of Los Angeles.

Taught by Jorge Guerra.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999.

She had one line in her film debut, The Burning (1981), among a few ad libs. Regarding missing canoes she says to Todd -- "What happens if we don't find them?"

Announced her separation from husband, Janusz Kaminski. They have had been apart since Halloween. [December 2001]

Turned down the role of God in Dogma (1999).

Made her Broadway debut in 1982 in "Crimes of the Heart."

Second cousin of Anaheim Angels' outfielder Tim Salmon.