Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2019

About Glenn Close

Renowned actress Glenn Close is known worldwide for her performances on Broadway, feature film productions and television series. She is regarded as an extraordinarily versatile actress with an immersive acting style. Popular cinematic roles include Sarah Cooper in "The Big Chill," Iris Gaines in "The Natural," Alex Forrest in "Fatal Attraction." Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil in "Dangerous Liaisons," Cruella Di Ville in Disney's hit "101 Dalmatians," Kathryn Bennett in "Air Force One," and Patty Hewes in the hit Drama series "Damages."

In 2017, Close donated her costume collection to its School of Art, Architecture + Design. The collection, from 47 projects, spans Close's celebrated career through film, television and theater and includes pieces from some of her most iconic performances. Close has said (of her collection) that it is "a treasured possession, (which) represents not only the characters I have played in the last 35 years, but also the thousands of hours spent in fitting rooms, collaborating with brilliant costume designers and builders. These garments represent a process that is at the very core of my craft. I treasure each costume because it was conceived and built by some of the very best in the business, and each piece has added, immeasurably, to my understanding of the characters I have inhabited." Thrilled that her collection will have a permanent home in the archival on the Bloomington campus at Indiana University, Close has said she feels an energy, curiosity and quest for excellence at IU that matches my own. Each costume has a story, and I will keep adding to the collection as long as I find stories to tell."

Close has won three Tonys, an Obie, three Emmys, three Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and is additionally a six-time Academy Award nominee. In 2016, Close was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame, and in 2019, "Time" magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Close is also a strong advocate for the mental health community. In 2009, Close founded "Bring Change 2 Mind," an organization aimed to emerge as the world's most effective organization working to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness through widely distributed Public Education Materials based on the latest scientific insights and measured for effectiveness. In 2019, Close was awarded Indiana University's Bicentennial Medal, in recognition of her distinguished contributions and longstanding support of the university.