Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1980" in John Willis's Screen World, Vol 32. Diana Scarwid was Born August 27, 1955 in Savannah, Georgia. She left Georgia for New York at the age of 17 to pursue acting. She attended Pace University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After various performances in television and made-for-television films, she went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as John Savage's girlfriend in Rendez-vous chez Max's (1980). A year later, she came to star in perhaps her most recognized role, the portrayal of Christina Crawford, Joan Crawford's allegedly abused and adopted daughter in the film adaptation of Christina Crawford's self-penned memoir, Maman très chère (1981). The film was poorly received as a dramatic interpretation but found a second life as a camp classic. The same year, her performance as Louise, Roary's (played by John Savage) girlfriend in Richard Donner's film adaptation of Todd Walton's Rendez-vous chez Max's (1980) was acknowledged with an Academy Award nomination. She lost to Mary Steenburgen for her performance in Melvin and Howard (1980).
