Kim Basinger seemed designed for the spotlight: the breathless Bond girl, the mysterious beauty of 9½ Weeks, the fearless photographer running through Gotham City, and the Oscar winner who made 1950s glamour feel dangerous again. Yet behind that unmistakable face was a woman battling crippling shyness, panic attacks, painful typecasting, romantic chaos, and a financial disaster that nearly swallowed her career. She even bought a town. And somehow, the strangest turns were still waiting.
#1: Georgia Roots
Kimila Ann Basinger was born in Athens, Georgia, in 1953, surrounded by music, performance, and unusually colorful family history. Her mother had modeled and appeared in Esther Williams productions, while her father played big-band music before working in finance.
He had also landed in Normandy during World War II. Kim inherited the artistic surroundings, but not the confidence everyone might have expected.