Susan Sarandon, born Susan Abigail Tomalin on October 4, 1946, in New York City, is an American actress known for her versatility and emotional depth. She is the eldest of nine children in a Roman Catholic family and grew up in New Jersey. Sarandon attended the Catholic University of America, where she studied drama.

She began her career as a model before transitioning to acting, making her film debut in "Joe" (1970).

Susan Sarandon gained prominence with her role in the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975). She received her first Academy Award nomination for "Atlantic City" (1980) and went on to be nominated for several more roles, including "Thelma & Louise" (1991), "Lorenzo's Oil" (1992), and "The Client" (1994).

She won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as Sister Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking" (1995).

Susan Sarandon has appeared in a wide range of films, including "Pretty Baby" (1978), "The Hunger" (1983), "The Witches of Eastwick" (1987), "Bull Durham" (1988), "Little Women" (1994), "Stepmom" (1998), "Enchanted" (2007), "The Lovely Bones" (2009), and "Cloud Atlas" (2012).

She has also worked on Broadway and in television, with notable roles in "Friends" (2001), "Malcolm in the Middle" (2002), and the HBO film "You Don't Know Jack" (2010).

Susan Sarandon is also known for her social and political activism. She was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1999 and received the Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award in 2006. Her personal life includes relationships with notable figures such as Louis Malle, Franco Amurri, and Tim Robbins, with whom she has two sons.