Virginia Madsen Wouldn't Give Up

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Virginia Madsen Wouldn't Give Up

Struggling as an actress (and single mother) over 40, Virginia Madsen heard some people tell her she was done working.

Despite that, she never considered leaving acting. "It's part of my soul," she explained.

She worried about losing her house, but she stuck with it.

It finally paid off when she got into "Sideways" in 2004, receiving a best supporting actress nomination for her performance there.

Since then, she's been making up for the time she lost during the early part of her career. After "Sideways," she was immediately approached by Robert Altman for a part in "A Prairie Home Companion."

She's currently appearing in "The Haunting in Connecticut" and will soon be in "Amelia," a biography of Amelia Earhart starring Hillary Swank and featuring Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor.

Although there were times when she feared her career was over, but clearly hanging on has really paid off for her.

Gina Wilhelm Actress