Local actress earns honor from hometown
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Although she calls Newbury Park home, actress Virginia Madsen is still proud to be a Chicagoan. Chicago, it seems, is proud to claim her as a native, too.

Madsen was recently honored with a Columbia College Chicago Impact Award at Pearl in West Hollywood. The annual award is designed to acknowledge Chicagoans who are making a difference in Hollywood.

Madsen is best known for her role in “Sideways,” for which she was honored with Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

“It was a special honor for me to receive recognition from my hometown as this year’s recipient . . . and I’m glad I could celebrate with my family and friends who joined me at this special evening from my new hometown in the Conejo Valley,” Madsen said.

Madsen’s brother, actor Michael Madsen, presented his sister with the honor.

“There’s a rumor that some other actors were born in Chicago besides the Cusacks,” Michael joked as he introduced his sister. “This can be a very competitive industry, and it’s nice to know that somebody is able to make it to the end of the rainbow. I love you, Virginia.”

This year, Madsen starred opposite Harrison Ford in “Firewall” and was part of the star-studded cast in “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Madsen has also appeared in “The Rainmaker,” “Ghosts of Mississippi” and “Candyman,” among others.

Next up, she can be seen alongside Jim Carrey in the thriller “The Number 23.” She’ll also join Billy Bob Thornton in “The Astronaut Farmer” and Forest Whitaker in “The Ripple Effect.”

The Columbia College Chicago Impact Awards were created in 2003 to honor Chicagoans who’ve become successful in Hollywood without losing touch with their roots. Past honorees have included Jim Belushi, Joe Mantegna and former chairman of Paramount Pictures Sherry Lansing.