For the first part of her distinguished career, Oscar-nominated actress Joan Allen struggled to make herself a household name, despite delivering strong, nuanced and critically-acclaimed performances on stage and on screen. After quietly stalking the background in films like “Manhunter” (1986), “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” (1988), and “Searching for Bobby Fischer” (1993), Allen exploded onto the scene with a stunning portrayal of former first lady Pat Nixon in Oliver Stone’s “Nixon” (1995). Allen’s sympathetic and complex turn opened doors to other opportunities to play strong, but
