Jessica Harper, born in Chicago in 1949, is an American actress, singer, and author, known for her performances in cult films of the 1970s. She gained international recognition with the role of Phoenix in Brian De Palma's *Phantom of the Paradise* (1974) and especially as the protagonist Suzy Bannion in Dario Argento's horror film *Suspiria* (1977), a performance that earned her genre icon status and a Saturn Award nomination. Her filmography also includes collaborations with Woody Allen in *Love and Death* and *Stardust Memories*, and the role of Janet Majors in *Shock Treatment* (1981). Beginning in the 1990s, she reduced her film activity to successfully dedicate herself to writing books and recording music albums for children. She returned to the big screen in Luca Guadagnino's 2018 remake of *Suspiria*, in a role that pays homage to her career.