Candice Bergen (Beverly Hills, 1946) is an American actress and model. Born into an artistic family, she embarked on a significant film career starting in the 1960s. She gained notoriety with roles in films such as *The Sand Pebbles* (1966), *Soldier Blue* (1970), in which she starred in controversial scenes, and Mike Nichols' *Carnal Knowledge* (1971), where she demonstrated remarkable dramatic depth.

In 1980, she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for *Starting Over*. Known for her elegance, intelligence, and a distinctive personality, Bergen has often distinguished herself in roles of strong, sophisticated, and assertively independent women. Her versatility allowed her to excel in both dramatic roles and, subsequently, in comedies, as demonstrated in *Miss Congeniality* (2000).