Liesel Matthews
Encyclopedia
Liesel Anne Pritzker stage name Liesel Matthews, is an American former child actress
and heiress to the Hyatt Hotels
fortune. She starred as Sara Crewe in A Little Princess
, a 1995 film adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett
classic, and was a member of the first family in Air Force One
.
Pritzker made her professional stage debut as Scout in a production of To Kill A Mockingbird
in Chicago. She was also seen in Vincent in Brixton
, and won a Theatre World award for her performance.
, of Ukrainian Jewish origin on her father's side. Her parents are Irene (née Dryburgh) and Robert Pritzker
. She was named after the Sound of Music character Liesel von Trapp, the eldest daughter of the seven von Trapp children. She is one of twelve surviving grandchildren of patriarch A. N. Pritzker
, a financier and industrialist who died in 1986. Her uncle, Jay Pritzker
, is the founder of the Hyatt Hotel chain, and owned Braniff Airlines
from 1983-1988. The family controls the TransUnion
Credit Bureau and the Royal Caribbean
Cruise Lines. The Pritzker family has been near the top of Forbes
magazine's "America's Richest Families" list since the magazine began in 1982.
outside of Chicago and enrolled at Columbia University
.
, filed a U.S. $6 billion lawsuit against her father and 11 older cousins claiming they had misappropriated money from trusts
established for her and her brother Matthew Pritzker. In early 2005, the parties settled the lawsuit, which followed another suit that began the process of splitting the family fortune 11 ways, resulting in 10 more Pritzkers joining the Forbes 400
; the most members of any family. Under the settlement, Liesel and Matthew each received roughly U.S. $280 million in cash and were given more control over other trusts valued at about U.S. $170 million each.
and the work of Opportunity International
. In June 2009, she donated $4 million to Opportunity International to help expand microfinance services in Africa
.
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
and heiress to the Hyatt Hotels
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
fortune. She starred as Sara Crewe in A Little Princess
A Little Princess (1995 film)
A Little Princess is a 1995 American children's film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starring Liesel Matthews, Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, and Vanessa Lee Chester. Set during World War I, it focuses on a young girl who is relegated to a life of servitude in a New York City boarding school by the...
, a 1995 film adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett was an English playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden , A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy.Born Frances Eliza Hodgson, she lived in Cheetham Hill, Manchester...
classic, and was a member of the first family in Air Force One
Air Force One (film)
Air Force One is a 1997 American action-thriller film written by Andrew W. Marlowe and directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It stars Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, and Glenn Close, and also features Xander Berkeley, William H. Macy, Dean Stockwell and Paul Guilfoyle...
.
Career
For her roles on stage and screen, Liesel Pritzker uses the stage name "Liesel Matthews," first to honor her brother Matthew and second, to avoid conflict between her divorced parents about whether she should incorporate her stepfather's name and be known as Liesel Pritzker-Bagley.Pritzker made her professional stage debut as Scout in a production of To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was instantly successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature...
in Chicago. She was also seen in Vincent in Brixton
Vincent in Brixton
Vincent in Brixton is a 2003 play by Nicholas Wright. The play premiered at London's National Theatre. It transferred to the Playhouse Theatre and later to Broadway....
, and won a Theatre World award for her performance.
Family background
Liesel Anne Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois, into the wealthy Pritzker familyPritzker family
The Pritzker family is one of America's wealthiest families, and has been near the top of Forbes magazine's "America's Richest Families" list since the magazine began in 1982....
, of Ukrainian Jewish origin on her father's side. Her parents are Irene (née Dryburgh) and Robert Pritzker
Robert Pritzker
Robert Alan Pritzker was a member of the wealthy Pritzker family.-Biography:His parents were Fanny and A. N. Pritzker, and his brothers were Jay and Donald. Robert Pritzker received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1946 and an honorary...
. She was named after the Sound of Music character Liesel von Trapp, the eldest daughter of the seven von Trapp children. She is one of twelve surviving grandchildren of patriarch A. N. Pritzker
Abram Nicholas Pritzker
Abram Nicholas Pritzker , known professionally as A. N. Pritzker, was an American businessman.The son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants Annie P. and Nicholas J...
, a financier and industrialist who died in 1986. Her uncle, Jay Pritzker
Jay Pritzker
Jay Arthur Pritzker was an American entrepreneur and conglomerate organizer.-Biography:Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Fanny and A. N. Pritzker. His brother was Robert Pritzker...
, is the founder of the Hyatt Hotel chain, and owned Braniff Airlines
Braniff (1983-1990)
Braniff Inc. was an American airline, originally headquartered in Dallas, Texas and later headquartered in Orlando, Florida. It was partially formed from the assets of Braniff International Airways.-History:...
from 1983-1988. The family controls the TransUnion
TransUnion
TransUnion is the third largest credit bureau in the United States, which offers credit-related information to potential creditors. Like major competitors Equifax and Experian, TransUnion markets credit reports directly to consumers.- History :...
Credit Bureau and the Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, it controls a 25.6% share of the world cruise market...
Cruise Lines. The Pritzker family has been near the top of Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine's "America's Richest Families" list since the magazine began in 1982.
Education
Pritzker graduated from New Trier High SchoolNew Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
outside of Chicago and enrolled at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Lawsuit
In 2002, Pritzker, then an undergrad at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, filed a U.S. $6 billion lawsuit against her father and 11 older cousins claiming they had misappropriated money from trusts
Trust law
In common law legal systems, a trust is a relationship whereby property is held by one party for the benefit of another...
established for her and her brother Matthew Pritzker. In early 2005, the parties settled the lawsuit, which followed another suit that began the process of splitting the family fortune 11 ways, resulting in 10 more Pritzkers joining the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
; the most members of any family. Under the settlement, Liesel and Matthew each received roughly U.S. $280 million in cash and were given more control over other trusts valued at about U.S. $170 million each.
Young Ambassadors for Opportunity
Liesel Pritzker is the founder of Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO), a network of young professionals who aim to inspire, educate and involve others in microfinanceMicrofinance
Microfinance is the provision of financial services to low-income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services....
and the work of Opportunity International
Opportunity International
Opportunity International is an organization that provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to more than two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world...
. In June 2009, she donated $4 million to Opportunity International to help expand microfinance services in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | A Little Princess A Little Princess (1995 film) A Little Princess is a 1995 American children's film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starring Liesel Matthews, Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, and Vanessa Lee Chester. Set during World War I, it focuses on a young girl who is relegated to a life of servitude in a New York City boarding school by the... |
Sara Crewe | she wins a young artist award for this role |
| 1997 | Air Force One Air Force One (film) Air Force One is a 1997 American action-thriller film written by Andrew W. Marlowe and directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It stars Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, and Glenn Close, and also features Xander Berkeley, William H. Macy, Dean Stockwell and Paul Guilfoyle... |
Alice Marshall | Nominated for Best female performance |
| 2000 | Blast | Jessie 'Ears' |