Cocktail was born June 10, 1962, and raised in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. A mix of Dutch, Russian and French, Gina is the daughter of Stan, a salesman, and Mickey, an interior decorator. She led a different childhood while growing up in California, and wasn't your typical Valley Girl. Since her brother and sister are both older than her, Gina had to entertain herself while growing up, which is why she would create her own world in order to keep busy. When she did hang out with her sister Tracy, her sister would charge people to see a skit they planned, which consisted of Gina come out of a closet all dressed up. Gina was always passionate about acting, and was always involved in her high school plays while a student at Beverly Hills High School. But she was never your typical Beverly Hills chick. Gina was a little bit of a juvenile delinquent, but she acted in order to help her stay out of trouble. She was into surfing, playing sports and dancing. She developed a love for cigars thanks to her dad's cigar smoking habit. Once she graduated high school, Gina headed out to Boston, but then went to San Francisco to study at the American Conservatory Theater. She headed back east to New York City, where she studied drama and child psychology at NYU. She perfected her trade at the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School in New York, and studied with famed teachers David Mamet and Harold Guskin. Like many actors, Gina got her start on the stage. One of the founding members of the New York based theater group, Naked Angels, Gina took her act to the stage in plays like Camille and The Substance of Fire. She finally got her break when she was cast in a bit part in 1986's Pretty in Pink. Gina next appeared in Sweet Revenge, Red Heat (where she recalls smoking cigars with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and had a bigger part in Cocktail as one of Tom Cruise's love interests. Gina was also working in TV, with a recurring role on Melrose Place and a part in Ellen's famous "coming out" episode. She appeared in the films Out for Justice, City of Hope, The Player, and wound up on the cutting room floor of Jungle Fever. In 1992, Gina received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Nancy Sinatrain the made-for-TV bio-pic, Sinatra. In 1995, Gina made heads turn and other body parts stand, in her Showgirls role as Vegas strip dancer, Cristal Conners. She allegedly refused to reprise Sharon Stone's famous "leg crossing" scene in the film -- perhaps it would have saved the film. Although Showgirls was one of the decade's biggest bombs, Gina went on without a hitch. Her next role was even more risqué, as Corky, an ex-con who gets mixed up in a lesbian affair with Jennifer Tilly in the mobster flick, Bound. In 1997, she co-starred with John Travolta and Nicolas Cage in Face/Off, and gave an excellent performance in the cable film Prague Diet. 1998 was busy for Gina, with roles in Palmetto, I'm Losing You, One Tough Cop, and Black and White. While staring in the TV series Snoops, Gina starred as an artist in the alternative film, Guinevere and played with big-timer Al Pacinoin 1999's The Insider. Gina was last seen in the racecar Sylvester Stallonefilm Driven, and will next be seen in the thriller, Claire's Hat. Although she hasn't been a leading lady in many movies, she leaves her mark in the films she appears in. In addition to film, Gina has also starred in a music video for the Cars song, "Hello Again," as well as Lenny Kravitz's video for "Again." Apparently, Lenny and Gina attended the same high school.