Theresa Russell, named one of the 100 sexiest stars in film history (Empire Magazine), was born in San Diego, California.She was discovered by a photographer at the age of 12, and made her film debut in Elia Kazan 's The Last Tycoon (1976), opposite Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Robert Mitchum, at the age of 19.heresa Russell, named one of the 100 sexiest stars in film history (Empire Magazine), was born in San Diego, California.