Uma Karuna Thurman was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Nena Thurman, a fashion model and Robert Thurman, a professor. Uma grew up in Amherst, where her father taught at Amherst College. The Dalai Lama was an occasional guest at Thurmans household. She is six feet tall, and from an early age towered over everyone else in class. Her family used to constantly relocate, resulting in a lonely and alienated childhood. At the age of 15, she went to New York City for high school and modeling work, looking out for acting roles.