Bening Acts Up

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/24/1997 at 12:00 AM EDT

Annette Bening is expected to lend a helping hand in a case against an ex-acting teacher of hers, Jared Sakren, who claims he was a victim of political correctness. The Associated Press reports that Sakren, who has had a distinguished acting and directing career, is suing Arizona State University for wrongfully terminating him. He taught there from 1994-97 and says that his way of teaching Shakespeare conflicted with feminist politics at the school. The university claims that his firing was based solely on his performance. Bening is expected to testify in defense of Sakren, who also taught such actors as Val Kilmer and Oscar-winner Frances McDormand.