reese witherspoon

Reese witherspoon: "Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Reese Witherspoon made her mark as a smart, driven, and self-respecting actress who refused to take the easy road to stardom with mindless teen flicks and broad comedies. Her sturdy Southern upbringing by an academic family was evident in the focus and confidence she brought to her first starring film role at the age of 14. Uncommon comedic talent paired with her high energy and charismatic spirit first caught critical notice in 1996 s indie cult hit Election, and by 2001, she assumed the role of one of the few box office leading ladies who could open a film, with her delightfully cheeky turn in Legally Blonde. Her commitment to real women characters rendered the occasional lackluster comedy like “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002) watchable, but Witherspoon proved herself to be a serious dramatic contender with her overwhelmingly acclaimed portrayal of June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line” (2004), for which she won a much deserved Oscar. Offscreen, her marriage to fellow actor Ryan Phillippe seemed to echo the perfection of all other aspects of her world, but the couple shocked the public in 2006 when – after two children and many years together, by Hollywood standards – they separated amidst rumors of his infidelity. Ever the fighter and self-professed type-A personality, Witherspoon picked up the pieces with class and discretion, and continued on with her highly bankable career, as well as finding romance again with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, LA. Her mother was a professor with numerous degrees, including a PhD in pediatric nursing, while her father was a surgeon as well as a lieutenant in the Army Reserves. His military post led the family to relocate to Weisbaden, Germany, shortly after Witherspoon was born. She spent her infancy overseas before the family returned to the United States and settled in Nashville, TN. The youngest of two kids as well as the only daughter, Witherspoon was bookish and ambitious, simultaneously planning to go into medicine like her parents, but also telling the girls in the schoolyard at the private Harding Academy that she was going to be the next Dolly Parton. A family friend recruited the perky blonde for a local TV commercial when she was seven; thus marking the humble beginnings of the girl who would one day find herself among the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. Inspired by her brush with local fame, Witherspoon began taking acting lessons, and when she was 11 years old, took first place in a multi-state talent competition. For the next several years, Witherspoon maintained her focus on schoolwork and cheerleading, as well as absorbing her traditional Southern upbringing, which she would later credit with her strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. Her accomplished mother and grandmother instilled self-respect and high moral standards, which probably came in handy sooner than expected when their 14- year-old daughter inadvertently landed the lead role in a Hollywood film. Witherspoon and some friends attended a casting call for “The Man in the Moon” in 1990 when they heard the film that was being shot locally. The best they hoped for was to have some fun as extras, but casting agents immediately zeroed in on Witherspoon, who was selected to fly to Los Angeles for further auditions. The inexperienced actress gave a shining performance on her first time out, playing with heartbreaking poignancy, a 14-year-old girl in love with her sister’s boyfriend-next-door. It was immediately apparent from her performance that she could handle three-dimensional, passionate characters with both manners and moxie. The girl whose parents had nicknamed her “Little Miss Type A” for her driven and multi-tasking personality followed up with the Diane Keaton-directed cable movie "Wildflower" (Lifetime, 1991), playing a girl who discovers an epileptic teenager (Patricia Arquette) held captive by her father. She held down a fairly regular school schedule at the private girls’ school Harpeth Hall, while racking up television credits as a critically ill young woman in "Desperate Choices: To Save My Child" (NBC, 1992) and as a young wife with a wandering eye in the miniseries "Return to Lonesome Dove" (CBS, 1993). That same year, she evaded murderous poachers as the star of "A Far Off Place," a teen-aimed Disney adventure filmed in the Kalahari Desert. Witherspoon graduated from high school in 1994 and entered the prestigious Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, with her sights set on a degree in English Literature. But after only a year, acting tugged her down to Los Angeles where directors were lining up to cast the little firecracker. Witherspoon delivered a breakthrough turn as a sensitive and sassy hostage in the controversial Gen-X satire "S.F.W." (1995) which signaled her move toward more risky, complex roles. She was stalked by a pre-"Boogie Nights" Mark Wahlberg in James Foley's "Fear" (1996), and kissed her nice girl image good-bye in "Freeway" (1996), where she played a gun-toting, trash-mouthed juvenile delinquent, snarling and pouting her way through a modern-day "Little Red Riding Hood." Developing a varied and rewarding career seemed to come naturally to the young actress, who held the lessons taught by her mother and grandmother to heart, avoiding roles that catered to dumbed down female teen stereotypes. After she portrayed the wayward daughter of Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman in "Twilight" (1998), her all-American fresh-scrubbed look and pert demeanor found its way into Gary Ross' "Pleasantville" (1998), where she and Tobey Maguire starred as 1990s teens who travel back in time to introduce a bold new life force to a 1950s black-and-white world. By the time those films hit theaters, Witherspoon had a bold new force in her own life, having met up-and-coming actor Ryan Phillippe at her 21st birthday party in the spring of 1997. The couple was an instant item and became engaged in late 1998. In 1999, Witherspoon upheld her high standards with turns in the stylish neo-noir about lovers plotting to escape their desolate town "Best Laid Plans," and playing the plucky but virginal Annette in the better-than-average teen thriller "Cruel Intentions," which co-starred fiancé Phillippe. "Cruel Intentions" drew huge audiences and showcased Witherspoon's versatility, but by far most critics' favorite Witherspoon performance of the year was in "Election." With her inspired portrayal of a fiercely ambitious and perpetually perky high school student running for class president, Witherspoon really set herself apart from other actors of her generation and more than held her own opposite seasoned stage vet Matthew Broderick, who played an annoyed school teacher set on keeping the overachiever from another victory. Funny and frankly terrifying at times, Witherspoon's performance took Alexander Payne's black comedy to its highest level, earning the actress a Best Actress Award from the National Society of Film Critics, and Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations. Hot on the heels of her biggest screen success, she and Phillippe were married in June of 1999 and Witherspoon gave birth to look-a-like daughter Ava in September. In 2000, the new mom kept busy with her young family, but did take on a guest role as Rachel's younger sister on the sitcom "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004), which raised her profile even further. She returned to the big screen in 2001 and single-handedly led the charming comedy "Legally Blonde" to the number one box office spot. This cute tale of a spirited fashion major from Malibu-cum-Harvard Law student became a surprise hit, due in no small part to Witherspoon’s irresistible, playful and confident performance that raised the material well above what it might have been in lesser hands. Her talent was recognized with a second Golden Globe nomination, but the actress’ follow-up – a remake of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" (2000) – was surprisingly lackluster, given Witherspoon’s track record. But the driven actress recovered quickly and moved into the realm of producing, forming her own Type-A Productions, with a wink to her parent’s assessment of her personality type. Witherspoon’s biggest box office success came with a film she held close to her heart, the romantic comedy "Sweet Home Alabama" (2002), where she starred as a southern girl who, after transforming herself into a successful New York socialite, has second thoughts about her true self during a trip back to the site of her Southern upbringing. The film made over $125 million in ticket sales but left critics bewildered by the popularity of the flat, predictable, storyline. The following year, Witherspoon both starred and executive-produced the sequel "Legally Blonde: Red, White and Blonde" (2003), a lesser version of the original that took the beloved character Elle Woods to Washington D.C to do battle in court. The panned film was endurable solely thanks to Witherspoon's charms, but audiences came in droves and their $90 million dollar approval meant a $15 million payday for Witherspoon, making her one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. The woman from Nashville who seemed to have it all added one more element to her life – a son Deacon, born in October of that year. The actress wisely took a hiatus from formulaic comedies; instead opting for the role of aspiring elitist Becky Sharp in director Mira Nair's stylish adaptation of Thackeray's classic novel "Vanity Fair" (2004), playing a character that uses all of her charm, wit, guile and sensuality to climb the ranks of British society. The actress' innate likeability and relatively sympathetic portrayal of Sharp resulted in a more determined, less calculating interpretation than other big and small screen versions of the character. Witherspoon's potent on-screen charisma helped fuel the more conventional "Just Like Heaven" (2005), a romantic comedy with a "Ghost"-like plot in which she played a workaholic doctor who finds herself in an ethereal state, occupying her home after it has been leased to a depressed widower (Mark Ruffalo). Though falling somewhat short on laughs and originality, the film benefited from its appealing leads, scene-stealing supporting players like Jon Heder, and its eventually involving love story. Ready for a greater acting challenge, Witherspoon signed on to play country singer June Carter Cash opposite Joaquin Phoenix's Johnny in director James Mangold's biopic "Walk the Line" (2005). Witherspoon hit yet another career high point and was at her best in the role, which was set within the singer’s tortured road to romance with the troubled “Man in Black.” Beyond just mastering bringing a real person to life, the role also demanded she convincingly sing Carter’s music, play the autoharp and deliver the wisecracks that were signature to Cash’s concert appearances. The task proved to be well within the focus of the “type A” talent. Witherspoon’s tough, touching, and mesmerizing performance earned both a Golden Globe and an Oscar award for Best Actress. Onscreen, the actress had weathered the ups and downs of a show business marriage but off-screen, her own pairing with Ryan Phillippe showed signs of strain. In a rare moment of candor, the couple revealed that they were in marriage counseling. Her personal life was further fodder for entertainment when she found herself at the center of issues involving paparazzi after several incidents led her to file charges against aggressive shutterbugs – particularly an altercation with the photographers while she and her children were at Disneyland. Amidst rumors of his alleged cheating with “Stop Loss” (2008) co-star and Witherspoon doppelganger, Abbie Cornish, the couple announced their split at the end of 2006 and went through amicable divorce proceedings around the time she began filming the political thriller “Rendition” (2007). The film hit the big screen in 2007 and found Witherspoon co-starring alongside dramatic heavy-hitters Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin, starring as the pregnant wife of an Egyptian-born man who is detained in Morocco after being suspected of having terrorist ties. The film, like so many Eastern set films that year, failed to find an audience and many critics were disappointed that Witherspoon’s performance lacked the spark of her finer works. However a romance with co-star Jake Gyllenhaal was sparked, which the pair kept very low profile. In 2008, Witherspoon’s producing effort “Penelope,” a modern-day fairy tale starring Christina Ricci as a young woman cursed with a pig’s nose, finally hit theaters after several years of unexplained delays. The fantasy failed to capture much of an audience, despite marketing efforts to suggest that Witherspoon was the film’s co-star when hers was actually a very small role. The actress was slated to return to full-fledged comedy for the 2008 holiday season release “Four Christmases” (2008), in which starred opposite Vince Vaughn as a couple obligated to spend their holiday with a total of four sets of parents.

Katherine Heigl Biography

Katherine Heigl Biography: "With a beauty harkening back to old Hollywood, Katherine Heigl – a onetime Sears catalog child model who later paid her dues as a decidedly less-than-glamorous slasher film victim – finally earned widespread acclaim for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on the award-winning medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 2005- ). A frequent sight on “Most Beautiful People” lists, the statuesque actress proved to be versatile and talented in much the same manner as her “Grey’s” character – also a former model who had a long road to acceptance as a medical professional. In 2007, Heigl – who had previously dabbled in such little-seen comedies as “Romy and Michele: In the Beginning” (ABC Family, 2003) and the Farrelly Brothers feature, “The Ringer” (2005) – was poised to take the film world by surprise with her starring role in Judd Apatow’s critically-hailed and much-anticipated follow-up to “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005) – “Knocked Up” (2007). Heigl was born on Nov. 24, 1978, the youngest of five children to Paul and Nancy Heigl. The Mormon family moved several times while Katherine was young, so she lived in Washington D.C., Colorado, and Virginia before the family settled in New Canaan, CT for the remainder of Heigl’s childhood. When she was nine years old, an aunt visiting from New York City took a series of portraits of the all-American blonde with the big smile, submitting them to modeling agencies. Heigl was promptly signed by the prestigious Wilhelmina agency and began catalog modeling and eventually TV commercial acting. In 1991, she was cast in the coming-of-age feature film, “That Night,”alongside Juliette Lewis and C. Thomas Howell, but the picture was not released until 1993. She followed up her acting debut with a pair of higher profile big screen roles in Steven Soderberg’s Depression-era drama “King of the Hill” (1993) and the romantic comedy, “My Father the Hero,” playing the rebellious teenage daughter of Gerard Depardieu (1994). By now, Heigl’s modeling career had ramped up to include regular appearances in Seventeen and other teen and beauty magazines, while she tried to maintain a regular life at New Canaan High School and build her acting resume in the meantime. She next expanded into action films with small roles in Steven Seagal’s “Under Siege 2” (1995) and the made-for-TV gravy train with Disney’s “Wish Upon a Star” (1996). Following the break-up of her parents and her graduation from high school, Heigl and her mother relocated to Malibu in 1997, at which time Nancy Heigl became her manager. The mother-daughter duo made an auspicious start on the West Coast, with the teenager landing a role in a European production of “Prince Valiant” (1997), a made-for- TV adaptation of “The Tempest,” opposite Peter Fonda (1998), and a pair of bill-paying horror films – “Bride of Chucky” (1998) and “Bug Buster” (1998). The following year, Heigl was thrust into the bright spotlight when she landed a starring role on “Roswell” (WB, 1999-2002), playing one of a group of high school students in Roswell, NM, who live secretive double lives as alien offspring. The slick, moody, sci-fi drama with the teen angst edge fared well at a time when programming grids were crowded with high school dramas. Over three seasons, Heigl’s character Isabel gained a more and more prominent part of the show’s ever-complicated storyline. During the run of the show, the over-18 actress also became a mainstay in magazines like FHM and Maxim, often appearing on “Sexiest” and “Most Beautiful” lists. When “Roswell” was cancelled in the spring of 2002, Heigl stayed busy with unremarkable TV movies, horror films, and an MTV remake of “Wuthering Heights” (2003). In the 2005 romp “Romy & Michele: The Beginning” – a prequel to the film “Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion” (1997) – Heigl reprised the role played by Mira Sorvino in the film. In 2005, Heigl had established the chops and the personal background to perfectly fill the role of underwear model-turned-medical intern Isobel Stevens for a mid-season replacement medical drama called “Grey’s Anatomy.” It was her third role as an Isabel, and it did prove to be a charm, with the ensemble show developing into a critic’s pick and audience favorite. Heigl even received her first Golden Globe nomination, following her heartbreaking storyline of falling in love with her patient, Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who dies of heart failure after asking Izzie to marry him. The public’s respect for Heigl grew when, after a highly publicized cast argument, where costar Isaiah Washington used derogatory language against gay cast member T.R. Knight, Heigl appeared on camera in interviews to publicly express disgust with Washington and support Knight, who she said was her best friend. The year “Grey’s” premiered, Heigl had appeared in her first big screen comedy, the low-brow Farrelly Brothers flick, “The Ringer.” The film was not a huge success, but Heigl’s handling of the material obviously made an impression on writer-director Judd Apatow, who cast Heigl in the lead in his one-night-stand-whoops story “Knocked Up” (2007). The film was slated for a June 2007 release, with early reviews touting it as one of the year’s best comedies. The film was also sure to instigate a whole new flurry of “Sexiest” and “Most Beautiful lists,” however, sadly for her male fans, Katherine had become engaged to singer-songwriter Josh Kelley in June of 2006. Also in her off-screen life, Heigl was an outspoken supporter of organ donation, involved with the charities Donate Life America and the James Redford Institute of Transplant awareness. She was also, not surprisingly, a supporter of GLAAD (Gays and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). Meanwhile, Heigl won her first-ever Emmy award after getting the nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Izzie Stevens.

Angelina Jolie Biography

Angelina Jolie Biography: "From Hollywood wild-child to Academy Award winner to respected U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a series of metamorphic transformations over the course of her career. An exceedingly beautiful, strikingly talented performer, Jolie broke onto the scene in the mid-1990s, quickly gaining a reputation for both her on-screen work as well as her outrageous off-camera antics. Interestingly enough, however, within a decade, Jolie shed her reckless image and successfully managed to re-invent herself – not only as an artist, but also as a celebrity humanitarian of the highest order. Only half-chidingly dubbed by Esquire magazine as “the best woman in the world, in terms of her generosity, her dedication and her courage,” Jolie seemed intent on remaking her image on her own terms, even as the tabloids struggled to scandalize it. In the mid-2000s, Jolie’s public profile exploded into another stratosphere when she became romantically linked with the 'sexiest man alive,' Brad Pitt. After his then scandalous divorce from wife Jennifer Aniston, Pitt and Jolie slowly came out as a couple to the delight of the world’s paparazzi. Now one half of the “most gorgeous couple on earth,” Jolie used her celebrity to bring attention to a number of worthwhile causes – winning the grudging respect of even the most cynical of her critics. The daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina Jolie (Voight) was born on Jun. 4, 1975 in Los Angeles, CA. Like her older brother by two years, director James Haven (Voight,) Jolie seemed destined for a career in the arts. At the age of 11, she began studying at the famed Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in NYC. Even before commencing her formal training, Jolie made her screen debu"as a tyke in a bit part in the Hal Ashby-directed comedy "Lookin' to Get Out" (filmed in 1980; released 1982). While reviewers savaged the movie (which was co-scripted and co-produced by her father, Jon), its littlest thespian fortunately emerged unscathed. The experience briefly turned young Angelina off of show business – she even briefly considered going into funeral directing for a time – but because it was in her blood, she eventually bounced back. With two extremely photogenic parents, it came as no surprise that Jolie inherited gorgeous good looks – most striking of all were lush lips which made her a standout from all other young girls. Her comeliness allowed her to segue back into show business, first as a professional model, and later, as an actress in music videos. In addition to appearing in five student films directed by her older brother, Jolie became a member of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Theatre Company, where she honed her craft alongside such veteran players as Holly Hunter, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. Jolie made her return to the screen playing a heroic human-machine hybrid in the above-average direct-to-video sci-fi actioner, "Cyborg II: Glass Shadows" (1993), but the entry went virtually unnoticed by critics. Luckily, her flashy role as Kate (a.k.a. 'Acid Burn') in the cyber-thriller "Hackers" (1995) garnered her more attention and better notices. Paired with rising young British actor Jonny Lee Miller, Jolie played a teen computer whiz battling an evil genius. “Hackers” fizzled at the box office, but the romantic leads sizzled – both on-screen and off. Jolie and Miller’s chemistry eventually culminated in their wedding in 1996. Though the two would divorce just three years later, Jolie and Miller would remain close friends even after their break-up. More film work readily followed for Jolie, initially in small-scale character-driven indies. In an indifferently received adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' novel "Foxfire" (1996), Jolie played a mysterious outsider named Legs Sadovsky – described in Variety as "sort of a female James Dean" – who helps some other teenaged girls stand up for their rights. In Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna's romantic comedy-drama "Love Is All There Is" (1996), Jolie displayed a humorous and innocent light as half of a pair of star-crossed lovers divided by their families' feud. That same year, the actress appeared in the high-minded suspense drama "Without Evidence,” playing a drug-addicted teen, and "Mojave Moon,” opposite Danny Aiello. Next came "Playing God" (1997), in which Jolie capably essayed a woman torn between her gangster boyfriend (Timothy Hutton) and a discredited doctor (David Duchovny) in his employ. While the films remained largely unseen by most moviegoers, Jolie received strong notices for each of these projects. Unlike many feature stars, Jolie showed no compunction about working on the small screen. Case in point: during the late 1990s, the actress appeared in a handful of exceptional made-for-TV productions that effectively allowed her to strut her stuff on her own terms. In 1997, Jolie received top notices for her co-starring turn alongside Annabeth Gish and Dana Delaney as Texas pioneers in the 1997 CBS historical miniseries, "True Women." Jolie then brought a fiery passion to her portrayal of Cornelia Wallace, the politician's first wife, in the biographical miniseries "George Wallace" (TNT, 1997). But it was her dazzling turn as another real-life figure – the late supermodel Gia Carangi – that catapulted Jolie into the public consciousness. Jolie’s brave, sensitive performance as the drug-addicted, AIDS-stricken title character in HBO's excellent biopic "Gia" (1998) brought the beauty widespread critical acclaim. For her efforts, Jolie was twice Emmy-nominated in the supporting category for "George Wallace" (which she lost to co-star Mare Winningham) and in the leading category for "Gia" (which she ended up losing to Ellen Barkin). Fortunately, Jolie received more-than-adequate consolation for her Emmy losses by picking up two back-to-back Golden Globe Awards for both performances. After this spate of acclaimed television appearances, Jolie found her way back into in films, landing roles that similarly showcased her acting strengths. In 1998, Jolie received special notice for her work in the comedy-drama "Playing By Heart" (1998), as Joan, an outgoing club kid smitten with the sullen Keenan (Ryan Phillippe). Vivid and engaging, Jolie easily held her own among an ensemble cast featuring such luminaries as Gena Rowlands and Sean Connery. The following year, the actress joined John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton in Mike Newell's Big Apple-set comedy about air traffic controllers, "Pushing Tin" (1999). Jolie later got her feet wet in the increasingly crowded crime-drama pond playing a tough rookie cop assisting a quadriplegic detective (Denzel Washington) in "The Bone Collector” (1999), a flawed, but well-acted serial-killer thriller directed by Philip Noyce. Jolie finally rounded out the year by landing the much sought-after co-starring role of the disturbed Lisa Rowe in "Girl, Interrupted.” Based on author Susanna Kaysen's best-selling memoir of her own two-year stay in a psychiatric hospital, Jolie’s showy turn as the sociopathic inmate netted Jolie a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. But public respect would come neither immediately nor easily for Jolie, even after winning Hollywood’s highest honor. Far more interested in her girl-gone-wild ways, the tabloids tended to dismiss her talents in favor of her more unorthodox personal life. Among the gossip fodder were her exotic tattoos, extensive collection of knives and her past “cutting” experiences, her provocative revelations and her intimations of a profoundly edgy sex life. The tabloids also made much hay out of Jolie’s close relationship with her look-alike brother, James Haven – a bond which raised many eyebrows after Jolie planted a passionate kiss on his lips in plain view of drooling paparazzi. It did not help matters when she declared she was “in love with her brother” upon accepting the Oscar. Media saturation would reach a boiling point, however, in mid 2000, when Jolie became the fifth wife of her “Pushing Tin” co-star – the equally eccentric and significantly older actor Billy Bob Thornton. A match made in tabloid heaven, the couple's constant declarations of love and erotic devotion to each other was capped by the wacky revelation that the two wore vials of one another's blood around each other’s necks and had sex in the car on the way to the “Pushing Tin” premiere. Her off-screen quirks notwithstanding, the actress continued portraying tough young women on the big screen. In the flashy but unfulfilling car heist thriller "Gone in 60 Seconds" (2000), Jolie crackled in scenes even opposite notorious scene-stealing star, Nicolas Cage. Jolie’s next project was as the flesh-and-blood embodiment of the titular adventuress in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). Based on the wildly popular “Tomb Raider” video game franchise, Lara Croft launched an Indiana Jones-style adventure series which failed to impress critics, but racked up a healthy box office take. The film also marked Jolie’s first adult collaboration with her father, Jon Voight, who played her character's father in the film. Shortly after their on-screen pairing, however, Voight made a series of disparaging comments regarding his daughter’s mental emotional stability (or lack thereof) to the American entertainment newsmagazine “Access Hollywood” (Synd., 1996-). Outraged by the insult, Jolie immediately responded by painting Voight as a philandering, self-righteous hypocrite who cheated on her mother. The resulting rift between father-and-daughter would last for several years and several on-camera pleas by Voight to give him another chance. Meanwhile, back on the career front, Jolie – possibly distracted by her tumultuous personal crises – seemed a bit unfocused in her next two features. Starring opposite Antonio Banderas in the dismal noir-wannabe “Original Sin" (2001), Jolie came off less than committed, despite some steamy – and heavily hyped – erotic sequences. Her follow-up, the dramatic vehicle "Life or Something Like It" (2002) – in which she played a superficial, platinum blonde newscaster forced to examine her existence more closely – also died quickly. Jolie subsequently took a significant hiatus from film, but continued to make headlines in her personal life, divorcing Thornton in 2003 amid rumors of his infidelity (which he denied). It was also rumored that Jolie’s recent adoption of a baby boy from a Cambodian orphanage whom she named Maddox, did not help matters. The couple was allegedly at different points in their life and thus, split. The actress returned to familiar territory for her comeback screen vehicle, the sequel "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003), a lackluster follow-up to a lackluster first outing. Reflecting their off-screen internecine tensions, Voight, did not reprise his role in this second follow-up. “Cradle of Life” was followed by a turn in the too-righteous political/romantic drama "Beyond Borders" (2003). After this came a dangerous foray into Ashley Judd territory with a starring role in the routine thriller "Taking Lives" (2004), in which Jolie played an FBI profiler caught up in dangerous and erotic intrigue. Signing up for another purely commercial vehicle, the actress adopted another rich accent as she winkingly played the eyepatch-sporting Captain Frankie Cook, the leader of an all-female amphibious attack squadron, in the retro action-adventure "Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow" (2004). Cast opposite Jude Law and fellow Oscar-winner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jolie joined the CGI-laden action-adventure battling giant robots in an Art Deco, 1930s-era environment. Jolie then lent her voice to the finny femme fatale, Lola, in DreamWorks' CGI-animated underwater underworld opus "A Shark’s Tale" (2004). Finally, Jolie closed out the year with a bizarrely seductive turn as Alexander's mother, Olympias, who raises her son to believe in his impressive destiny, in Oliver Stone's epic historical bomb, "Alexander the Great.” Jolie's profile as both a movie star and public figure rose to even more epic proportions when she co-starred with the equally lovely actor Brad Pitt in the Doug Liman-helmed actionfest "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005). In it, the actors played a bored married couple who are actually rival assassins, each hired to kill the other. Almost from the get-go, spurious rumors abounded of an on-set romance between Jolie and Pitt – innuendo that contributed to Pitt's subsequent split from his high-profile marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston. Though both Pitt and Jolie initially refuted the rumors – the two later took a coyer stance after being photographed together numerous times post-Aniston separation. The intense media and public interest in their possible romance propelled “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” to huge box office receipts, thanks in large part to their palpable on-screen chemistry. Needless to say, the "are they or aren't they?" nature of the Jolie-Pitt coupling captivated star watchers and quickly became the most written-about celebrity story of 2005 – even prompting the coining of the term "Brangelina." Taking a page from the playbook of the late Audrey Hepburn, Jolie began using her celebrity status to bring attention to such humanitarian causes as the plight of violence-torn nations. As their relationship gradually emerged in the public eye, Pitt began to accompany Jolie on her missions of mercy to third world nations and grow ever more attached to her son, Maddox. Away from the screen, Jolie expressed a dedication and commitment to increasing awareness and aid to counties devastated by internal and external conflicts, disease and third world conditions. In 2001, after the actress made several trips to the war-torn nations of Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Pakistan, Jolie had been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It was during one of these trips that in 2005, she adopted an infant daughter from an Ethiopian orphanage whom she named Zahara. Later that year, surprising the world at large, Pitt petitioned to adopt the two children as his own. A year later, on May 27, 2006, Jolie and Pitt welcomed their biological firstborn child into the world – a daughter named Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. Clearly serious about starting a family, in March 2007 – Jolie and Pitt made headlines once again by adopting a fourth child – a three-year-old boy from Vietnam whom they named Pax. And no one was surprised when the couple gave birth to twins Vivienne and Knox in 2008. Returning to the big screen later that summer, Jolie next starred as Marianne Pearl, the wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, in the gripping drama “A Mighty Heart” (2007). Though Jolie’s casting initially sparked a furor of controversy among minority groups, as Marianne Pearl was of Afro-Cuban/Dutch ancestry, much of the complaints dissipated upon the film’s release. Hailed by many as quite possibly the boldest performance of her career, Jolie’s portrayal of Marianne Pearl was rooted in dignity and reflected a tragic truthfulness free of exploitative sentimentality. Unfortunately, the serious film was released during the summer box office season, rendering it lost amidst all the big-budget special effect movies. Also that year, Jolie became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, then received the International Rescue Committee’s annual Freedom Award for her contributions to the cause of refugees and human freedom. Back on the big screen, Jolie starred in the high-action comic book thriller, “Wanted” (2008), playing a supersensory assassin who mentors an office-bound wimp (James McAvoy), turning him into a highly-skilled member of a centuries-old order of hit men. Following a leading voice role as Tigress in the blockbuster animated family comedy, “Kung Fu Panda” (2008), Jolie returned to Oscar-caliber form with “Changeling” (2008), a period thriller inspired by true events directed by Clint Eastwood. Jolie played a distressed mother taking on the Los Angeles Police Department in 1928 when her son mysteriously reappears after having gone missing. Sure that the boy is not her son and in search of answers, she fights a corrupt bureaucracy that tries to publicly declare her unfit and delusional. Jolie’s strong performance earned her nominations at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for Best Actress.

Bipasha Basu Biography

Bipasha Basu Biography India Movies: "Born and brought up in Kolkata, Bipasha was noticed and recommended for the Ford Super Model Contest, held in Mumbai in 1996. After winning the coveted title, she proceeded to participate in the Ford International Contest in Florida the same year. Having secured second place in the pageant, Bipasha was in the International Media's eye, as she traveled to Paris and worked with some of the most prestigious designers and labels. On her return to India, she received an unimaginable reception as all the prominent Indian designers, fashion gurus and top brands started vying for her attention. Bipasha has walked the ramp for almost all noteworthy Indian designers and also appeared in ad campaigns for brands such as Close up, Calida, Mazaa and Thumps Up. Her line up of music videos includes Sonu Nigam's, `Tu' and `Jaan'.
Looking to scale new heights, Bipasha finally set her sights on Bollywood, where she could explore her talent to the fullest. After receiving many offers from top banners she zeroed in on `Ajnabee' as her debut. Directed by duo Abbas Mustan, `Ajnabee' had an impressive cast of Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol & Kareena Kapoor. Inspite of being the only debutante amongst a seasoned cast and crew, Bipasha managed to hold her own and was recognized as a promising actress.
Amongst the first few to give the gorgeous lass due credit was Vikram Bhatt, who signed her on for his next venture `Raaz'. The mystique and deep aura of sensuality that Bipasha Basu exudes was exactly what the dynamic director was looking for, in the heroine of the immensely thrilling and hair raising film Raaz. With Jism, Bipasha changed the portrayal of the traditional 'Indian' actress entirely. A negative role with bold shades and then some more, Bipasha set the trend for a lot like her generation to come. Seen then in movies like Rakht, Rudraksh, Barsaat, Aitbaar, Bipasha was trying out new genres with each movie she chose. Her latest release is the comic hit No Entry, where she plays a vivacious bar dancer who is all set to woo Anil Kapoor, for a fair price. Her forthcoming movies include, Phir Hera Pheri, Dhoom2, Nehle Pe Dehla and Hum Ko Diwana Kar Gaye.

freida pinto

Freida Pinto
Pinto in November 2008
Born: October 18, 1984 (1984-10-18) (age 24)Mumbai, Maharastra, India
Occupation: Actress
Years active: 2008 — present
Freida Pinto (born October 18, 1984) is an Indian actress and professional model, best known for her performance as Latika in her debut film Slumdog Millionare, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2009. Pinto won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Contents:
1 Personal life and back ground

2 Career
3 Awards and honours
4 Filmography

Personal life and background:
Freida Pinto was born in Mumbai to Sylvia Pinto, a principal of St. John’s Universal High School (Goregaon), and Frederick Pinto, a senior branch manager at the Bank of Baroda. Freida Pinto's father is from Neerude and mother from Derebail, both towns in Mangalore. Her elder sister Sharon Pinto is an associate producer on the NDTV news channel. Pinto studied at Carmel of St. Joseph School in Malad and completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English Literature from St. Xavier's College Mumbai. She currently resides in Malda, a suburb of Mumbai. She is also trained in different forms of Indian Classical Dance as well as Salsa. In an interview, Pinto stated that although she is "completely pure Indian", some of her ancestors were probably from Portuguese background, which explains the origin of her surname Pinto.

Career:
Before starring in Slumdog Millionaire, Pinto anchored the international travel show, Full Circle on Zee International Asia Pacific in English between 2006-08. Pinto was also featured in several television and print advertisements for products such as Wrigley's Chewing Gum, Skoda, Vodafone India, Airtel, and DeBeers. Pinto modeled for four years and appeared in runway shows and magazine covers. She learned acting from The Barry John's Acting Studio in Andheri and was trained by her mentor Barry John. After six months of auditions, she received a call to audition for Slumdog Millionaire. Pinto auditioned for Danny Boyle and was short-listed and finally selected to star in Slumdog Millionaire. Pinto made her film debut in 2008. Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on a game show and exceeds people's expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials. In the movie, Pinto played the role of Latika, the girl with whom Jamal (Dev Patel) is in love. At the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, the movie won the Cadillac People's Choice Award. At the 2009 Golden Globe Awards, the movie won four awards. Pinto herself was nominated for "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" at the 2009 BEFTA Awards and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a cast in a motion picture alongside ten other cast members from Slumdog Millionaire. Pinto has been cast in Woody Allen's next film set in London. Other cast members include Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, and Nicole Kidman. Shooting for the film starts in July 2009.

Awards and honours:
Won:
2009: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Slumdog Millionaire.
Nominated:
2008: Black Reel Awards of 2008- Best Ensemble for Slumdog Millionare.
2009: 62nd BAFTA Awards - Best Actress in a supporting role for Slumdog Millionaire.

Filmography:
Pinto with Dev Patel at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Year: 2008
Film: Slumdog Millionaire
Role: Latika
Language: English
Notes: Slumdog Crorepati in Hindi, Naauum Kodieswaran in Tamil, Murikiwada Koteswarudu in Telugu.

Year: 2010
Film:Miral
Language: French/Hebrew/English