Cameron Diaz

While her teen contemporaries were struggling with mundane things like school and dating, Southern California native Cameron Diaz was employed by the Elite Modeling agency appearing on magazine covers and in campaigns for clients like Calvin Klein and Levi's. And just like many women in the modeling industry, she harbored dreams of an acting career. Diaz, of Cuban and Native American descent, burst onto the big screen as the torch-singing moll in 1994's Jim Carrey blockbuster "The Mask".

Perhaps ironically, she had set her sights lower, auditioning for the supporting part of a reporter (played in the film by Amy Yasbeck), but after some dozen callbacks, she was hired. In spite of, or perhaps because of, her lack of formal training, the now blonde Diaz managed to hold her own against the often over-the-top antics of co-star Carrey. Roger Ebert writing in his review in the Chicago Sun-Times (July 29, 1994) called her "a true discovery in the film, a genuine sex bomb with a gorgeous face, a wonderful smile, and a gift of comic timing," and correctly predicted that while it was her first film role, it would surely not be her last.

Riding the buzz on her performance in "The Mask", Diaz was courted by virtually every producer scrambling to cast "this year's blonde". In a series of shrewd moves, she opted to take roles in low-budget films which stretched her acting abilities. Diaz joined a cast of other rising players (including Courtney B. Vance Ron Eldard and Annabeth Gish as liberal college students who invite right-wingers to "The Last Supper" (1995) before tackling the role of a confused bride-to-be who finds herself attracted to her brother-in-law in "Feeling Minnesota" (1996).

Willing to portray less than likable women, she deftly essayed a former hooker now a Wall Street shark in Edward Burns' comedy "She's the One" (also 1996). Although she stumbled as a spoiled rich girl who conspires with her kidnapper in Danny Boyle's uneven "A Life Less Ordinary" (1997), that same year found her playing Dermot Mulroney's fiancee who encounters a rival in Julia Robertsin the fluffy but enjoyable "My Best Friend's Wedding". While most of the attention originally focused on Roberts' return to lighter fare, the spotlight shifted to Diaz's scene-stealing turn as the seemingly ditsy bride-to-be.

Having proven her comedic abilities as a supporting player, Diaz graduated to star in one of 1998's highest grossing (in both senses of the word) feature, the Farrelly brothers' "There's Something About Mary". As Ben Stiller's dream girl, she is eternally optimistic and a paragon of beauty. Yet she is also a fine comedic performer, especially in bizarre or outrageous situations (like the now famous "hair gel" scene), in part, as Charles Taylor pointed out in the July 18, 1998 issue of Salon, because of "the crazed gleam that sneaks into her eyes, her big toothy smile and the manic trill you can sometimes hear in her voice." In a surprise move, the New York Film Critics voted her their Best Actress award.

Although virtually wasted in a cameo as a TV reporter in Terry Gilliam's attempt to capture the oddball universe of Hunter S. Thompson in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", Diaz delved into the dark side, downplaying her usually bubbly screen persona to play yet another bride-to-be in Peter Berg's black comedy "Very Bad Things" (both 1998). Here, she essayed a manipulative, cunning almost psychopathic woman determined at all costs to march down the aisle. (The writer-director envisioned the character as "a young Martha Stewart with a bad case of rabies.") Alternately seductive and bullying to her intended (Jon Favreau), she crafted a comic creation that bordered on the grotesque, yet through her skills managed to make her understandable.

In 1999's inventive, if not wholly satisfying "Being John Malkovich", Diaz adopted a dowdy look and mane of frizzy brown hair as Lotte Schwartz, the pet store employee wife of a puppeteer (John Cusack). When her husband discovers a mysterious portal that allows anyone to spend 15 minutes inside the mind and body of the titular actor, she has an epiphany, experiencing a connection to her husband's brittle co-worker (Catherine Keener that transcends sex and spins off into a complicated and surprising adventure. Once again, Diaz built a funny persona out of seemingly contradictory parts and proved her versatility.

a more serious pose, she rounded out the millennium as the ambitious new owner of a struggling football franchise in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday", proving with this hard-line role that her talents had more facets yet to be tapped. She continued to stretch, successfully undertaking challenging roles in the female ensemble of "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her" (screened at Sundance in 2000; aired on Showtime in 2001) and in the drama "Invisible Circus" (2000). Teaming with Drew Barrymoreand Lucy Liuas "Charlie's Angels" (also 2000) in the unqualified hit offered her an opportunity to show her lighter side with a disarming turn.

A supporting role in "Vanilla Sky" as the woman whose desire for more than a casual physical relationship with Tom Cruise's playboy drives her to distraction earned Diaz even more critical respect. Likened to Carole Lombard by director Martin Scorsese Diaz showed something of the uncompromising spirit and sexiness that Lombard had been, and that she herself was increasingly becoming, known for. Later that year the actress played a desirable woman who falls in love with a man she can't win over in the romantic comedy "The Sweetest Thing."

Although the light-as-a-feather film was not entirely satisfying, certin scenes nearly bubbled over with Diaz's inherently loopy charm, infectious grin and freewheeling approach. It also further solidified her on-screen status as the girl-next-door who doesn't mind the occasional raunchy joke. Diaz shifted gears entirely for the next release, Scorsese's long-awaited drama "Gangs of New York" (2002), in which she played the comely street pickpocket Jenny Everdeane, the love interest of Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes (born March 5, 1974) is an American actress. She began acting in the late 1990s, and became known after a series of roles in several major Hollywood films, including 2 Fast 2 Furious, Hitch, Training Day, We Own the Night and The Spirit.

Early life

Mendes was born in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents and was raised in Los Angeles by her mother after her parents' divorce;Mendes has said that her mother "suffered so much to make my life OK" during her early years. Her father was a car salesman and her mother, also named Eva, is now an elementary school principal. She is one of the youngest of four children (she has two sisters and a brother). Eva Mendes was raised Roman Catholic and aspired to be a nun. As a child, Mendes was teased about her "buck teeth".

Mendes never saw herself as an actress while she was young and decided to pursue other interests. She attended Hoover High School in Glendale and later attended California State University, Northridge to study marketing, but dropped out after wanting to begin an acting career. She studied with Ivana Chubbuck.

Career

One day Mendes caught the eye of an agent who convinced her to pursue acting more steadily. She worked her way up through commercials to music videos, including an appearance in Will Smith's video "Miami" and the Pet Shop Boys music video for "Se a vida é (That’s the way life is)" in 1996 and Aerosmith's video "Hole in My Soul" in 1997, to guest roles in soap operas and supporting film roles. Her first film appearance was in the direct-to-video Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror.

Mendes received her first big-screen break when she appeared in Training Day. That performance led to roles in Stuck on You, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and as the female lead in the comedy Hitch opposite Will Smith. Her role in Once Upon a Time in Mexico also earned her a nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. Mendes has also been in commercials for Gushers, Revlon, and Levi's. Mendes costarred in Ghost Rider with Nicolas Cage, and recently starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, and Robert Duvall in the film We Own the Night, and Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson in The Spirit.

Along with acting, Mendes is employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman. She joins such actresses and models as Julianne Moore, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, who appear in Revlon's television and print ads. She is also a supporter and active participant in Revlon's campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Maxim ranked Mendes #7 in its 2007 Hot 100 issue. She also made her second Maxim cover in the November 2007 issue.

Mendes, despite resisting offers from Playboy, appeared naked in Flaunt Magazine. Mendes said about the shoot, "I actually did a little nude shot. You won't see anything. I was covering myself... but I love 'Flaunt.' I think their artwork is some of the best artwork out there as far as photography is concerned, so I took it off. I felt really comfortable, it was fun. There's something really liberating about it." She also appeared nude in an ad for Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession perfume. In this ad she is seen rolling nude in a bed, exposing her right breast and nipple.

In December 2007, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) used a nude photo of Mendes for their anti-fur campaign alongside the tagline "Fur? I'd rather go naked." Mendes is also a spokesmodel for the 2008 Calendar of Campari, inspired in fairy tales, by photographer Marino Parisotto.

In 2008, Mendes starred in The Women, a comedy ensemble film featuring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Debra Messing. The film, which was produced by Victoria Pearman and Mick Jagger of Jagged Productions, Bill Johnson of Inferno Productions, and English, is being released by Picturehouse, a joint venture of HBO and New Line Cinema.

Mendes was voted as No. 4 in the 2008 and No. 1 in the 2009 edition of AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women.

Mendes posed topless for "Vogue Italy" in May 2008.

Mendes was announced as the international face of Australia's 30 Days of Fashion & Beauty event in July 2008. She will make guest appearances in that country at the month-long festival in September.

On September 4, 2008, Mendes announced she was launching a line of bed linens that will be available in Macy's stores later in the month. In October, she toured various Harrod's stores across Europe to promote Calvin Klein's Seductive Comfort line of lingerie.

Mendes is in negotiations to star in the American remake of acclaimed Mexican film Y Tu Mamá También. She is also starring in Last Night with Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington and Guillaume Canet.


Mendes also appeared in the music video "The End Has No End" by the Strokes.


For More Information Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Mendes

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan

In New York, NY, on 02 July 1986, Lindsay Lohan became the first child of a proud couple: Dina (a one-time Radio City "Rockette" and Wall Street analyst who now manages her daughter's career) and Michael Lohan (a long-time Wall Street trader who developed, then sold, his family's multi-million-dollar pasta business to fund and develop major studios and independent Hollywood productions). Three siblings (Michael, Aliana and Dakota) would follow in the years to come.

Lindsay started modeling (she was the first redheaded child ever signed by the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency) and acting at the tender age of 3. People in the business quickly recognized her talent, and she was hired to shoot more than 60 commercials; including spots for Pizza Hut, Wendy's and Jell-O (with Bill Cosby). A plum role soon followed on the television series Another World as the third actress (in late 1996 and early 1997) to play Alexandra "Alli" Fowler.

Around this time, USA Today says Lindsay also would become one of several New York-area children to appear in a Halloween skit on David Letterman, dressed as garbage (!).

It was not until 05 January 1997 that she knew she would be cast in a major motion picture. The director of The Parent Trap, Nancy Meyers, called Lindsay that day and told her that she had the part — or is that parts — of the twins. As you no doubt have seen (after all, you're here), Lindsay proved that she is an actress of considerable skill, deftly handling two different personalities in one single movie.

Lindsay was officially recognized for her talent as well; earning a Young Artist Award for Leading Actress (which she shared with Stepmom's Jena Malone), and nominations for a YoungStar Award and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award.

Early in 1999, Lindsay filmed another movie. Life-Size — originally a Wonderful World of Disney production later released on home video — allowed Lindsay to act with Tyra Banks.

In 2000, Lindsay won the role of "Rose" in Bette Midler's television sitcom, Bette. After shooting the pilot episode, the show's producers decided it would be easier on the crew — most of whom lived near Los Angeles — if filming moved to California. Lindsay gave up the role to stay in New York, and Los Angeles-area actress Marina Malota was pegged to take over the role of Midler's teen-aged daughter. The series was canceled only a few months later, due to sagging ratings and the strain on the show's stars (ironically, Midler had to fly cross-country from her New York home to film her own show).

In June, 2001, Lindsay completed filming the role of "Lexy Gold" in Get a Clue, the Disney Channel Original Movie of the Month for January, 2002 — later rescheduled for telecast in June, 2002.

Walt Disney Pictures announced on 31 July 2002 that Lindsay had signed on to play Anna Coleman in the theatrical remake of Freaky Friday. Updating yet another film from its vaults, Disney signed Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis (A Fish Called Wanda) as the mother-and-daughter team who wake up one day in each other's bodies. Lohan — who already proved she could fill Hayley Mills' shoes and then some — took on a role that helped propel a young Jodie Foster to stardom.

In September, 2002, Lindsay appeared poised to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a singer when one of the biggest names in music, Emilio Estefan, Jr., took Lindsay under his professional wing. Estefan Enterprises announced a five-album production deal and the promise of an aggressive effort to "sell" her pop style "with a rock edge" to a major record label.

In 2003, Lindsay accepted the lead role in Disney's Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (originally a New Line project written for Hilary Duff, who had to pass due to her full schedule). Filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and in New York City, Queen is set for release early in 2004.

Later in 2003, leaving The Mouse behind (for now), Lindsay jumped over to Paramount Studios to re-team with Freaky director Mark S. Waters for Mean Girls. Principal photography ended in November, 2003. During filming, she began negotiations to star in Dramarama for Warner Bros.

Lindsay Lohan shares her birthday with the late US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers, the late King Olav V of Norway, former Philippine First Lady Imelda ("I have more shoes than you") Marcos, New Hampshire Congressman John Sununu, WWF wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart, retired NASCAR driver Richard "The King of Stock Car Racing" Petty, and the late Wendy's Restaurant founder Dave Thomas (really!). Fellow actors born on 02 July include Yancy Butler (Witchblade), James McNichol (General Hospital, brother of actress Kristy McNichol), Jerry Hall (Batman, ex-wife of Mick Jagger), Ron Silver (Billionaire Boys' Club), Brock Peters (Star Trek), Ken Curtis (Gunsmoke), and Polly Holliday (Flo on television, "Marva Kulp, Sr." in The Parent Trap).

Trivia:

Lindsay also has worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.

Her family's last name is pronounced "low-han" but, when speaking quickly, they tend to say "lowen".

Lindsay was raised on Long Island, NY, where her family still maintains its home. She hasn't ruled out moving to California, however, following high school.

Her birthday is 02 July, not 11 October. That birthday was shared by Annie James and Hallie Parker, Lindsay's characters in The Parent Trap.

Lindsay earned the roles of the twins after a six-month casting search. Later, Life-Size and Get a Clue were offered by Disney as part of a three-picture deal signed after Trap was filmed.

Immediately after Trap, Disney offered Lindsay the lead female role in Inspector Gadget but, having just finished seven months' work on The Parent Trap, she declined. The role instead was accepted by Michelle Trachtenberg. Soon, a rumor began to circulate that Trachtenberg "gave" the Trap role to Lohan, who later "gave" the Gadget project to Trachtenberg. The rumor is not true. (On the other hand, did you know Michelle's "birthday is on October 11th??! How weird is that?")

Following a self-imposed hiatus, Lindsay auditioned for Freaky Friday.

The body-switch comedy opened on 06 August 2003, and immediately took its place as the top comedy at the box office, earning well over $100 million in US release. Lindsay's singing debut, Ultimate, helped propel the film's soundtrack album into Billboard Magazine's Top 20 in under three weeks.