Jessica Alba

Jessica Marie Alba (born April 28, 1981)[1][2] is a businesswoman, American television and movie actress, and model. She started her business, The Honest Company, in 2011.[3][4] Alba made her first movie, Camp Nowhere, at age 13 and in the television drama series Dark Angel (2000–2002). Alba later acted in several movies, such as Honey (2003), Sin City (2005) and Good Luck Chuck (2007).[5] Alba has won several awards for her acting. These awards include the "Choice Actress" award at the Teen Choice Award and a Saturn Award. Both of these awards were for her acting in the series Dark Angel.[6]

Jessica Alba
TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2016 - Day 3 (26347779484) (cropped).jpg
Jessica Alba in 2016
Born
Jessica Marie Alba[1][2]

(1981-04-28) April 28, 1981 (age 43)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusinesswoman, Actress, model
Years active1994–present
Known forActing roles:
Max Guevara
in Dark Angel
Nancy Callahan
in Sin City
Sue Richards / Invisible Woman
in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Spouse(s)
Cash Warren (m. 2008)
Children3

She has been listed in the "Hot 100" section of Maxim magazine every year from 2003 to 2007,[7][8][9][10][11] and she was voted "Sexiest Woman in the World" by FHM in 2007.[12] In March 2007, a picture of her was used on the cover of Playboy. Playboy did not ask her if they could use the picture or tell her they were going to use it. This caused a lawsuit that was later dropped.[13]

Early life

Alba was born in Pomona, California. Her mother, Catherine, is of Danish, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, German and French Canadian ancestry and her father, Mark, is Mexican American, and is of Indigenous Mexican, Sephardic Jewish, Spanish and Mayan ancestry.[14][15] She has a younger brother named Joshua. Alba's father was in the Air Force and his career caused them to live in many different places. They lived in Biloxi, Mississippi and Del Rio, Texas before returning to California at age 9.[16] When she was young, Alba was ill many times. She had a collapsed lung twice, had pneumonia four or five times each year and had problems with her appendix and tonsils. She was in hospitals for much of her childhood. This meant Alba did not spend much time with other children.[17] Alba has also said that she had obsessive-compulsive disorder when she was a child.[18][19] The disorder affected her much less when her family moved to California. She graduated from high school when she was 16 years old.[20] After high school, she went to the Atlantic Theater Company.[21]

Career

 
Alba in 2007

Alba wanted to act since she was five. She took her first acting class at age twelve. An acting agent signed her nine months later.[16][22] Her first movie work was a small role in the 1994 movie Camp Nowhere. At first, she was only hired for two weeks but ended up working for two months because another actress dropped out.[23]

Alba starred in two national television commercials when she was a child. One of these was for Nintendo and the other was for J.C. Penney. She played Jessica in three episodes of the Nickelodeon comedy series The Secret World of Alex Mack.[16] Alba was then Maya in the television series Flipper.[16][23] Her mother was a lifeguard and had taught Jessica to swim before she could walk. She is a certified scuba diver.[16][24]

In 1998, she acted in Brooklyn South, in two episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 and in an episode of The Love Boat: The Next Wave.[23] After Alba graduated from high school, she studied acting with William H. Macy and his wife, Felicity Huffman, at the Atlantic Theater Company.[21][25]

She became more famous in Hollywood in 1999 after acting in the Drew Barrymore romantic comedy Never Been Kissed, and as the main female character in the 1999 comedy-horror movie Idle Hands.[5] She was chosen from a group of 1,200 actresses for the role of the genetically-engineered soldier, on the FOX sci-fi television series Dark Angel. The series ran for two seasons from 2000 until 2002. Alba was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on that series.[5][26] When she trained to be in Dark Angel, Alba had to exercise very much and she starved herself. She said "A lot of girls have eating disorders and I did too. I got obsessed with it." She also had obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks. She said she has been cooking for herself since the age of twelve so she would not become as fat as her family members.[27]

Some of Alba's most famous movie roles are a dancer in Sin City and as Marvel Comics character Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman in the Fantastic Four. She also acted in Into the Blue in 2005 and Good Luck Chuck a few years later.[28] In 2008, Alba played her first horror-movie role in The Eye, a remake of the Hong Kong original.[15] In February, she hosted an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences's ceremony.[29] Later in the year, she starred in The Love Guru.

In 2010, Alba appeared in five movies including Little Fockers and The Killer Inside Me. The following year she appeared in Spy Kids 4, a sequel to Spy Kids.

Public image

 
Alba

In 2007, Maxim Magazine listed Alba as number 2 in their "Top 100", after Lindsay Lohan.[11] GQ had her picture on their June covers.[30] In May, after eight million votes, FHM (UK and US editions) named Alba the winner as "2007’s Sexiest Woman in the World".[31] She received the Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress and Saturn Award for Best Actress (TV) for her role in Dark Angel, along with a Golden Globe nomination. In 2006, she received an MTV Movie Award for "Sexiest Performance" for Sin City.[11][32]

Some people have said Alba's acting was bad. She was nominated for a 2007 Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her work in Awake, Good Luck Chuck, and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.[33]

On the cover of the March 2006 issue, Playboy magazine named Alba among its 25 Sexiest Celebrities and the "Sex Star of the Year". She took Playboy to court for using a picture of her without her permission. However, she later dropped the lawsuit when she got a personal apology from Playboy owner Hugh Hefner. He agreed to make donations to two charities that Alba supports.[13]

Personal life

 
Alba at the premiere for The Eye in 2008

Alba was raised in the Roman Catholic religion.[34] When she was a teenager she became a born-again Christian.[35] However, she left the church after four years because she believed that she was being judged by the way she looked. She has said that she still believes in God even though she is not a member of the church.[36] Alba has not performed naked. She was given the option to appear nude in Sin City by the movie's directors, Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez. She said no to the offer saying, "I don't do nudity. I just don't. Maybe that makes me a bad actress. Maybe I won't get hired in some things. But I have too much anxiety".[37]

While filming Dark Angel, Alba began a romance with another member of the cast, Michael Weatherly. This caused controversy because he was 12 years older than she was.[15] He asked her to marry him on her twentieth birthday but she said no.[15] They eventually broke up after a four-year relationship.[38] When talking about children, she said, "I'm really girly when it comes to kids. I've been surrounded by children my whole life because I'm the oldest of 15 cousins - I've been changing (nappies) since I was six... I want to have a couple, for sure.".[39] Alba is a Democrat and attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention in support of President Obama's re-election.[40]

Alba married Cash Warren on May 19, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.[41] She met him while making Fantastic Four in 2004.[42] On June 7, 2008, Alba gave birth to a baby girl called Honor Marie Warren.[43] She also does some charity work,[44] including clothes charity Clothes Off Our Back and women's charity Step Up Women's Network.[45][46] On August 13, 2011, she gave birth to her second daughter, Haven Garner Warren. On December 31, 2017, she gave birth to her first son, Hayes Alba Warren.

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Camp Nowhere Gail Credited as Jessica Marie Alba
1995 Venus Rising Young Eve
1999 Never Been Kissed Kirsten Liosis
Idle Hands Molly
P.U.N.K.S. Samantha Swoboda
2000 Paranoid Chloe
2003 The Sleeping Dictionary Selima DVD Exclusive Award for Best Actress in a DVD Premiere Movie
Honey Honey Daniels Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liplock & Chemistry (shared with Mekhi Phifer)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Movie Star – Female
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Drama/Action Adventure
2005 Sin City Nancy Callahan Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure/Thriller
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
MTV Movie Award for Sexiest Performance
Nominated – ALMA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Nomninated – Critics Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Fantastic Four Sue Storm/Invisible Woman Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Movies – Choice Actress: Drama/Action Adventure
Scream Award for Sexiest Superhero
Nominated – Imagen Award for Best Actress
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team & Hero
Nominated – Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress
Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress
Into the Blue Sam Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress
2007 The Ten Liz Anne Blazer
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Sue Richards/Invisible Woman Blimp Award for Favorite Female Movie Star
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Action Adventure & Hissy Fit
Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress & Screen Couple
Good Luck Chuck Cam Wexler Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress & Screen Couple
Awake Sam Lockwood Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress & Screen Couple
Meet Bill Lucy
2008 The Eye Sydney Wells Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress
Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller
The Love Guru Jane Bullard Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actress
2010 The Killer Inside Me Joyce Lakeland Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
Valentine's Day Morely Clarkson Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
Machete Special Agent Sartana Rivera Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
An Invisible Sign Mona Gray
Little Fockers Andi Garcia Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress
2011 Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World Marissa Cortez Wilson Nominated – Blimp Award for Favorite Butt Kicker
2013 A.C.O.D. Michelle
Escape from Planet Earth Lena Thackleman Voice
Machete Kills Special Agent Sartana Rivera Uncredited
2014 How to Make Love Like an Englishman Kate
Dear Eleanor Daisy
Stretch
Barely Lethal Victoria Knox
Sin City: A Dame to Die For Nancy Callahan
2015 The Veil Maggie Price
The Wright Girls
Television shows
Year Title Role Notes
1994 The Secret World of Alex Mack Jessica 3 episodes
1995–98 Flipper Maya Graham 27 episodes Nominated – Young Star Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Daytime TV Program
1996 Chicago Hope Florie Hernandez Episode: Sexual Perversity in Chicago Hope
ABC After School Specials Christy Episode: Too Soon for Jeff
1998 Brooklyn South Melissa Hauer Episode: Exploring Johnson
Beverly Hills, 90210 Leanne 2 episodes
The Love Boat: The Next Wave Layla Episode: Remember?
2000–02 Dark Angel Max Guevara 52 episodes
Teen Choice Awards for TV – Choice Actress
Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in an Old & New Television Series
Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress in a Television Series
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series – Drama
Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actress
TV Guide Award for Breakout Star of the Year
Nominated – TV Guide Award for Actress of the Year in a New Series
Nominated- Blimp Award for Favorite Female Action Hero
2003 MADtv Jessica Simpson Episode: #9.5
Rock Me, Baby Herself Episode
2009 The Office Sophie Episode: Stress Relief
Nominated – ALMA Award for Actress in Television – Comedy
2010 Saturday Night Live Girlfriend Episode: Jeff Bridges/Eminem and Lil Wayne
2014 The Spoils of Babylon Dixie Melonworth Miniseries
4 episodes

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Jessica Alba Biography". safareey.com. 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Ursula Rivera (April 2002). Jessica Alba (Celebrity Bios). Children's Press (CT). p. 2. ISBN 0-516-23482-X.
  3. "The Honest Co. on growing sales to $350m during a crisis". Vogue Business Talent. May 28, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  4. Blasberg, Derek. "How Jessica Alba Built a Billion-Dollar Business Empire". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Look at me". The Age. June 22, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  6. "Past Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  7. "MAXIM Magazine Unveils the 'Hot 100' for 2003". Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  8. "'Maxim' Top 100 Hot list 2004". USA Today. April 9, 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  9. "MAXIM Magazine Unveils Their Hot 100 for 2005; Eva Longoria Crowned #1 This Year". Business Wire. May 10, 2005. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  10. "Maxim Top 100 for 2006". Maxim. 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Maxim Top 100 for 2007". Maxim. 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  12. "100 Sexiest 2007 Winner". FHM. Retrieved April 23, 2008. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. 13.0 13.1 Silverman, Stephen M. "Playboy Apologizes to Jessica Alba". People. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  14. "Jessica Alba: Don't Call Me A Latina!!". MediaTakeout.com. June 17, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Mottram, James. "Jessica Alba: She wooed Hollywood with her sultry looks – but now she's getting serious". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 "Jessica Alba: Biography". People. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  17. OK! magazine: pp.34–39. October 3, 2005. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |pages= has extra text (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. Cullen, Denise (August 19, 2007). "My obsession" (Reprint from Sunday Telegraph). News.au.com. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  19. Interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; September 26, 2005
  20. "Jessica Alba graduated from high school at 16". Netglimse.com. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  21. 21.0 21.1 "Jessica Alba". People. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  22. Hollywood Life magazine; September/October 2005 pp.44–49; 106.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Jessica Alba Goes To 'Sin City'". CBS. March 28, 2005. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  24. "Water babe Jess in big screen splash (Registration requires payment)". Daily Star. October 16, 2005. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  25. Lawson, Terry. "Atlantic Theater Company History". Atlantic Theater Company. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  26. Lawson, Terry (December 8, 2003). "Look at me". Knight Ridder Newspapers. The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  27. "Jessica Alba's anorexic hell". AskMen.com. July 27, 2005. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  28. "Fantatic Four Movie Review". The San Francisco Chronicle. July 8, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  29. "Jessica Alba dazzles self-professed nerds as academy hands out science and tech Oscars". Associated Press. Kesq.com. February 10, 2008. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  30. "GQ: The Jessica Alba Video". Style.com. Retrieved April 23, 2008. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  31. "100 Sexiest 2007 Winner". FHM. Retrieved April 23, 2008. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  32. "Jessica Alba profile". AskMen.com. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  33. "28th Annual Razzie – Award Nominees for Worst Actress". The Razzies. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  34. Lipworth, Elaine (June 9, 2007). "Jessica Alba and her ambitious quest to be the next Tom Cruise". Daily Mail. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  35. "Jessica Alba plans a fantastic summer". USA Today. May 31, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  36. "Glamour's October Cover Girl — Dark Angel Jessica Alba Reveals Her Obsessions, Love, and God — p.256; October issue on newsstands Sept. 11, 2001". Glamour Magazine. 2008. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
  37. Itzkoff, Dave. "Jessica Alba". Tenlistz.com. Retrieved December 12, 2007.[dead link]
  38. "Jessica Alba's Parental Relationship Was Strained By Engagement". Starpulse. July 11, 2007. Archived from the original on May 31, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  39. "Alba: 'I want to have lots of kids'". Contactmusic.com. March 20, 2007. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  40. Tran, Vivyan (September 7, 2012). "Celebrities spotted at the Democratic National Convention". Politico. http://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/09/celebrities-spotted-at-the-democratic-national-convention/000417-005459.html. 
  41. "Jessica Alba Gets Married to Cash Warren!". People Magazine. May 20, 2008.
  42. Jordan, Julie (December 27, 2007). "Jessica Alba Engaged!". People. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  43. "Jessica Alba has baby girl". Reuters. June 9, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  44. "Jessica Alba's Charity Work". Celebrity Charity. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  45. "Philanthropy Resource Guide 2011". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  46. "Press releases". Step Up Women's Network. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2008.

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