Biography,Filmography

A flawless beauty with a down-to-earth attitude, Jessica Biel found success on the small screen portraying Mary Camden, the mostly level-headed eldest daughter of a progressive minister, on the long-running WB drama “7th Heaven” (1996- ) before taking on the big screen in films such as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003) and “Blade: Trinity” (2004). Named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 1999 and Esquire magazine’s “Sexiest Woman Alive” in 2005, Biel’s stunning features and curvaceous figure made her one of Hollywood’s most sought-after young actresses. Receiving critical praise for her role opposite Edward Norton in “The Illusionist” (2006), Biel proved that she was more than just a pretty face.

Born March 3, 1982 in Ely, MN to Jon and Kim Biel, Biel’s family moved around during her childhood, living in six different states. Spending most of her formative years in Boulder, CO, Biel would later call the Rocky Mountain town home. An active and adventurous child, Biel began taking dance and voice lessons as a young girl. Obsessed with the musical “Annie,” Biel landed a gig as an understudy for the role in a Connecticut production of the play at the age of eight. Signing with a Denver talent agency at the age of 11, Biel started modeling and attended an International Modeling & Talent Association convention in 1994, where she won an acting scholarship to attend the Young Actor’s Space in Los Angeles. Biel spent the next three years commuting between LA and Colorado, balancing acting classes and auditions with schoolwork. Her hard work on her craft eventually paid off; in the same week, Biel landed the part of Mary Camden on the WB series “7th Heaven” (1996- ), as well as a role in the feature film, “Ulee’s Gold” (1997) opposite Peter Fonda, in which she played his troubled granddaughter Casey – the polar opposite of Mary Camden. During her high school years being tutored on the set of “Heaven,” Biel bonded with co-star Beverly Mitchell in between scenes.

Raising eyebrows in 2000, Biel posed semi-nude for a cover and photo layout in Gear magazine in an attempt to shed her wholesome image and, reportedly, be released from her “Heaven” contract. Because the show was religious in nature and a big hit w/ conservative viewers, her Gear portfolio enraged some, but her alleged ploy worked. She ultimately negotiated a reduced, recurring role on the series, allowing her to attend college and focus on feature films instead. Biel enrolled at Massachusetts’ Tufts University in 2000, returning to LA at the end of her freshman year to finish out the show’s sixth season. Leaving school to focus on her acting career, Biel went on to find work in a number of feature films. Adding a bit of sexy zest, she portrayed Freddie Prinze, Jr.’s fantasy girl in the otherwise dreary baseball comedy, “Summer Catch” (2001) and took on her edgiest project then to date, appearing as promiscuous college student Lara Halleran in writer-director Roger Avary's blunt, sex-soaked adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ “The Rules of Attraction” (2002).

Finding more mainstream box office success, Biel starred as Erin, the central scream queen, in the hit remake of the 1974 cult horror film, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003), followed by her appearance in the supposed thriller, “Cellular” (2004). Biel played the spurned romantic interest of a man (Chris Evans) who gets thrown into a high-stakes chase after receiving a random call on his cell phone. Thankfully, her small part in this forgettable actioner went virtually unnoticed, with no harm done to her career. In “Blade: Trinity” (2004), the third installment in the popular B-movie franchise, her role of Abigail Whistler, leader of a group of human vampire hunters who team up with Blade (Wesley Snipes) to do battle with undead thugs, proved to be Biel’s most physical role to date. Not surprisingly, the athletic beauty was more than up for the challenge of months of pre-production training. Next, Biel starred opposite Jamie Foxx and Josh Lucas as a fighter pilot in the less-than-memorable CG action flick “Stealth” (2005), a lowbrow cross between "Top Gun" (1986) and "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968), followed by a part opposite her “Cellular” co-star and rumored boyfriend Evans in the critically-panned “London” (2005).

Faring better with her next film, Biel took on a supporting role in Cameron Crowe’s “Elizabethtown” (2005). Though the film itself was savaged by critics and did not make the usual Crowe bank that Hollywood had come to expect from the director, Biel was singled out for her performance as the beautiful girlfriend of a whiz-kid athletic shoe designer (Orlando Bloom) whose ardor cools when her boyfriend experiences a colossal failure. Taking on her first serious period role in 2006, Biel landed the role of Viennese princess Sophie in “The Illusionist” (2006), starring opposite respected actor Edward Norton and once again impressing critics with her abilities as a serious actress.

Born: on 03/03/1982 in Ely, MinnesotaJob Titles: Actor, ModelFamily
Brother: Justin Biel. younger
Father: John Biel. formerly employed by General Electric
Mother: Kim Biel.
Significant Others
Companion: Chris Evans. dated from 2001 to 2006; starred together in the films "London" (2005) and "Cellular" (2004)
Companion: Derek Jeter. plays with the New York Yankees; rumored to have briefly dated in the fall/winter of 2006
Companion: Justin Timberlake. first linked at the Golden Globes in January 2007; rumored to be dating
Companion: Adam LaVorgna. born c. 1981
Education
Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
Milestones
1991 Began acting at age nine
1996 Played Mary Camden, the eldest daughter of a minister on the family drama "7th Heaven" (WB); left show in 2000; returned for the 2001—2002 season
1997 Played Peter Fonda's rebellious granddaughter in the acclaimed film "Ulee's Gold"
1998 Co-starred opposite Jonathan Taylor Thomas in "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
2001 Cast opposite Freddie Prinze Jr in "Summer Catch"
2002 Became a spokesmodel for L'Oreal
2002 Part of an ensemble in writer-director Roger Avary's adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis' novel "The Rules of Attraction"
2003 Starred in yet another remake of the horror classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
2004 Cast in the thriller "Cellular"
2004 Co-starred with Wesley Snipes and Ryan Reynolds in "Blade: Trinity"
2005 Cast as fighter pilot Kara Wade in "Stealth," opposite Jamie Foxx and Josh Lucas
2005 Cast in Cameron Crowe's "Elizabethtown" opposite Orlando Bloom
2006 Cast in Irwin Winkler's drama "Home of the Brave," about the lives of American soldiers and their return to the US from Iraq
2006 Played Edward Norton’s love interest in Neil Burger's "The Illusionist"
2007 Co-starred with Adam Sandler and Kevin James in the comedy, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"
Appeared in regional productions of "Annie", "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Sound of Music"
Made appearance in TV commercial for Pringles potato chips
Participated in International Modeling & Talent Association competition; did not win but did land modeling contract
Raised in Boulder, Colorado
Spent two years as a teen model

Actor Credits
Home of the Brave (2007) I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) Alex McDonoughNext (2007) Liz CooperLondon (2006) LondonThe Illusionist (2006) Sophie von TeschenElizabethtown (2005) Ellen KishmoreStealth (2005) Kara WadeBlade: Trinity (2004) Abigail WhistlerCellular (2004) ChloeThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) ErinThe Rules of Attraction (2002) LaraSummer Catch (2001) Tenley ParrishI'll Be Home for Christmas (1998) AllieUlee's Gold (1997) Casey JacksonPowder Blue Rose-JohnnyA Woman of No Importance Hester WorsleyBack to Top

Biography,Filmography

Jessica Claire Biel (born March 3, 1982) is an American actress and former fashion model best known for appearing in several Hollywood films such as Summer Catch, the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Illusionist, as well as for her early television role of Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven.

Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Early life
1.2 Rise to fame (1996-2002)
1.3 Film stardom (2003-2005)
1.4 Breakthrough (2006-present)
1.5 Personal life
1.6 Charity work
2 Awards
3 Rankings
4 Filmography
5 References
6 External links


Biography

Early lifeBiel was born in Ely, Minnesota, daughter of Kimberly (Kim) Biel (née Conroe) and Jonathan Edward Biel, an entrepreneur.[1] She is of mixed Native American (Choctaw) and European (German, French, Irish and English) ancestry.[citation needed] Biel, who has a younger brother, Justin, grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where her family had moved when she was very young. She initially trained to become a vocalist with the hope of performing in musical theater and appeared in several musicals at an early age including The Sound of Music, Annie, Beauty and the Beast and Anything Goes.


Biel aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, June 15, 2004It was not until Biel attended the International Modeling and Talent Association Convention in Los Angeles in 1994 when her career started to take off as a fashion model.

Rise to fame (1996-2002)Biel's first big break came when at 14 years old she landed the role of Mary Camden on the WB TV Series 7th Heaven. The family drama from Aaron Spelling and Brenda Hampton became the most popular series on the fledgling network. Jessica's film career also began at age 15 when she played alongside Peter Fonda in his Golden Globe winning performance in Ulee's Gold (1997). Aside from acting, Jessica became a spokesmodel for L'Oréal cosmetics in 2002.

In 2000, Biel posed topless in a layout of Gear magazine, although she did not actually appear frontally nude. It was nonetheless controversial because she was only 17 at the time of the shoot. Her frustration and fear about being typecast was one of the reasons that led to her decision. She blamed her saintly image on 7th Heaven for limiting her film career, including losing a lead role in American Beauty, which eventually went to Thora Birch. Jessica also hoped that by posing she would get out of her 7th Heaven contract, which she accomplished. She later said she regretted posing for the magazine and regards it as a learning experience. Jessica returned to 7th Heaven full time for the 2001—2002 season and then focused her attention on her movie career and has made minimal TV appearances since then. In 2002, she also had a role in the film The Rules of Attraction based on a novel by Bret Easton Ellis.


[edit] Film stardom (2003-2005)
After her departure from 7th Heaven, she accepted the role of Erin Hardesty in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003). The movie was met with moderate critical attention, but was successful commercially making over 80 million dollars stateside with its 9 million dollar budget. She has also had starring roles in Blade: Trinity (2004) and Stealth (2005), the latter of which was a box-office flop, losing $99 million USD. Biel was also rumored to be up for the part of Elizabeth in The Fog (a part originated by scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis). Later reports stated Biel did not want to do any more horror films. The part eventually went to Maggie Grace of Lost. Turning down the role proved to be a wise move: the remake was a box office flop, which had been predicted by various critics, as the film was not screened for the press prior to its release. After a nearly three year absence, Jessica surprised her fans by making one final appearance in the series finale of 7th Heaven in May 2006. The series was later renewed, at last minute, for an 11th and, as it turned out, final season. Biel did not make any future appearances in the show.


[edit] Breakthrough (2006-present)
After several indifferent feature films, her film career finally blossomed when she played a turn-of-the-century duchess in The Illusionist (2006), which received good reviews and generated a profit at the box office.[2] In 2006, she also starred Home of the Brave, about soldiers returning from Iraq,[3] premiered in Los Angeles on December 5, 2006.[4] She next starred opposite Adam Sandler in the comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, which went to number one at the box office, making 34 million dollars in its opening weekend, followed by Next, which also starred Nicholas Cage and Julianne Moore. She is slated to appear in at least two more films in 2008: A Woman of No Importance, based on the play by Oscar Wilde about a woman's past which comes back to haunt her when the man who left her with a child becomes the potential employer of their illegitimate son. Taking over Lindsay Lohan's part, it is set to begin filming in the fall of 2007. She'll also appear in Powder Blue, opposite Forest Whitaker, about four desperate individuals who intersect in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. She was supposedly offered the role of Wonder Woman in the upcoming Justice League film, but (according to one report) she turned the role down.[5] She signed up United Artists's upcoming movie Die a Little.[6]

Personal life

Biel on board Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego Bay, July 17, 2005Biel attended the exclusive private Lycée Français de Los Angeles high school. In fall 2000, she enrolled in an undergraduate study at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Having attended there during fall 2000, spring 2001 and fall 2002 semesters, she left before completing a degree program to concentrate on her acting career.

Biel's hobbies include ballet, soccer, running, yoga and hiking. Biel currently resides in Los Angeles. She dated actor Chris Evans from 2001 to 2006, with at least one time "off" during that period.[7] Together, they appeared in the films London and Cellular. She also dated another fellow actor, Adam LaVorgna, who portrayed the character of Robbie in 7th Heaven, for about two years. Jessica had been linked to New York Yankees star shortstop Derek Jeter.[8][9][10]

In January 2007, Biel was linked to singer Justin Timberlake when pictures surfaced of the two snowboarding in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival. On May 12, 2007, the gossip was refueled with the release of romantic pictures of Timberlake and Biel on multiple dates, specifically caught kissing while dining in the UK accompanied by producer/mogul Timbaland and the Manchester United (at the time) footballer Alan Smith.[11][12]

Charity work
On July 18, 2006, Biel auctioned herself for a charity event to help raise money for medical expenses for Colorado teen Molly Bloom, who lost her leg and part of her pelvis in an auto accident. The winning bid for the lunch date with Biel was $30,000. John Schiffner, originally from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, was the winning bidder. Biel quipped, "I promise, I'm a cheap date." The charity event raised $38,000 total. The lunch date was set for August 18, 2006.[13] Biel and her date lunched at Denver's restaurant The Palm.[14]


Awards2007: Rising-star Award - Palm Springs International Film Festival 2007 Gala Awards
2005: ShoWest Award Female Star of Tomorrow - 2005 ShoWest Convention
1998: Young Artist Award - Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress in Ulee's Gold

RankingsRanked as #5 on Maxim's Hot 100 for 2007.[15]
Ranked #5 by AskMen.com readers in the list "Top 99 Women 2007".
Esquire magazine named her the "Sexiest Woman Alive" in a 2005 six-part series with each month, revealing a different body part and clue to the woman's identity. One clue given was that her last name rhymes with what sigillographers are interested in (document seals).
Ranked #98 on VH1's "100 Hottest Hotties".
Ranked #99 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women In The World" (2002).
Ranked #1 in Stuff magazine's "100 Sexiest Women" (2007).[16]

Filmography
Biel on the set of Stealth, 2005Year Title Role Notes
1996-2001 7th Heaven Mary Camden television series
1997 Ulee's Gold Casey Jackson
1998 I'll Be Home for Christmas Allie
2001 Summer Catch Tenley Parrish
2002 The Rules of Attraction Lara Holleran
2003 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Erin Hardesty
2004 It's a Digital World voice
Cellular Chloe
Blade: Trinity Abigail Whistler
2005 Stealth Lieutenant Kara Wade
Elizabethtown Ellen Kishmore
London London
2006 The Illusionist Duchess Sophie von Teschen
Home of the Brave Vanessa Price
2007 Next Liz Cooper
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Alex McDonough
2008 Powder Blue Rose-Johnny
A Woman of No Importance Hester Worsley
Die a Little Alice Steele