By late 1977 Blondie has made it big in the UK with their second album Plastic Letters (1977) and their massive hit Denis (1977). Their next album Parallel Lines (1978) and propelled Blondie into super stardom. They were everywhere especially Debbie Harry who was chosen by the media as their focal point. This caused major tension within the band and after three more albums and five number one hits in the UK, four in the US, they called it a day.
In 1982 Debbie took her first major acting role in David Cronenberg's horror classic Videodrome (1983). The film wasn't a major success but it has gone on to achieve cult status and is still highly relevant and effective 20 years on. Debbie recorded a solo album for Chrysalis a few years later, Rockbird (1986), which saw Debbie enter the Billboard Top 100 twice with the singles In Love With Love (1987) and French Kissin' In The USA (1986) which was also a sizable hit in the UK. Debbie starred in Forever Lulu (1987) and Satisfaction (1988) before her role in Hairspray. Initially John Waters couldn't afford a major star like Debbie for the movie but she agreed to do the movie despite the low pay.
She and fellow Blondie member and boyfriend Chris Stein had worked on the music for John's movie Polyester (1980). Shortly after before Hairspray Debbie and Chris had split up but remained very good friends
Since Hairspray Debbie has starred in the popular Tales From The Darkside (1988) series and Tales From The Darkside: The Movie (1990). She made Intimate Stranger (1992) a sexy thriller and her first time as the main star of a movie, be it only a cable production. She also starred in John Carpenter's Body Bags (1993) in a segment alongside Stacey Keach and pop diva Sheena Easton. She has also starred in many independent films including; Heavy (1995) alongside Liv Tyler and Shelly Winters, Six Ways To Sunday (1998) playing the twisted mother of Norman Reedus and most recently My Life Without Me (2003).
Blondie are now back together already having various successful tours spanning 1998-2003 and two new albums, No Exit (1999) and The Curse Of Blondie (2003). Debbie also makes an appearance in Spun (2003) and All I Want (2003) alongside Elijah Wood and Mandy Moore.
Check out Debbie's career on the 'All Music Guide'