Cameron Diaz
Cameron was introduced to a photographer at a
Hollywood party at the age of 16, and within a week she
had signed a contract with the Elite Modeling Agency.
Diaz spent the next five years touring the globe, and
eventually settled into a Hollywood apartment with video
producer Carlos de La Torre, with whom she carried on
a five-year relationship.
Although she succeeded as a model, appearing in
magazines such as Mademoiselle and Seventeen, she
knew there was more to her life than modeling.
Diaz debuted in 1994's The Mask at the age of 21,
opposite Jim Carrey. She didn't fully grasp how big her
involvement in the film actually was, nor did she grasp
that this was to be a big film, The Mask being her first
acting experience.
The realization of her responsibility in the film a month
into filming, contributed to her getting her first ulcer.
Diaz definitely did a great job with her contribution to the
film; the movie received a lot of attention, and many
wondered what the beautiful blue-eyed blonde would do
next.
Her next movie was set to be Mortal Kombat, for which
she required martial arts training. Diaz injured her wrist
karate-chopping her trainer's head in preparation for the
role, and had to back out of the movie.
Diaz subsequently returned to modeling by taking on
some high paying modeling jobs, and opted for smaller,
low-paying roles in independent films. According to
Cameron, an actor is more likely to come across more
challenging and interesting roles in lower-budget,
independent films, rather than mainstream movies.
Diaz ran off with her brother-in-law, played by Keanu
Reeves, in Feeling Minnesota; she slept with brothers
Edward Burns and Mike McGlone in She's the One; and
perhaps most difficult of all to believe, she played
Harvey Keitel's wife in Head Above Water. The National
Association of Theater Owners acknowledged her string
of indie triumphs by naming her the N.A.T.O./ShoWest
Female Star of Tomorrow.
Diaz returned to big studio movies in My Best Friend's
Wedding, opposite Julia Roberts. Rave reviews followed
and it appeared that Diaz had made the transition from
model to actress, although her next movie, Life Less
Ordinary was not as well received.
Diaz seemed to corner the Hollywood market of
beauties with There's Something About Mary. Critics
and audiences agreed that the movie was a hit, and
Diaz was the shining star. Diaz and Matt Dillon, her
boyfriend of nearly three years, have recently split.
She returned to independent films with a role as Jon
Favreau's fianc�e in the dark comedy Very Bad Things,
about a bachelor party gone wrong.
Her most recent movie, Being John Malkovich, is
presently in theatres. This film surely presented her with
the interesting and challenging role that independent
films usually offer, as she stepped out of the role she is
usually typecast to play. We warn you, she definitely
doesn't look sexy in this one.
Audiences will see her next in Oliver Stone's football
movie, Any Given Sunday, opposite Al Pacino. What
else do you need to know?