Early life and career

Hilary Duff was born on September 28th, 1987, in Houston, Texas. The younger of two sisters, she is representative of her family's knack for the entertainment business (her mother is a producer, her sister a musician). It was during a ballet tour at the age of 6 that Hilary realized that she wanted to become an actress.

After a commercial appearance and much hard work, she landed her first role, in the made-for-TV movie True Women. It was certainly a mark of success for a 10-year-old; little did anyone suspect how much further she would take her career.

precious and precocious

Advancement came quickly for Hilary. After a solid turn as the titular witch in the made-for-TV movie Casper Meets Wendy in 1998, Duff appeared in the TV movie, The Soul Collector and received a Young Artist Award for Supporting Young Actress in a TV Movie or Pilot. But the real turning point in her career was her lead role in the Disney Channel's successful show, Lizzie McGuire.

By all accounts, Lizzie McGuire took Hilary to the top ranks of young entertainers. Aside from becoming the Disney Channel's No. 1 series, it broke records in its time slot (it also spawned a hit feature film in 2003). The series has given Hilary fame, fortune and -- more importantly, she might argue -- the opportunity to break into another passion of hers: music.

getting in tune

Duff contributed her vocals to the Lizzie McGuire television soundtrack album, for the song "I Can't Wait." Not surprisingly, it became a hit. After the less-successful Christmas album Santa Claus Lane, Duff returned to the recording studio to work on her real accomplishment: her debut album, Metamorphosis.

Continuing Hilary's streak of nearly unprecedented success, Metamorphosis hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts upon its release, and soon afterward spent its fair share of time in the top spot. Featuring a variety of styles from a variety of talented producers and songwriters (including Hilary's sister, Haylie), the record showcases Hilary's adaptability to many musical styles. She has toured North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia in support of the album, and has long since been a regular on shows like MTV's Total Request Live.

not sitting on her duff

Throughout her pop stardom, Hilary hasn't given up acting. In 2003, she starred in both The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Agent Cody Banks, alongside Malcolm in the Middle's Frankie Muniz. She will no doubt draw more attention to herself when the remake of Cheaper by the Dozen and A Cinderella Story are released.

Hilary shows no sign of relinquishing any of her endeavors. In fact, she has put notable efforts into charity work, not to mention social appearances. She is only 16, but Hilary Duff's got the career of a thirty-something superstar.

Overall Rating

Although marketing analysts have been talking about the buying power of teens, tweens and adolescents for years, never has the scope of this demographic been as apparent as now. Why? Because Hilary Duff's young, adoring fans have faithfully supported her through three distinct, hugely successful career phases: television, film, and pop music. Folks, crossover mega-stars don't usually come this young, nor this beautiful and talented. We aren't afraid to admit it, even though she's underage.

It's hard to walk the red carpet and tour the world, especially when you don't even have your driver's license. But like her near contemporary Amanda Bynes, her co-presenter at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, Duff has shown natural professionalism and an almost super-human ability to stay cool under pressure. And she's smiling every step of the way.

Of course, she's got plenty to smile about when you look at the business side of her career. For A Cinderella Story alone, her salary was $2 million US (double what she received for The Lizzie McGuire Movie). Yowza! Add to that a No. 1 album (Metamorphosis) and another sure-fire hit holiday movie (a remake of the family comedy-drama, Cheaper by the Dozen), and you're looking at a veritable Miss Moneybags. Maybe Duff's next foray into success will involve a more financial-based industry like investment banking.

Personal life

Duff has dated singer Aaron Carter. There were reports that she had tried to have fellow teen actress Lindsay Lohan banned from the preview of Cheaper by the Dozen because Lohan had allegedly been dating Carter at the same time as Duff in late 2003, as well as other reports about a fistfight that supposedly took place between the two actresses. Duff had a disagreement with pop punk singer Avril Lavigne over criticisms by Duff that Lavigne did not respect her own fans for copying her dress style. Although this occured, the two have made up and are not fighting. They were seen at a party conversing and taking pictures with their beaus. Duff has also briefly dated Jordan Masterson, younger brother of Chris and Danny, although they broke up after just a few weeks together. She is currently dating Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden. She finally cleared up all the rumors in June 2005 by admitting they were dating, and had been seeing each other since she was sixteen and he was twenty-four. The rumour began when they were seen together in Toronto for the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards.

Duff is involved with many charities, is an animal rights enthusiast, and a member of "Kids with a Cause". On September 5, 2005 it was reported that she donated US$250,000 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. She launched a clothing line, "Stuff by Duff" on March 12, 2004 with clothes distributed through Target in the United States and Australia and Zellers in Canada. Playmates Toys also released a celebrity doll of her that year.

In late 2005, Duff took a month off from work as a belated eighteenth birthday present. She said that after releasing Most Wanted and writing three new songs for it, shooting three films, and embarking on her U.S. "Still Most Wanted Tour", she wanted to take a short break. Her forthcoming film Outward Blonde was then put on hold for "a little while", but Duff planned to commence promotion for the films Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Material Girls after her month off, as well as continuing her "Still Most Wanted Tour" in Canada, Australia and other countries.

By 2005 Duff appeared to have lost weight, leading fans and the media to speculate that she had developed an eating disorder. Duff was interviewed on the Australian current affair show Today Tonight and stated that she lost weight to live a more healthy lifestyle. MuchMusic VJ Hannah Sung interviewed Joel Madden in Tokyo and asked him about Duff's new look. Madden said that he didn't know what she was talking about. In August 2005, Duff said she received veneers because she chipped her teeth on microphones during performances.

Accomplishments and Fame

Following an early childhood engrossed in ballet dancing, Hilary Duff made her debut at the age of 10 with an uncredited role in the made-for-TV movie True Women in 1997. After portraying Wendy the Witch in the 1998 TV movie Casper Meets Wendy, Duff appeared in the 1999 TV film The Soul Collector, which won her a Supporting Actress Young Artist Award.

In 2001, Hilary Duff began her stint as Lizzie McGuire in the show of the same name, which was consistently one of the Disney Channel's top shows during its run. In 2003, she hit the big screen in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which served as the finale of the successful TV show.

Duff's other movies include 2001's Human Nature and 2003's Agent Cody Banks, co-starring fellow teen star, Frankie Muniz. Meanwhile, Duff released the hit single "I Can't Wait" from the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack in 2002 (both went gold), an unsuccessful Christmas album, and her smash debut, Metamorphosis. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts and soon hit No. 1.
Despite her success as a pop star, Duff will return to the big screen with Cheaper by the Dozen and A Cinderella Story.

Careers

A triple-threat talent, Hilary has become a music, film and television phenomenon thanks to an unbroken string of hits that began with her starring role in the Disney Channel Original Series Lizzie McGuire, the record-breaking #1 show in its timeslot. Hilary Duff is one of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars.

Endorsements

You might have also caught Hilary endorsing various products including Candie's new fashion line and Barbie fashions and Hershey's Ice Breakers with her sister Haylie.

Award

Kids Choice Awards: Favorite Movie Actress (2005)
Young Artist Awards: Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (2004)
Young Artist Award: Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot (Supporting Young Actress), THE SOUL COLLECTOR (1999)



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