Elizabeth Hurley

Born: 10th June 1965
Where: Hampshire, UK

Hurley is now probably better known for her antics offscreen rather than on it.

The split from Hugh Grant (after he was caught with hooker Divine Brown) and her bitter public row with Steve Bing have all served to divert interest from her career.

The dancer turned model turned actress started her career as a celebrity when she turned up on Grant's arm at the premier of Four Weddings And A Funeral.

Her dress, a slinky black sheath held together by giant gaping safety pins, guaranteed Hurley's place on the front covers of the tabloids.

She had been expelled from the London Studio Centre for dance but soon after formed a dance troupe, which toured the Middle East and Asia.

She made her film debut in 1987 in Bruce Beresford's Aria and followed with a string of TV parts until she was cast opposite Grant in the Spanish film Remando al Viento.

She landed the title role in Dennis Potter's BBC series Cristabel and followed with a slew of feature films including Sharpe's Enemy and The Orchid House.

In the US, she appeared opposite Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57.

In 1995, she was chosen as a model for Estee Lauder cosmetics and perfumes, but her tenure was marred when she made an advert while the Screen Actors Guild were on strike.

In the same year, she formed Simian Productions with Grant - their feature debut was Extreme Measures.

In 1997 she was given a breakthrough part in Mike Myers' Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - a role that she reprised in the sequel in 1999.

In between the two, she also appeared in the critical hit EDtv.

Grant and Hurley split up in 2000 and her first project after the split was a role as a temptress in the remake of Bedazzled, directed by Harold Ramis.

She made the tabloids again in a paternity row with millionaire Bing, who initially denied that he was the father of baby Damian Charles Hurley.

Recent film work has included the poor Double Whammy and Bad Boy, both opposite Denis Leary. She also appeared in the universally panned Serving Sara.