Brittany Murphy

Born: November 10 1977
Where: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Murphy honed her acting skills in regional theatre before getting her big break opposite Alicia Silverstone in Clueless.

She followed this with Freeway, Drive, Bongwater, Phoenix and Falling Sky before winning praise for Drop Dead Gorgeous and Girl, Interrupted with Winona Ryder.

Roles followed in the comedies Trixie and Angels, the vampire flick Cherry Falls and parts in The Audition, Sidewalks of New York and Don't Say A Word.

Murphy also voiced the character of southern belle Luanne in Mike Judge's cartoon King of the Hill.

Her most high profile role came in 2002 opposite in Eminem in the critically-lauded 8 Mile.

However, the below-par rom-com Just Married opposite Ashton Kutcher squandered her talents.

Her work has included the role of stripper Nikki in the drug-fuelled Spun by video director Jonas Akerlund, plus Manhattan It-Girl turned nanny in Uptown Girls.

She also starred as a wannabe TV anchorwomen in the lacklustre comedy Little Black Book with Kathy Bates.