Katherine Heigl

Born: November 24 1978
Where: Washington, D.C. USA

The Golden Globe-nominated actress came late to the attention of audiences with starring roles in Knocked Up and 27 Dresses.

In America, she was already famous for roles in Roswell and Grey's Anatomy.

Of German and Irish ancestry and the youngest of four siblings, she is the daughter of a personal manager and a financial accountant.

Heigl was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a strict upbringing.

The family lived in Virginia and then Denver before settling in Connecticut in the wealthy town of New Canaan, where she spent most of her childhood.

In 1986, her 15-year-old older brother Jason died of injuries suffered in a car accident, after being thrown from the back of a pickup truck.

(The tragedy - which occurred when Heigl was seven - played a major factor in the family converting to the Mormon Church)

When Heigl was nine, her aunt took a number of photographs of her which led to her being signed up as a child model.

In 1992, she made her big screen debut in the romantic drama That Night alongside Juliette Lewis.

The following year she had a minor role in Stephen Soderbergh's Depression-era drama King of the Hill and was cast in her first major role as Gerard Depardieu's daughter in 1994's My Father The Hero.

During this time, Heigl continued to attend New Canaan High School, balancing her film and modeling work with her academic studies.

After leaving school, she quit New England for Hollywood and snagged a role opposite Steven Seagal in the 1995 action thriller Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.

Despite an increased focus on acting, she still modeled extensively, appearing regularly in magazines such as Seventeen.

She took the lead role in Disney's made-for-television film Wish Upon a Star in 1996. (he parents also divorced the same year).

In 1998, she co-starred with Peter Fonda in a re-working of the classic Shakespearian play The Tempest, set during the American Civil War.

Later that year she starred in the horror film Bride of Chucky before switching to the small screen with the role of Isabel Evans on the science fiction TV drama Roswell.

On the big screen, she worked on several films, including 100 Girls, an independent 2001 film, and Valentine, a horror film starring David Boreanaz and Denise Richards.

In 2003, Heigl appeared in three television movies and went on to star alongside Johnny Knoxville in The Ringer, a Farrelly brothers comedy that was released in December 2005.

Heigl starred as Romy in the 2005 television movie Romy and Michele: In the Beginning, a prequel to the 1997 film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.

She also landed her most high profile TV role as intern Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Back on the big screen, she was cast opposite Seth Rogen in the critically-acclaimed Judd Apatow comedy Knocked Up.

She played Alison, a succuessful businesswoman who winds up pregnant following a one-night stand with as stoner played by Rogen.

She caused a stir when she conceded elements of the film were sexist which led to accusations of her being ungrateful for her starring role.

Recent work includes the rom-com 27 Dresses alongside Judy Greer.