Jessica Alba

American actress

Jessica Marie Alba-Alwyn (born April 28, 1982) is an American television and movie actress, and model and entrepreneur.[3] Alba made her first movie, Camp Nowhere, at age 13 and in the television drama series Dark Angel (2000–2002). Alba later acted in several movies, such as Honey (2003), Sin City (2005) and Good Luck Chuck (2007).[4] Alba has won several awards for her acting. These awards include the "Choice Actress" award at the Teen Choice Award and a Saturn Award. Both of these awards were for her acting in the series Dark Angel.[5]

Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba in 2024
Born
Jessica Marie Alba[1][2]

(1982-04-28) April 28, 1982 (age 42)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Businesswoman, Actress, model
Years active1994–present
Known forActing roles:
Max Guevara
in Dark Angel
Nancy Callahan
in Sin City
Sue Richards / Invisible Woman
in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Spouse
(m. 2006; div. 2014)
Adam Alwyn
(m. 2016)
Children11

She started her business, The Honest Company, in 2011.[6][7] the company sells baby, personal and household products.[8]

She has been listed in the "Hot 100" section of Maxim magazine every year from 2003 to 2007,[9][10][11][12][13] and she was voted "Sexiest Woman in the World" by FHM in 2007.[14] In March 2007, a picture of her was used on the cover of Playboy. Playboy did not ask her if they could use the picture or tell her they were going to use it. This caused a lawsuit that was later dropped.[15]

Early life

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Alba was born in Pomona, California. Her mother, Catherine, is of Danish, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, German and French Canadian ancestry and her father, Mark, is Mexican American, and is of Indigenous Mexican, Sephardic Jewish, Spanish and Mayan ancestry.[16][17] She has a younger brother named Joshua. Alba's father was in the Air Force and his career caused them to live in many different places. They lived in Biloxi, Mississippi and Del Rio, Texas before returning to California at age 9.[18] When she was young, Alba was ill many times. She had a collapsed lung twice, had pneumonia four or five times each year and had problems with her appendix and tonsils. She was in hospitals for much of her childhood. This meant Alba did not spend much time with other children.[19] Alba has also said that she had obsessive-compulsive disorder when she was a child.[20][21] The disorder affected her much less when her family moved to California. She graduated from high school when she was 16 years old.[22] After high school, she went to the Atlantic Theater Company.[23]

Career

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Alba in 2007

Alba wanted to act since she was five. She took her first acting class at age twelve. An acting agent signed her nine months later.[18][24] Her first movie work was a small role in the 1994 movie Camp Nowhere. At first, she was only hired for two weeks but ended up working for two months because another actress dropped out.[25]

Alba starred in two national television commercials when she was a child. One of these was for Nintendo and the other was for J.C. Penney. She played Jessica in three episodes of the Nickelodeon comedy series The Secret World of Alex Mack.[18] Alba was then Maya in the television series Flipper.[18][25] Her mother was a lifeguard and had taught Jessica to swim before she could walk. She is a certified scuba diver.[18][26]

In 1998, she acted in Brooklyn South, in two episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 and in an episode of The Love Boat: The Next Wave.[25] After Alba graduated from high school, she studied acting with William H. Macy and his wife, Felicity Huffman, at the Atlantic Theater Company.[23][27]

She became more famous in Hollywood in 1999 after acting in the Drew Barrymore romantic comedy Never Been Kissed, and as the main female character in the 1999 comedy-horror movie Idle Hands.[4] She was chosen from a group of 1,200 actresses for the role of the genetically engineered soldier, on the FOX sci-fi television series Dark Angel. The series ran for two seasons from 2000 until 2002. Alba was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on that series.[4][28] When she trained to be in Dark Angel, Alba had to exercise very much and she starved herself. She said "A lot of girls have eating disorders and I did too. I got obsessed with it." She also had obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks. She said she has been cooking for herself since the age of twelve so she would not become as fat as her family members.[29]

Some of Alba's most famous movie roles are a dancer in Sin City and as Marvel Comics character Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman in the Fantastic Four. She also acted in Into the Blue in 2005 and Good Luck Chuck a few years later.[30] In 2008, Alba played her first horror-movie role in The Eye, a remake of the Hong Kong original.[17] In February, she hosted an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences's ceremony.[31] Later in the year, she starred in The Love Guru.

In 2010, Alba appeared in five movies including Little Fockers and The Killer Inside Me. The following year she appeared in Spy Kids 4, a sequel to Spy Kids.

Public image

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Alba

In 2007, Maxim Magazine listed Alba as number 2 in their "Top 100", after Lindsay Lohan.[13] GQ had her picture on their June covers.[32] In May, after eight million votes, FHM (UK and US editions) named Alba the winner as "2007’s Sexiest Woman in the World".[33] She received the Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress and Saturn Award for Best Actress (TV) for her role in Dark Angel, along with a Golden Globe nomination. In 2006, she received an MTV Movie Award for "Sexiest Performance" for Sin City.[13][34]

Some people have said Alba's acting was bad. She was nominated for a 2007 Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her work in Awake, Good Luck Chuck, and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.[35]

On the cover of the March 2006 issue, Playboy magazine named Alba among its 25 Sexiest Celebrities and the "Sex Star of the Year". She took Playboy to court for using a picture of her without her permission. However, she later dropped the lawsuit when she got a personal apology from Playboy owner Hugh Hefner. He agreed to make donations to two charities that Alba supports.[15]

Personal life

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Alba at the premiere for The Eye in 2008

Alba was raised in the Roman Catholic religion.[36] When she was a teenager she became a born-again Christian.[37] However, she left the church after four years because she believed that she was being judged by the way she looked. She has said that she still believes in God even though she is not a member of the church.[38] Alba has not performed naked. She was given the option to appear nude in Sin City by the movie's directors, Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez. She said no to the offer saying, "I don't do nudity. I just don't. Maybe that makes me a bad actress. Maybe I won't get hired in some things. But I have too much anxiety".[39]

While filming Dark Angel, Alba began a romance with another member of the cast, Michael Weatherly. This caused controversy because he was 12 years older than she was.[17] He asked her to marry him on her twentieth birthday but she said no.[17] They eventually broke up after a four-year relationship.[40] When talking about children, she said, "I'm really girly when it comes to kids. I've been surrounded by children my whole life because I'm the oldest of 15 cousins - I've been changing (nappies) since I was six... I want to have a couple, for sure.".[41] Alba is a Democrat and attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention in support of President Obama's re-election.[42]

Alba married Cash Warren on May 19, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.[43] She met him while making Fantastic Four in 2004.[44] On June 7, 2008, Alba gave birth to son Hayes.[45] Alba and Warren divorced in 2014. She married entrepreneur Adam Alwyn (born January 1997), who is 15 years her junior, in January 2016. Alba was confirmed to be pregnant in April 2016. She welcomed her second child and first with Alwyn, a daughter, in October 2016. The couple has since welcomed 9 additional daughters together between July 2017 and September 2024. Alba and her family reside in New York City as of 2024.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Camp Nowhere Gail
1995 Venus Rising Young Eve
1999 P.U.N.K.S. Samantha Swoboda
Never Been Kissed Kirsten Liosis
Idle Hands Molly
2000 Paranoid Chloe
2003 The Sleeping Dictionary Selima
Honey Honey Daniels
2005 Sin City Nancy Callahan
Fantastic Four Susan Storm / Invisible Woman
Into the Blue Sam
2007 The Ten Liz Anne Blazer
Knocked Up Herself Uncredited cameo
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Susan Storm / Invisible Woman
Good Luck Chuck Cam Wexler
Meet Bill Lucy
Awake Sam Lockwood
2008 The Eye Sydney Wells
The Love Guru Jane Bullard
2010 The Killer Inside Me Joyce Lakeland
Valentine's Day Morley Clarkson
Machete Special Agent Sartana Rivera
Marissa Rivera Deleted scene
An Invisible Sign Mona Gray
Little Fockers Andi Garcia[46][47]
2011 Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Marissa Wilson
2012 Martin Scorsese Eats a Cookie Herself
2013 A.C.O.D. Michelle
Escape from Planet Earth Lena (voice)
Machete Kills Sartana Uncredited cameo
2014 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Nancy Callahan
Stretch Charlie
Some Kind of Beautiful Kate
2015 Barely Lethal Victoria Knox
Entourage Herself Cameo
2016 The Veil Maggie Price
Dear Eleanor Daisy
Mechanic: Resurrection Gina
2017 El Camino Christmas Beth Flowers
2019 Killers Anonymous Jade
2024 Trigger Warning Parker

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 The Secret World of Alex Mack Jessica 3 episodes
1995–1997 Flipper Maya Graham Main role; 44 episodes
1996 ABC Afterschool Special Christy Episode: "Too Soon for Jeff"
Chicago Hope Florie Hernandez Episode: "Sexual Perversity in Chicago Hope"
1998 Brooklyn South Melissa Hauer Episode: "Exposing Johnson"
Beverly Hills, 90210 Leanne 2 episodes
Love Boat: The Next Wave Layla Episode: "Remember?"
2000–2002 Dark Angel Max Guevara / X5-452 Lead role (42 episodes)
2003 MADtv Jessica Simpson Episode: "Episode #9.5"
2004 Entourage Herself Episode: "The Review"
2005 Trippin' 2 episodes
2009 The Office Sophie Episode: "Stress Relief"
2010 Project Runway Herself (guest judge) Episode: "Sew Much Pressure"
2013 Comedy Bang! Bang! Herself Episode: "Jessica Alba Wears a Jacket with Patent Leather Pumps"
2014 The Spoils of Babylon Dixie Mellonworth 4 episodes
2015 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (guest judge) Episode: "Spoof! (There It Is)"
2017 Planet of the Apps Herself Mentor
2018 No Activity Episode: "The Actress"
2019–2020 L.A.'s Finest Nancy McKenna Main role
2023 StoryBots: Answer Time Ms. Pizza Delivery Lady Episode: "Time and Distance"

Music videos

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Year Title Artist(s) Role
2008 "We Are the Ones" will.i.am Herself
2010 "I Just Had Sex" The Lonely Island Jorma Taccone's love interest
2015 "Bad Blood" Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar Domino

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Dark Angel Max Guevara[48] Based on the TV series of the same name
2005 Fantastic Four Sue Storm / Invisible Woman[48] Based on the film of the same name

Awards

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Year Awards Category Nominated work Result
2001 ALMA Award[49] Breakthrough Actress of the Year Won
People's Choice Awards Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Series Dark Angel Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama
2002 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Female Action Hero
2005 Young Hollywood Awards Superstar of Tomorrow Won
2006 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actress Fantastic Four Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actress Fantastic Four / Into the Blue
2007 TV Land Awards Little Screen / Big Screen Star (Women)
Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards Hottest Jessica Won
2008 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actress Awake / Good Luck Chuck / Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Nominated
Worst Screen Couple Awake / Good Luck Chuck / Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (shared with Hayden Christensen, Dane Cook, and Ioan Gruffud)
People's Choice Awards Favorite Female Action Star
Favorite Leading Lady
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Female Movie Star Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer Won
2009 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actress The Eye / The Love Guru Nominated
2011 Worst Supporting Actress The Killer Inside Me / Little Fockers / Machete / Valentine's Day Won
2012 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Buttkicker Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D Nominated
2019 Teen Choice Awards Choice Action TV Actress L.A.'s Finest

References

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  1. "Jessica Alba Biography". safareey.com. 2008. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  2. Ursula Rivera (April 2002). Jessica Alba (Celebrity Bios). Children's Press (CT). p. 2. ISBN 0-516-23482-X.
  3. "Jessica Alba opens up about building her $550 million the Honest Company: 'There were no expectations for me to be successful'". CNBC. February 6, 2022.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Look at me". The Age. June 22, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  5. "Past Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  6. "The Honest Co. on growing sales to $350m during a crisis". Vogue Business Talent. May 28, 2020. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  7. Blasberg, Derek (December 2015). "How Jessica Alba Built a Billion-Dollar Business Empire". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  8. "Jessica Alba Launches The Honest Company". People. January 19, 2012. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  9. "MAXIM Magazine Unveils the 'Hot 100' for 2003". Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  10. "'Maxim' Top 100 Hot list 2004". USA Today. April 9, 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  11. "MAXIM Magazine Unveils Their Hot 100 for 2005; Eva Longoria Crowned #1 This Year". Business Wire. May 10, 2005. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  12. "Maxim Top 100 for 2006". Maxim. 2006. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Maxim Top 100 for 2007". Maxim. 2007. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  14. "100 Sexiest 2007 Winner". FHM. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Silverman, Stephen M. "Playboy Apologizes to Jessica Alba". People. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  16. "Jessica Alba: Don't Call Me A Latina!!". MediaTakeout.com. June 17, 2007. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Mottram, James. "Jessica Alba: She wooed Hollywood with her sultry looks – but now she's getting serious". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
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  20. Cullen, Denise (August 19, 2007). "My obsession". News.au.com. Archived from the original (Reprint from Sunday Telegraph) on May 26, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  21. Interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; September 26, 2005
  22. "Jessica Alba graduated from high school at 16". Netglimse.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
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  24. Hollywood Life magazine; September/October 2005 pp.44–49; 106.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Jessica Alba Goes To 'Sin City'". CBS. March 28, 2005. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  26. "Water babe Jess in big screen splash (Registration requires payment)". Daily Star. October 16, 2005. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  27. Lawson, Terry. "Atlantic Theater Company History". Atlantic Theater Company. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  28. Lawson, Terry (December 8, 2003). "Look at me". Knight Ridder Newspapers. The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  29. "Jessica Alba's anorexic hell". AskMen.com. July 27, 2005. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  30. "Fantatic Four Movie Review". The San Francisco Chronicle. July 8, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  31. "Jessica Alba dazzles self-professed nerds as academy hands out science and tech Oscars". Kesq.com. Associated Press. February 10, 2008. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  32. "GQ: The Jessica Alba Video". Style.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  33. "100 Sexiest 2007 Winner". FHM. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  34. "Jessica Alba profile". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  35. "28th Annual Razzie – Award Nominees for Worst Actress". The Razzies. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  36. Lipworth, Elaine (June 9, 2007). "Jessica Alba and her ambitious quest to be the next Tom Cruise". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  37. "Jessica Alba plans a fantastic summer". USA Today. May 31, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  38. "Glamour's October Cover Girl — Dark Angel Jessica Alba Reveals Her Obsessions, Love, and God — p.256; October issue on newsstands Sept. 11, 2001". Glamour Magazine. 2008. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
  39. Itzkoff, Dave. "Jessica Alba". Tenlistz.com. Retrieved December 12, 2007.[dead link]
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  41. "Alba: 'I want to have lots of kids'". Contactmusic.com. March 20, 2007. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  42. Tran, Vivyan (September 7, 2012). "Celebrities spotted at the Democratic National Convention". Politico.
  43. "Jessica Alba Gets Married to Cash Warren!". People Magazine. May 20, 2008.
  44. Jordan, Julie (December 27, 2007). "Jessica Alba Engaged!". People. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  45. "Jessica Alba has baby girl". Reuters. June 9, 2008. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  46. Kit, Borys (October 18, 2009). "Laura Dern at head of 'Fockers' class". The Hollywood Reporter. e5 Global Media. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  47. Zeitchik, Steven; Kit, Borys (September 29, 2009). "Jessica Alba becomes a 'Little Focker'". Risky Business at The Hollywood Reporter. e5 Global Media. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  48. 48.0 48.1 TECH (June 18, 2007). "Jessica Alba Talks About Being A Video Game Character". Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  49. "The 2011 ALMA Award Winners". latingossip.com. September 12, 2011. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2012.

Other websites

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