Jessica Biel

"You've got to love this business. You have to be able to take rejection."
- Jessica Biel

biography

Jessica Claire Biel was born on March 3, 1982, in Ely, Minnesota, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado, after her family relocated to the rocky state.

Before being discovered, Jessica took her acting abilities to the stage. Since she was 9 years old, she was starring in regional theater productions of Beauty and the Beast, The Invisible People, Annie, and The Sound of Music.

jessica biel in 7th heaven

A regular girl who loved to sing, dance, in-line skate, and mountain bike, Jessica was first discovered while competing at the International Modeling and Talent Association's Los Angeles Convention in 1994. Her participation in the conference led to her being awarded a scholarship to the Young Actors Space, an acting society in Los Angeles.

The hazel-eyed beauty hit it big in 1996 when she was cast as Mary Camden in the WB's successful family drama, 7th Heaven. While playing one of seven siblings on the Aaron Spelling-produced show, Jessica also proved to moviegoers that she could steal the spotlight on the silver screen. In 1997, she starred with Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold -- which garnered attention at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals -- and her role as the rebellious teen made critics take notice.

One year later, she starred opposite teen Jonathan Taylor Thomas in I'll Be Home for Christmas.

jessica biel in gear

Voted one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 1999, Jessica did a 180-degree turn with her career when she posed semi-nude for Gear magazine while underage. In an attempt to break free from her wholesome television image and her contract with Spelling, Jessica was ready to show men worldwide what she had.

But Spelling and the rest of 7th Heaven's production team were unhappy to say the least, and filed a lawsuit against the men's magazine.

Apparently, Jessica was trying to prove to Spelling that he did not own her (as opposed to her strict contract clauses), and that she could take on whatever projects she chose. This was also in response to the alleged feeling that she was missing out on plum parts in Hollywood movies.

Despite the fact that she lost the role in American Beauty to Mena Suvari, the girl-next-door beauty still had great roles ahead of her.

jessica biel in cellular

In the fall of 2000, Jessica attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. But after ending her fall semester in 2002, she left before completing her degree to concentrate on acting. Later that year, she appeared in The Rules of Attraction, and a string of successful movies followed: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Cellular (2004) with Kim Basinger and her then-boyfriend Chris Evans, and Blade: Trinity (2004) with Wesley Snipes and Ryan Reynolds.

In 2005, Jessica's star was on the rise as Esquire magazine named her the Sexiest Woman Alive, and she made appearances in Stealth with Jamie Foxx and London -- another film with her boyfriend, Chris Evans.
jessica biel in the illusionist
In 2006, Jessica added The Illusionist and Home of the Brave to her resume. But while her career was on the rise, her personal life was getting rocky as her five-year relationship with Chris came to an end. This beauty didn't waste any time, though; she jumped back on the dating train as she was spotted with Derek Jeter later that year.

Aside from being a supporter of such organizations as PETA, GLAAD and Rebuilding Together, Jessica showed off her charitable side in 2006, auctioning herself for charity to raise money for the medical expenses of a Colorado teen who lost her leg and part of her pelvis in a car accident. The winner, Jon Schiffner, paid $30,000 for a lunch date with Jessica.
jessica biel in next
In 2007, Jessica's career continued to thrive as she was awarded the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala Awards, and she appeared in Next with Nicolas Cage and the comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry with Adam Sandler.

With her career on the rise, Jessica was cast in 2008's A Woman of No Importance as Hester Worsely -- a role that was initially going to be played by Lindsay Lohan.