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LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTING!
Model-Turned-Actresses Who Are Living the Dream
Some models are happy doing runway shows, magazine shoots, and spokesmodel appearances. But many models desire to take their career one step further and make the transition to acting. Here are some famous model-turned-actresses who are definitely "living the dream," and where you may have seen them onscreen.
TYRA BANKS – One of Victoria Secret's superstars, this L.A. woman appeared on seven episodes of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" before graduating to movie roles in "Coyote Ugly," "Love & Basketball," and "Higher Learning." Nowadays Tyra is looking fierce on her "America's Next Top Model" and her own controversial talk show.
KIM BASINGER – The former Breck shampoo girl from Athens, Georgia steamed up the big screen in "9 1/2 Weeks, " "Batman," and "L.A. Confidential" (which won her a Best Supporting Oscar). Next Kim will portray a suburban mom lost in the woods in next year's release "While She Was Out."
HALLE BERRY – A Miss Teen All-American winner from Cleveland, Ohio, she went on to become first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant. Halle went from being a model to playing one on TV's "Living Dolls," and has since garnered great acclaim for her movies including "Jungle Fever," "X-Men," and "Moster's Ball" (for which she received an Academy Award).
CHRISTIE BRINKLEY – Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of a producer-director went from the pages of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to film comedies such as "National Lampoon's Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation." Christie was also Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" in the video of the same name.
GISELE BUNDCHEN -- The highest-paid Victoria's Secret model has graced 7,000 magazine covers, second only to Princess Diana. Brazil-born Gisele has made the talk show rounds and finally landed in a hit movie last year, an appropriately stylish one called "The Devil Wears Prada."
NAOMI CAMPBELL – Studying at the London Academy for Performing Arts led this English lass to a modeling career at age 15. While Naomi has been in the news lately for displaying super-diva qualities, her onscreen credits include "Cosby," "Fresh Prince," "To Wong Foo" and "Girl 6."
CINDY CRAWFORD – The Dekalb, Illinois native is still famous for her Pepsi commercials, she took a risky role in an action movie called "Fair Game" which unfortunately did not do well at the box office. These days, Cindy is still modeling and selling home furnishings on TV ads.
CAMERON DIAZ – This beach beauty made her mark in "The Mask" with Jim Carrey, and has been on fire ever since. With memorable roles in "There's Something About Mary," Charlie's Angels," and "Being John Malkovich" – not too mention the voice of Princess Fiona in "Shrek" – Cameron definitely made the right career transition.
LINDA EVANGELISTA – She may be from Canada and can play the accordion, but she lost a "Miss Teen Niagara" contest at the age of 12. Luckily Linda had better success as a statuesque runway and commercial model – and she even got to guest-star as a saleswoman on an episode of "Sex and the City."
RACHEL HUNTER – This blonde bombshell from New Zealand started model as a teenager and quit nine years later to study acting. You may have spotted Rachel in the comedy "Benchwarmers," on "The Real Gilligan's Island" as one of two competing Gingers, or as "Stacy's Mom" in the Fountains of Wayne music video.
KATHY IRELAND – The California brunette began modeling at age 17 and spent 12 years posing in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues (she made the cover three times). In addition to acting in roles on everything from "Melrose Place" to "Strong Medicine," she has her own line of books, clothing, and fitness videos.
FAMKE JANSSEN -- Born in Holland, she began her professional career as a model before starring in action films such as "GoldenEye" and the "X-Men" series. She has also done a variety of TV shows including "Nip/Tuck" and an upcoming series for NBC, in which she plays a female police officer.
MILLA JOVOVICH – This Russian sensation was first seen in "Return to the Blue Lagoon" and later had a hit in the cult classic "The Fifth Element." Now Milla is on a roll starring in the "Resident Evil" trilogy – and she still finds time to record music and make videos as well.
HEIDI KLUM – With credits including Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated, and People's 50 Most Beautiful List, it was easy to predict this German beauty would make a lasting impression. Heidi tried her luck in movies with Josh Harnett ("Blow Dry") and Anne Hathaway ("Ella Enchanted) before going back to her roots to host "Project Runway."
ALI LARTER – The New Jersey native started modeling at age 13 and did some television work before winning roles in commercials (she was the Doritos girl, remember?) and films including "Varsity Blues" and "Final Destination." Now she is back on the small screen in the big hit "Heroes" and will be seen with Milla Jovovich in the upcoming "Resident Evil: Extinction."
ANDIE MacDOWELL – Originally from South Carolina, she worked at McDonalds and Pizza Hut before landing representation with the Elite Agency. Andie has gone on to star in a string of popular movies including "St. Elmo's Fire," "sex, lies and videotape," "Four Weddings and a Funeral," and "Groundhog's Day."
ELLE MacPHERSON – This Australian import was discovered at age 18 by the Click Agency while vacationing in Aspen, Colorado. Elle has been seen on the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit cover as well as on TV's "Friends" and in the films "Sirens" and "Batman and Robin."
BRIDGET MOYNAHAN – Born in New York and raised in Massachusetts, she has appeared in "Sex and the City," "Coyote Ugly," and "The Recruit." Since then she was in the short-lived TV show "Six Degrees" and will be acting opposite Tim Robbins and William Hurt in the upcoming movie comedy "Noise."
MICHELLE PFEIFFER -- She won the Miss Orange County beauty pageant and studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and all that early training certainly paid off. In addition to her past successes including "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "Dangerous Minds," she will soon be seen in "Hairspray," "Stardust," and "Chasing Montana."
REBECCA ROMJIN – This California girl was nicknamed the Jolly Blond Giant in high school before she moved to Paris and landed the cover of French Elle. She has since gained notoriety by marrying John Stamos, wearing blue paint in the "X-Men" movies, and portraying a transsexual on "Ugly Betty."
CLAUDIA SCHIFFER – Born in Germany, she was discovered in a nightclub and soon after started modeling for Chanel, becoming Karl Lagerfeld's favorite model. In film Claudia was seen in "Black and White" and "Love Actually," and on TV she appeared in "Dharma & Greg" and "Arrested Development."
CYBILL SHEPHERD – A former beauty pageant winner from Memphis, Tennessee, she has been seen in projects ranging from "The Last Picture Show," "Moonlighting," her self-titled show "Cybill," and "The L Word." Cybill also played style-maker Martha Stewart in "Martha, Inc." and "Martha Behind Bars."
BROOKE SHIELDS – NYC native was a "pretty baby" in an Ivory soap commercial and became a "Pretty baby" in the feature film. The infamous Calvin Klein Jeans model later went on to acting success in films like "Blue Lagoon" and "Endless Love," TV shows such as "Suddenly Susan," and Broadway stage roles in "Cabaret," "Chicago," and "Grease."
MOLLY SIMS – The Kentucky-born model got her start on MTV as the host of "House of Style." Molly went on to being cast in the comedies "Starsky & Hutch" and "Benchwarmers" before hitting the jackpot as one of the lovely ladies on NBC's "Las Vegas."
CHARLIZE THERON – A ballet dancer from South Africa, she won a local modeling contest and worked in both Europe and New York, but wasn't really interested in pursuing it as a career. Good thing she made it to Hollywood, where she ended up getting parts in "2 Days in the Valley," "The Cider House Rules," and her Oscar-winning role in "Monster."
CHRISTY TURLINGTON – One of the original five "supermodels" – the others are Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Linda Evangelista -- she has been featured on over 1,000 magazine covers since 1987. While Christy hasn't done any real acting, she has appeared on Oprah, VH1, and "Intimate Portrait."
AMBER VALLETTA – Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, she was first seen on screen in "What Lies Beneath" as Harrison Ford's mistress. Amber's movie assignments include "Duplex," "Raising Helen," "Premonition," and "Dead Silence, and she has two more films ready to be released: "Twilight" and "My Sexiest Year."
ESTELLA WARREN – A synchronized swimmer from Ontario, Canada, she drove moviegoers wild in the remake of "Planet of the Apes" opposite Mark Wahlberg. Since then, Estella has appeared on TV in "That ‘70s Show," "Law & Order," and "Ghost Whisperer," along with films such as "The Cooler."
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