The daughter of actress Tippi Hedren, Griffith found initial big-screen success with roles in Brian De Palma’s Body Double (1984) and Something Wild (1986). She was known for her sexy image and distinct, high-pitched voice. Griffith was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her role as a secretary in New York City trying to move ahead in the business world in Mike Nichols’s Working Girl (1988, co-starring Harrison Ford). Griffith moved in with her mother’s co-star Don Johnson when he was twenty-two and she was fourteen. The two married in 1975, when she was eighteen, and divorced a year later. In the 1980s Melanie Griffith was involved with actor Steven Bauer, with whom she had a son, Alexander. In 1989, she embarked on a second rocky marriage to Johnson. The pair had a daughter, Dakota, before divorcing again in 1996. In the 1990s, Griffith appeared in such films as: Pacific Heights (1990), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Shining Through (1992), Milk Money (1994), Nobody’s Fool (1994), Celebrity (1998), and Another Day in Paradise. She also starred in 1999’s Crazy in Alabama, the directorial debut of her husband, Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.

Jennifer Lopez was born on July 24, 1970 in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx. Her father, David, was a computer technician. Her mother, Guadalupe, taught kindergarten. Jennifer is the middle of three daughters. Her elder sister, Leslie, is a housewife who sings opera. Her younger sister, Lynda, is a DJ on New York’s WKTU, a VH1 VJ., and a morning news show correspondent on New York’s Channel 11. Jennifer’s parents were born in Puerto Rico, but did not meet until both came to America. Her mother’s parents were Europeans who settled in Puerto Rico. She says that it was her parents’ work ethic that made a difference in her life. Jennifer took singing and dancing lessons from age 5. She attended 12 years of Catholic school, including an all-girl high school. She played softball and tennis in high school and was a gymnast. After high school, she briefly worked in a law office. During this time, she continued dance classes at night. At 18, she left home because her mother was scared by her decision to pursue show business. With casting on “In Living Color” (1990) in 1990, she moved to L.A., but initially hated it. Finally her boy friend, David Cruz, moved to be with her there and she learned to accept her new environment. Her career took off from her “Living Color” stint and reached new peaks with her portrayal of slain Latino singer Selena (1997) in 1997.

Winona Ryder was born Winona Horowitz and named after her the town in which she was born, Winona Minnesota. She grew up in a ranch commune in Northern California where there was no electricity. She is the Goddaughter of Timothy Leary and her parents were friends of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg and once edited a book called “Shaman Woman Mainline Lady” an anthology of writings on the drug experience in literature - this included one piece by Louisa May Alcott. Winona Ryder was later to star as Jo in this author’s Little Women. She moved with her parents to Petaluma California, outside of San Francisco when she was ten and enrolled in acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater. At 13 she had a video audition to the film Desert Bloom, but didn’t get the part. Director David Seltzer, however, spotted her and cast her in Lucas. When telephoned to ask how she’d like to have her name appear on the credits, she suggested Ryder as her father’s Mitch Ryder album was playing the background. Winona was selected for the part of Mary Corleone in The Godfather: Part III, but had to drop out of the role after catching the flu from the strain of doing the films Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael and Mermaids back to back. She said she didn’t want to let everyone down by doing a substandard performance. She later made The Age of Innocence which was directed by Martin Scorsese, who she believes to be “the best director in the world”.

Charlize Theron grew up on a farm outside Benoni, South Africa, as the only child. She got an education as a ballet dancer and has danced both The Swan Lake and the Nutcracker Suite. There wasn’t much for a young actress or dancer to do in South Africa, so she soon travelled to Europe and USA where she got job at the Joffrey Ballet in New York. She was also able to work as a photo model. However, an injured knee put a halt to her dancing career. At the age of 18 her mother made her go to Los Angeles to try a career in the movie industry. She came to LA without knowing anyone in the city but after two weeks when she was standing in line on Hollywood Boulevard an agent gave her his card. After eight months in LA she got her first part. Since then she has taken acting lessons and her career has skyrocketed, most lately in Devil’s Advocate, The (1997).

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Her family moved to Biloxi, Mississippi when Jessica was a little kid. Her father was in the air force, and soon moved the family back to California before moving to Del Rio, Texas. When Jessica was nine they finally settled back in Southern California. Jessica did not get into acting until she was already twelve years old, and within a nine month span an agent had picked her up. She has done all sorts of acting work such as dramas and comedies. “Camp Nowhere” was her first feature film back in 1993. Jessica has also done commercials for companies such as Nintendo and JC Penny before starring in independent films. “The Secret World of Alex Mack” was her first recurring role on a television program, which was on the Nickelodeon network. Jessica spent three years, from 1995 - 1997, starring on the show “Flipper”. Also, in 1997, Jessica appeared on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. Now, Jessica Alba stars in the cult television show “Dark Angel” on Fox.