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Elizabeth Hurley Profile |
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Birth Date: June 10, 1965
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Birth Place: Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, UK
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Birth Name: Elizabeth Jane Hurley
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
Born on June 10, 1965, in Hampshire, England, Elizabeth
Hurley is the daughter of an army officer and an elementary
schoolteacher mother. While growing up in Basingstoke,
England, Hurley dreamed of becoming a dancer, which prompted
her to attend a boarding school that specialized in ballet
at the age of 12.
Her attendance at the boarding school was short-lived, and
Hurley then went through a different phase: the English punk
stage. Although it must be hard to imagine the now glamorous
Hurley with pink hair and a nose ring, she was a victim of
early '80s punk fashion, since this was the thing to do at
that time and place.
At age 21, Hurley got her first film role in the 1987 film
Aria, after having attended the London Studio Centre on
scholarship. Hurley's role in the film Remando al viento
(a.k.a. Rowing In the Wind) that same year also starred her
future boyfriend Hugh Grant. One year later, Hurley received
critical acclaim for her role as Christabel Bielenberg in
the BBC miniseries, Christabel.
Hurley gained some recognition in the United States for her
role in the 1992 action film Passenger 57, starring Wesley
Snipes. Although this was a Hollywood movie, she was still
having difficulty receiving quality roles, and consequently
returned to England.
Whoever said that clothing isn't important doesn't know
about Elizabeth Hurley's claim to fame. Apparently, Versace
did Hurley a favor by giving the statuesque beauty an unsold
dress to wear to the 1994 London premiere of Hugh Grant's
film, Four Weddings and a Funeral. The low-cut, risqu dress
held together by safety pins became Hurley's ticket to
stardom, as she made heads turn at the premiere.
More attention followed when Estée Lauder signed Hurley to
be the face of the international cosmetics company. And who
could forget Hugh Grant's arrest, due to a one-night tryst
with prostitute Divine Brown?
Contrary to public belief, Hurley and Grant remained a
couple, and together founded the production company Simian
Films. Its first production was the film Extreme Measures, a
1996 thriller starring Hugh, Gene Hackman and Sarah Jessica
Parker.
If by this point, anyone had still not heard of Elizabeth
Hurley, 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
-- the little movie that became a smash hit -- surely got
her the recognition she deserved. With her comedic turn as
agent Vanessa Kensington alongside Austin Powers, played by
Mike Myers, Hurley was now seeing movie scripts roll in.
Several movie roles followed, including parts in 1998's
Permanent Midnight, and 1999's My Favorite Martian, EDtv and
Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me. That same year,
Hurley worked as producer of Mickey Blue Eyes, which starred
boyfriend Hugh Grant and marked the second film for Simian
Films.
Hurley has continued to appear in smaller productions over
the past couple of years, including 2000's The Weight of
Water and Bedazzled, 2002's Bad Boy with Denis Leary, and
Serving Sara, a comedy co-starring Matthew Perry. In 2004,
Elizabeth can be seen in Method, in which she stars as a
serial killer.
After a 13-year relationship, she and Hugh Grant parted ways
in 2000, triggering rumors that the breakup stemmed from a
disagreement over having children together. Liz began a
romance with millionaire movie producer Stephen Bing in
2001, and gave birth to a son, Damian Charles, on April 4,
2002.
Bing initially denied that he was the baby's biological
father, claiming he and Liz had a non-exclusive
relationship. DNA testing has since proven that Bing is
indeed the child's father, although he and Liz are no longer
romantically involved.
Hurley is now currently dating Indian textile magnate Arun
Nayar, and although they are reportedly engaged, the rumors
have yet to be confirmed. |
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Other
Information |
Former spokesperson for Estee Lauder.
Listed in "People Weekly"s "Most Intriguing People" list.
(December 25, 1995/January 1, 1996 issue)
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in
film history (#83). [1995]
Was considered for a role in GoldenEye (1995).
Back together with former boyfriend Hugh Grant [September
2000]
Said she gets her "hot-date look" by eating vast quantities
of watercress soup. (May 2001 interview, London's "The
Evening Standard")
Replaced by supermodel Carolyn Murphy for the lucrative
Estee Lauder make up contract (Murphy is ten years younger
than her).
Son Damian Charles born 4th April 2002 in England, father is
Steve Bing. Bing originally denied parenting the child until
paternity tests revealed he was the father.
Older sister, Kate, younger brother, Michael.
Mother, Angela.
She was ranked fourth in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of
greatest British film actresses.
Godmother of actress Patsy Kensit's son, Lennon Francis
Gallagher.
Voted the 13th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian
Empire Magazine - September 2002.
Measurements: 36C-23-34 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth
magazine)
Size 6 dress. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Dated Hugh Grant [1987 - 2000]
Estee Lauder's "Elizabeth Pink" lipstick is named after her,
and proceeds from the sales go to breast cancer research.
In 2000, she crossed a Screen Actors Guild picket line to
film a commercial. The well publicized strike was set up by
the Guild to demand better conditions for members who work
for the advertising industry. When asked why, she said she
"didn't know" the strike was in progress.
Her son Damian Charles has got seven godparents. One of them
is Elton John.
She owns her own beach wear company, aptly named Elizabeth
Hurley Beach.
Claims to have not watched television since 1979.
Named #45 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005"
special supplement. (2005) |
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