Alicia Silverstone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone (/əˈliːsiə ˈsɪlvərstoʊn/; born October 4, 1976) is an American actress, producer, author, and activist.[1] Silverstone made her film debut in The Crush, earning the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and gained further prominence as a teen idol when she appeared in three music videos for the band Aerosmith. She starred in the 1995 sleeper hit Clueless (which earned her a multi-million-dollar deal with Columbia) and in the big-budget 1997 film Batman & Robin, in which she played Batgirl. She has continued to act in film and television and on stage. A vegan, Silverstone endorsed PETA activities and published a book titled The Kind Diet.

Contents [show] Early life[edit] Silverstone was born in San Francisco, California, the daughter of British parents Deirdre "Didi" (née Radford), a Scottish former Pan Am flight attendant, and Monty Silverstone, an English real estate agent.[2][3] She grew up in Hillsborough, California.[4] Her father was born to a Jewish family and her mother converted to Conservative Judaism before marriage.[5] Silverstone began modeling when she was six years old,[6] and was subsequently cast in television commercials, the first being for Domino's Pizza.[7] She attended Crocker Middle School and then San Mateo High School.[8]

Career[edit] Silverstone won several awards for her film performances. She received multiple MTV Movie Awards and a Young Artist Award for The Crush. For Clueless she received multiple MTV Movie Awards and a Young Artist Award once again, plus awards from Blockbuster Entertainment Award, Kids' Choice Awards, National Board of Review, and an American Comedy Award.[9]

1990s[edit] Her first credited acting role was in The Wonder Years starring Fred Savage in the episode entitled "Road Test", as Savage's high school "dream girl". Silverstone then won a leading part in the 1993 film The Crush, playing a teenaged girl who sets out to ruin an older man after he spurns her affections; she won two awards at the 1994 MTV Movie Awards for the role—Best Breakthrough Performance and Best Villain.[4] Silverstone became legally emancipated at the age of 15 in order to work the hours required for the shooting schedule of the film.[7] Silverstone made some television movies in her early career including Torch Song, Cool and the Crazy[4] and Scattered Dreams.

After seeing her in The Crush, Marty Callner decided Silverstone would be perfect for a role in a music video he was directing for the band Aerosmith, called "Cryin'"; she was subsequently cast in two more videos, "Amazing" and "Crazy." These were hugely successful for both the band and Silverstone, making her a household name (and also gaining her the nickname, "the Aerosmith chick").[10] After seeing Silverstone in the three videos, filmmaker Amy Heckerling decided to cast her in Clueless.[11]

Clueless became a sleeper hit and critical darling during the summer of 1995.[12] As a result, she signed a deal with Columbia-TriStar valued between $8 and $10 million.[13][14] As part of the package, she got a three-year first look deal for her own production company, First Kiss Productions. Silverstone also won "Best Female Performance" and "Most Desirable Female" at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards for her performance in the film. In the same year Silverstone starred in the erotic thriller, The Babysitter,[4] film adaptation of the novel by Dean Koontz, Hideaway, and the French drama about Americans, New World.

Silverstone's next role was as Batgirl in Batman & Robin, and while it was not a critical success,[15] the film grossed $238,207,122 worldwide.[16] Silverstone's turn as Batgirl was not well received, and won her a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress.[17] She also, however, won a Blimp Award at the Kid's Choice Awards for the role. Also released in 1997 was Excess Baggage, the first movie by Silverstone's production company, First Kiss Productions. She starred alongside Benicio del Toro and Christopher Walken.[2]

In 1999, Silverstone starred in the Saturn Award-nominated romance/comedy film Blast from the Past which also stars Brendan Fraser, Christopher Walken and Sissy Spacek. In VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of the '90s she was ranked #5.[18]

2000s[edit] In 2000, Silverstone appeared in Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of the Shakespeare play Love's Labour's Lost, in which she was required to sing and dance. In 2001, Silverstone provided the voice of Sharon Spitz, the lead character in the Canadian animated television Braceface. During this time, she also appeared in the films Global Heresy and Scorched. In 2002, she made her Broadway debut alongside Kathleen Turner and Jason Biggs in The Graduate.[4] After removing herself from the public eye for a few years, she resurfaced in the short-lived 2003 NBC television series Miss Match, which was canceled after 11 episodes. Silverstone later acknowledged that she hates the trappings of fame, saying, "Fame is not anything I wish on anyone. You start acting because you love it. Then success arrives, and suddenly you're on show".[19]

Alicia Silverstone in 2005 After the cancellation of Miss Match in 2003, Silverstone did a pilot with Fox called Queen B, in which she played a former high school prom queen named Beatrice (Bea) who has discovered that the real world is nothing like high school.[20] It was not picked up for production. In 2005, she co-starred with Queen Latifah in Beauty Shop, a spinoff of the BarberShop films, as one of the stylists in the beauty shop.[4] In the same year, she played a reporter alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, which did well financially, and appeared in the direct-to-video film Silence Becomes You.[4]

In 2006, Silverstone starred in an ABC pilot called Pink Collar, in which her character worked in a law firm. Like Queen B, this pilot was not picked up for syndication. That year, she also starred alongside Alex Pettyfer, Ewan McGregor and Mickey Rourke in the film Stormbreaker, and appeared in the Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for-TV movie Candles on Bay Street, based on the book by Cathie Pelletier.[4] Silverstone continued her theatre work, next appearing in David Mamet's Boston Marriage and Speed-the-Plow. In 2008, she filmed another ABC pilot alongside Megan Mullally called Bad Mother's Handbook and made a cameo appearance in the comedy film Tropic Thunder.[4]

In early 2009, Silverstone starred in the world premiere of Donald Margulies's Time Stands Still at the Geffen Playhouse LA.[21] The play focuses on a longtime couple and journalistic team who return to New York from an extended stint in the war-torn Middle East. She also starred in the music video for Rob Thomas's 2009 single "Her Diamonds".[22]

Silverstone filmed a small segment in Elektra Luxx, a sequel to Women In Trouble. Director Sebastian Gutierrez cut her segment but will possibly use it for a third installment, tentatively titled Women In Ecstasy.[23]

2010s[edit] In 2010, she reprised her role in Time Stands Still alongside Laura Linney in the New York production of the play on Broadway, which premiered on January 28, 2010, directed by Daniel Sullivan, who described Silverstone as "a breath of fresh air."[24] The play received good reviews with The New York Times praising Silverstone, saying she "brings warmth, actorly intelligence and delicate humour."[25]

Silverstone next starred in the teen romance The Art of Getting By,[26] which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.[27] and appeared in four episodes of Suburgatory, reuniting with her Clueless castmate Jeremy Sisto.[28]

Her next role was in Butter as the adoptive mother of a 12-year old African American girl who enters a local butter sculpture competition in a small Iowa town. Rob Corddry, who plays her husband, invited her to appear in an episode of his show Childrens Hospital.[29] She also reunited with Clueless director Amy Heckerling in Vamps, playing one of two vampires who fall in love and face a choice that could jeopardise their immortality.[30] She was offered the role after Heckerling came to see her in Time Stands Still.[31]

Silverstone later returned to Broadway in the 2012 New York production of The Performers[32] and starred in Angels in Stardust.,[33] and Ass Backwards.[34][35] In 2013, she shot TV pilot HR,[36] which was not picked up.[37]

In 2011 she starred in the film adaptation of Marie Phillips's novel Gods Behaving Badly, however as of 2014, it remains unreleased.[38]

Personal life[edit] Silverstone has two older siblings, a half-sister from her father's previous marriage named Kezi Silverstone and a brother named David Silverstone. She married her longtime boyfriend, rock musician Christopher Jarecki, in a beachfront ceremony at Lake Tahoe on June 11, 2005.[39] After meeting outside a movie theater in 1997, the couple dated for eight years prior to their marriage.[40] They got engaged about a year before their marriage, and Jarecki presented Silverstone with an engagement ring that had belonged to his grandmother.[41] They live in an eco-friendly Los Angeles house, complete with solar panels and an organic vegetable garden.[40] Silverstone bought the house, shared with a "menagerie of rescued dogs", in 1996.[41]

In 2009, Silverstone released The Kind Diet, a guide to vegan nutrition, and launched its associated website The Kind Life.[42][43] The Kind Diet has topped the Hardcover Advice & Misc. category of The New York Times Best Seller list.[44] She plans to write two follow up books, The Kind Mama and The Kind Diet Cookbook.[45]

In January 2011, it was announced that Silverstone and Jarecki were expecting their first child together.[46] In May 2011, Silverstone gave birth to a boy, whom they named Bear Blu Jarecki.[47] In March 2012 she uploaded video of herself feeding pre-chewed food to her son from her own mouth, a process called premastication.[48][49] In response to criticism, she made a statement that it's been going on for thousands of years, and is perfectly natural.[50]

Political beliefs[edit] Silverstone is noted for being an animal rights and environmental activist. She became a vegan in 1998 after attending an animal rights meeting, saying "I realized that I was the problem … I was an animal lover who was eating animals."[40] She has stated she struggled with childhood vegetarianism, stating "at eight years old it's hard to stick to your guns – and so through the years I was always starting and stopping trying to be a vegetarian."[51] In 2004, Silverstone was voted "Sexiest Female Vegetarian" by PETA.[52] In 2007, Silverstone appeared nude in a print advertisement and 30-second commercial for PETA championing vegetarianism; the TV spot was subsequently pulled from the Houston, Texas market by Comcast Cable.[53] Silverstone has set up a sanctuary for rescued pets in Los Angeles.[54] In 2012, during the trial of Russian band Pussy Riot, she wrote a letter to Vladimir Putin asking that vegan meals be made available to all Russian prisoners.[55]

Federal campaign contribution records list Silverstone contributing $500 USD to Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign.[56] She also supported Barack Obama's presidential candidacy.[57]

In 2009, she appeared in "A Gaythering Storm", a Funny or Die spoof internet video parodying anti-same-sex marriage commercial "The Gathering Storm."[58] She also appeared in "My Mother's Red Hat" with Alanis Morissette parodying indie movies.

Filmography[edit] Film[edit] Year Title Role Notes 1993 The Crush Darian/Adrian Forrester 1995 Le Nouveau monde Trudy Wadd 1995 Hideaway Regina Harrison 1995 Clueless Cher Horowitz Lead role 1995 The Babysitter Jennifer Direct-to-video 1996 True Crime Mary Giordano Direct-to-video 1997 Batman & Robin Batgirl/Barbara Wilson 1997 Excess Baggage Emily Hope Also uncredited producer 1999 Blast from the Past Eve Vrustikoff 2000 Love's Labour's Lost The Princess of France 2002 Global Heresy Natalie "Nat" Bevin 2003 Scorched Sheila Rio 2004 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Heather Jasper-Howe 2005 Beauty Shop Lynn 2005 Silence Becomes You Violet Direct-to-video 2006 Stormbreaker Jack Starbright 2008 Tropic Thunder Herself Cameo appearance 2009 My Mother's Red Hat Video short 2011 The Art of Getting By Ms. Herman 2011 Butter Jill Emmet 2012 Vamps Goody 2013 Ass Backwards Laurel 2013 Gods Behaving Badly Kate 2014 Angels in Stardust Tammy Television[edit] Year Title Role Notes 1992 The Wonder Years Jessica Thomas Episode: "Road Test" 1993 Torch Song Delphine Movie 1993 Scattered Dreams Phyllis Messenger Movie 1994 Cool and the Crazy Roslyn Movie 1994 Rebel Highway Roslyn Episode: "Cool and the Crazy" 1998 Wildlife Vet[59] Herself Documentary 2000–01 Baby Felix & Friends Esmeralda (voice) 2001–05 Braceface Sharon Spitz (voice) Main role (seasons 1–3); also executive producer 2003 Miss Match Kate Fox Main role 2005 Queen B Beatrice "Bea" Unsold Fox pilot; also co-executive producer 2006 Candles on Bay Street Dee Dee Michaud Movie 2006 Pink Collar Hayden Flynn Unsold ABC pilot 2007 The Singles Table Georgia Unsold NBC pilot 2008 The Bad Mother's Handbook Karen Unsold ABC pilot 2011 Childrens Hospital Kelly Episode: "Munch by Proxy" 2012 Suburgatory Eden 4 episodes 2013 HR Ellen Unaired Lifetime pilot movie Other credits[edit] Music videos Year Title Role Artist 1993 "Cryin'" Girl Aerosmith 1993 "Amazing" Girl Aerosmith 1994 "Crazy" Girl #1 Aerosmith 2009 "Her Diamonds" Frozen girl Rob Thomas 2011 "Fight for Your Right Revisited" Café patron Beastie Boys Theatre Year Title Role Director Writer 1993 Carol's Eve Debbie Valerie Mayhew Pauline Lepor 2002 The Graduate Elaine Robinson Terry Johnson Terry Johnson 2006 Boston Marriage Catherine Karen Kohlhaas David Mamet 2007 Speed-the-Plow Karen Randall Arney David Mamet 2009–10 Time Stands Still Mandy Daniel Sullivan Donald Marguiles 2012 The Performers Sara Evan Cabnet David West Read Awards and nominations[edit] She was awarded a Heart Of Green Award in 2009, which "recognizes individuals, organizations or companies who have helped green go mainstream."[60] In 2010, she was awarded a Voice Of Compassion Award by the Physician's Committee For Responsible Medicine for "shining a spotlight on the powerful health benefits of a vegan diet."[61]

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title of work Result 1994 MTV Movie Awards Best Villain The Crush Won 1994 MTV Movie Awards Best Breakthrough Performance The Crush Won 1994 MTV Movie Awards Most Desirable Female The Crush Nominated 1994 Young Artist Awards Best Young Leading Actress, Drama The Crush Nominated 1996 American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture Clueless Won 1996 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Best Female Newcomer Clueless Won 1996 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actress Clueless Nominated 1996 MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance Clueless Won 1996 MTV Movie Awards Most Desirable Female Clueless Won 1996 MTV Movie Awards Best Comedic Performance Clueless Nominated 1996 National Board of Review Best Breakthrough Performer Clueless Won 1996 Young Artist Awards Best Young Leading Actress, Feature Film Clueless Nominated 1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Supporting Actress, Sci-Fi Batman & Robin Nominated 1998 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actress Batman & Robin Won 1998 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actress Batman & Robin Won 2002 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer In An Animated Program Braceface Nominated 2004 Genesis Awards Children's TV Series Braceface Nominated 2004 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy Miss Match Nominated 2004 Satellite Awards Best Actress, Musical or Comedy Series Miss Match Nominated