Cameron Diaz Actress Date of Birth: 30.08.1972 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Modeling Career
3. Debut in Hollywood
4. Breakthrough Roles
5. Star Status
6. Continued Success
7. Setbacks and Recoveries
8. Recent Projects and Retirement
9. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Cameron Diaz was born on August 30, 1972, in San Diego, California. Her father, Emilio Diaz, worked for an oil company, while her mother, Billie Diaz, was a broker. Diaz has Cuban ancestry on her father's side and English, Scottish-Irish, German, and Native American heritage on her mother's side.

From a young age, Diaz displayed a rebellious nature. She often hung out with boys, listened to heavy music, and engaged in street altercations with her older sister, Chimene. Diaz had no interest in traditional feminine pursuits; she considered herself a tomboy and attended concerts by Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Van Halen, and other rock icons.

Modeling Career

Despite her passion for animals and aspirations to become a zoologist, Diaz embarked on an unlikely journey in the modeling industry. She was scouted at a party by photographer Jeff Dunas, who encouraged her to pursue a career at the Elite modeling agency.

Diaz's modeling career took off quickly. Within a few months of signing with Elite, she had traveled extensively, working for renowned fashion houses such as Calvin Klein and Levi's. By the age of 17, she was earning an average of $2,000 per photo shoot and reveling in her work.

Debut in Hollywood

In the early 1990s, Diaz decided to try her luck in Hollywood. Despite having no prior acting experience, she auditioned for the comedy "The Mask" at the behest of the Elite agency. Her appointment to the lead female role alongside renowned comedian Jim Carrey was as unexpected as her entry into modeling years ago.

Released in 1994, "The Mask" became a box office hit. Diaz, dubbed one of Hollywood's new sex symbols, received accolades for her performance. Her acting skills quickly gained recognition, but opinions on her meteoric rise varied: some attributed it to her natural talent, while others claimed it was due to a whirlwind romance with producer Carlos de la Torre.

Breakthrough Roles

Following the success of "The Mask," Diaz secured roles in a series of films, including "The Last Supper" (1995), "She's the One" (1996), "Feeling Minnesota" (1996), "Head Above Water" (1997), and "Snitch" (1997). Though not critical successes, these films kept Diaz's name in the spotlight.

In 1997, she returned to mainstream cinema with a pivotal role in the romantic comedy "My Best Friend's Wedding." The film was a commercial success, earning nominations at prestigious awards ceremonies such as the Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, and Oscars. While Diaz herself was not nominated, she received praise from both critics and audiences.

Star Status

Diaz's first starring role came in 1998's "There's Something About Mary." She played Mary, a charming girl pursued by both Ted (Ben Stiller), who has been in love with her since high school, and detective Pat Healy (Matt Dillon), whom Ted hires to find Mary. Diaz's portrayal of the beautiful and elusive object of desire earned her the MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (which she lost to Gwyneth Paltrow). Notably, Diaz and Dillon ended their relationship shortly after working on this film.

Another significant film for Diaz was the 1999 fantasy drama "Being John Malkovich." For her role as Lotte Schwartz, the wife of the protagonist Craig Schwartz (John Cusack), Diaz was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, but the award ultimately went to Angelina Jolie.

Continued Success

Throughout the early 2000s, Diaz continued to star in a string of successful films, including "Charlie's Angels" (2000), "Vanilla Sky" (2001), "Gangs of New York" (2002), and "Shrek" (2001), in which she voiced Princess Fiona. As these films became genre-defining hits, Diaz enjoyed fame and multi-million dollar paychecks.

Setbacks and Recoveries

2003 proved to be a challenging year for Diaz. She starred in only one film, "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," which failed commercially. She also ended her engagement to Jared Leto, to whom she had been engaged since 2000.

Diaz's personal and professional setbacks proved temporary. In 2003, she began a relationship with singer and actor Justin Timberlake and a year later reprised her voice role in "Shrek 2." Despite the fact that audiences only hear Diaz in "Shrek," her performance as Fiona is considered one of her career highlights.

Recent Projects and Retirement

In the years following "Shrek 2," Diaz worked on a mix of successful and less successful projects, including "Shrek the Third" (2007), "What Happens in Vegas" (2008), "My Sister's Keeper" (2009), "The Box" (2009), "Shrek Forever After" (2010), "Bad Teacher" (2011), "The Other Woman" (2014), and "Sex Tape" (2014). She also ended her relationship with Timberlake, briefly dated baseball player Alex Rodriguez, married Good Charlotte guitarist and backing vocalist Benji Madden in 2015, and actively campaigned for environmental protection.

Diaz has not starred in any films since 2014. She has prioritized her personal life, spending time with her husband, pursuing her interests in health and fitness, and advocating for social issues. Diaz has also expressed her opposition to plastic surgery, although she has admitted to undergoing rhinoplasty four times due to injuries sustained while surfing.

Legacy

Cameron Diaz has had a successful career in film and modeling. Her outgoing personality and natural beauty have made her a popular figure in Hollywood. Her performances in films such as "The Mask," "There's Something About Mary," and "My Best Friend's Wedding" have cemented her status as a leading actress in the romantic comedy genre. Diaz has also been praised for her work in animated films such as the "Shrek" franchise.

Diaz has retired from acting, focusing on her personal life and advocacy work. Her influence on popular culture and her contributions to film and entertainment will continue to be celebrated for years to come.