Born: November 25, 1971 Height: 5' 5"
Originally famous as ditzy bimbo Kelly Bundy on Fox's long-running dysfunctional family sitcom Married… With Children, Christina Applegate parlayed her comic talents and sexy image into the movie world. Applegate was raised by her actress mother Nancy Priddy after she split from record executive Bobby Applegate. Making her TV debut as an infant with her mother in Days of Our Lives, Applegate subsequently landed her first movie role aged ten when she appeared with Priddy in the low-grade horror flick Jaws of Satan (1981).
After playing Grace Kelly as a child in the TV biopic Grace Kelly (1983), Applegate did the rounds of several TV shows before 1987’s Married. . .With Children hit the airwaves. Despite criticisms about its vulgarity, the show became one of Fox's first signature hits and lasted ten seasons.
A bona fide teen heartthrob, Applegate attempted to branch out from her brainless Bundy persona, showing her serious side as a prostitute and drug addict in the gritty drama Streets (1990). Teen comedy Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) showcased her as a smart, resourceful, and, more importantly, anti-Bundy character. Applegate co-starred with Mark Wahlberg in the action comedy The Big Hit (1998) and played in Mafia! (1998).
Applegate returned to movie comedy, co-starring with Jean Reno as a princess in the time-travel yarn Just Visiting (2001). Applegate has earned far better reviews than the movie itself as Cameron Diaz's levelheaded best friend in the raunchy female bonding romp The Sweetest Thing (2002). She has had major roles in several films, including Prince Charming (2001), Grand Theft Parsons (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and its sequel, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Farce of the Penguins (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009), Hall Pass (2011), and Vacation (2015). She has also starred in numerous Broadway theatre productions such as the 2005 revival of the musical Sweet Charity. She played the lead role in the television sitcoms Jesse (1998–2000) and Samantha Who? (2007–09) and starred in the NBC comedy Up All Night (2011–12).
On August 3, 2008, People magazine reported that Applegate had been diagnosed with breast cancer. August 19, 2008, it was announced that Applegate was cancer free after a double mastectomy, even though cancer was found in only one breast.
