Cameron Diaz was born in 1972 in California. Her dad worked for an oil company and her mom worked in imports/exports. She has an older sister named Chimene. Diaz went to Long Beach Polytechnic High School. There she cheered and worked on the school paper.
Diaz started modeling at 16. She was spotted by a photographer at a party. She signed with Elite Model Management and modeled worldwide for magazines and commercials.
Diaz made her acting debut in The Mask with Jim Carrey In 1994. She auditioned for the female lead without any acting experience. She played nightclub singer Tina Carlyle. The movie made over $350 million globally. It launched Diaz to stardom and acclaim for her performance.
Becoming the Queen of Comedy
Diaz starred in very popular comedies. She showed her comedic skills against stars like Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore.
- She played the woman Ted in There's Something About Mary. It grossed over $360 million and had a huge influence on comedy.
- Diaz played Natalie Cook in Charlie's Angels and its sequel. She was one of the trio of female spies working for Charlie. The films together made over $520 million worldwide. They showed Diaz physicality and sex appeal doing stunts and wearing little.
- Diaz also voiced Princess Fiona in the four Shrek films. They parodied fairy tales and pop culture. The movies together grossed over $3 billion and won an Oscar. Diaz was praised for bringing humor and emotion to Fiona.
Flexing Dramatic Chops in Acclaimed Films
Diaz took on serious challenging roles in films by respected directors. She showed her acting range and depth opposite stars
- Diaz played the wife of Cusack's character in Being John Malkovich directed by Spike Jonze. He finds a portal into actor John Malkovich mind which she becomes obsessed with. The movie earned critical and commercial success.
- Diaz played Tom Cruise ex-girlfriend in Vanilla Sky who tries to ruin his new relationship. The psychological thriller was a box office hit. Diaz earned a Golden Globe nomination for her intense dark performance.
- Diaz held her own against Daniel Day-Lewis in Martin Scorsese Gangs of New York. She played a pickpocket and love interest to Leonardo DiCaprio. The epic period drama was nominated for 10 Oscars.
Winning Hearts in Romantic Comedies
Diaz shined in rom-coms while charming audiences with her beauty, wit and chemistry with co-stars.
- She played Julia Roberts rival for Dermot Mulroney affections in My Best Friend's Wedding. The global smash hit received praise for its clever script and twist on the genre.
- Diaz played a movie trailer producer in The Holiday who swaps homes with Kate Winslet character. She falls for Jude Law in England and this hit rom-com charmed with its heartwarming story.
- Diaz played a Vegas newlywed forced to stay married to Ashton Kutcher in What Happens in Vegas. The box office hit had a fun silly premise.
Taking Risks in Controversial Roles
Diaz experimented with provocative roles in different genres with daring directors.
- Diaz character is given a moral dilemma through a mysterious box in a sci-fi thriller The Box. The film flopped commercially and with critics but Diaz performance showed courage.
- Diaz deliberately sought an unlikable character as a foul-mouthed lazy teacher in Bad Teacher. The hit black comedy drew mixed reviews but Diaz bold and raunchy performance stood out.
- Diaz took on her darkest role in The Counselor as Javier Bardem ruthless sexually manipulative girlfriend. The box office bomb was panned by critics but Diaz intense performance was still praised.
Retiring and Making a Comeback
Diaz announced she was retiring from acting in 2014. She wanted to focus on her personal life away from fame. She married musician Benji Madden In 2015 and they have two children together.
Diaz wrote books on health and wellness and started an organic wine brand. She returned to acting in the rom-com Love After Lockup with Paul Rudd in 2022. The role marked her comeback showing she still had comic chops and chemistry.
Diaz said she missed acting but does not regret retiring. She feels fulfilled with her family and is proud of her legacy. She conquered Hollywood on her own terms.