Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American
actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, model, producer and author.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Duff appeared in local theatre productions and television commercials before coming to prominence in the title role of Disney Channel's teen comedy Lizzie McGuire. Established as a teen idol, Duff reprised that role in The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) and ventured into motion pictures with her early films Agent Cody Banks (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), A Cinderella Story (2004), Raise Your Voice (2004) and Cheaper by the Dozen 2
(2005) being among the biggest commercial successes of her career. She
has performed in a string of independent films with notable roles in War, Inc. (2008), According to Greta (2009) and Bloodworth (2011). Duff has also appeared in numerous television dramas and comedies, such as Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, and Two and a Half Men in addition to sharing production credits.
After signing with Hollywood Records, Duff expanded her repertoire to include pop music and has released several albums. Her debut studio album Metamorphosis (2003) was RIAA-certified triple platinum while the subsequent studio album Hilary Duff (2004) and compilation album Most Wanted (2005) were both certified platinum. She exhibited a more adult image with the release of Dignity
(2007), which displayed a shift to more of a dance-oriented sound.
Certified gold, the album spawned her highest charting US single to
date, "With Love", which also peaked at number 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, becoming the first of her three consecutive number ones on that chart. Prior to the release of Best of Hilary Duff
(2008), a compilation of her greatest hits, Duff had sold thirteen
million albums worldwide and had performed across the world on four
concert tours. The release of Best of automatically ended her
contract with Hollywood Records after six years of service. As of
September 2013, Duff is currently working on her new album, which is yet
to be revealed its record label, release date and title.
Branching into various other industries, Duff has turned her hand to fashion with the launch of her own clothing lines Stuff by Hilary Duff and Femme for DKNY Jeans in addition to being signed with IMG Models and releasing two exclusive perfume collections with Elizabeth Arden.
Duff, assisted by author Elise Allen penned a series of young adult novels. The trilogy was published under Simon & Schuster, Inc. The first novel was Elixir released in October 2010. Elixir was warmly received by critics and became a New York Times bestseller. Duff embarked on a book tour across the USA, Brazil and other few countries. The huge success of Elixir was followed up with its sequel Devoted released in October 2011. The final book in the series was True, released in April 2013.
On top of that, Duff has also contributed to several humanitarian causes. Among them were Blessings in a Backpack, Think Before You Speak Campaign and recently in 2013, Stomp Out Bullying. In 2010, she married former NHL player Mike Comrie, with whom she has one child.
Life and career
1987–99: Early life and career beginnings
Hilary Erhard Duff was born on September 28, 1987, in Houston, Texas.[2] She grew up between Houston and San Antonio with her father Robert Erhard Duff, a partner in a chain of convenience stores in the two areas, her mother Susan Colleen (née Cobb), a homemaker turned film/music producer, and her older sister Haylie, who is also an actress and singer.[2]
From a young age, Duff took after her older sister and, encouraged by
their mother, the pair enrolled in acting, singing and ballet classes.[3] Both girls won roles in local theatre productions and, together, at the ages of six and eight, they participated in a touring BalletMet production of The Nutcracker in San Antonio.[2]
Increasingly interested about pursuing show business, the sisters and
their mother moved to California in 1993, while their father stayed in
Houston to take care of his business.[3] The sisters auditioned for several years and were cast in several television commercials.[3] Due to her acting career, Duff was home-schooled from the age of eight.[4]
During her initial acting years, Duff primarily played minor roles like her uncredited part in the Hallmark Entertainment western miniseries True Women (1997)[5] and as an uncredited extra in the ensemble dramedy Playing by Heart (1998). Her first major role was as a young witch Wendy in Casper Meets Wendy (1998) but was released to mostly unenthusiastic reviews.[6][7] After appearing in the supporting role of Ellie in the television film The Soul Collector (1999), which was based on a Kathleen Kane novel, Duff accrued a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot (Supporting Young Actress).[8]
2000–02: Breakthrough with Lizzie McGuire
In March 2000, Duff appeared in the small guest role as a sick child in the medical drama Chicago Hope right before being cast as one of the children in the pilot episode of the NBC sitcom Daddio.[3] Her Daddio co-star Michael Chiklis
stated, "After working with her the first day, I remember saying to my
wife, 'this young girl is going to be a movie star'. She was completely
at ease with herself and comfortable in her own skin."[3]
However, prior to the airing of the show, the producers dropped Duff
from the cast. Depressed, Duff was reluctant to pursue her acting career
further.[3]
A week later, she landed the title role of a newly developed Disney Channel children's television series Lizzie McGuire after her mother, who is also her manager, urged her to audition.[3]
Duff played a clumsy teen who dreams to fit in and be popular. The show
made Duff a popular household name particularly with its target
demographic of preteens and adolescents.[9]
Focusing on its central character, the show's mixed media format stood
out from the rest of the Disney Channel's programming of the time and,
in essence, became the channel's flagship and definitive show of the
early 2000s.[citation needed] The show first aired on the Disney Channel on January 12, 2001, and was a ratings hit that attracted about 2.3 million viewers per episode.[3] However, after Duff fulfilled her 65-episode contract with Lizzie McGuire,
the show ended. Disney considered expanding the franchise to films and a
prime-time television series. The plans however failed, because Duff's
representatives said she was not being paid enough for the proposed
series.[10]
Duff's first role in a theatrical motion picture was in Human Nature (2002) in which she portrays the younger version of a female naturalist, played by Patricia Arquette. The film was showcased first at the Cannes and Sundance film festivals.[11] Duff also starred as a free-spirited girl who struggles in a strict military school in the Disney Channel television film Cadet Kelly (2002), which became the network's most watched program in its 19-year history.[3]
Duff became interested in pursuing a music career after attending a Radio Disney concert in 2001.[12]
She resumed her vocal lessons – which she had started before her acting
career began – and became one of Andre Recke's clients at Hollywood Records.[13] Duff's music career began with two soundtrack appearances: In 2002, she appeared on the soundtrack to Lizzie McGuire, performing a cover version of Brooke McClymont's "I Can't Wait", which received tremendous success on Radio Disney, and the Walt Disney Records compilation DisneyMania, performing a cover of "The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room".[12]
The same year, she released a holiday album titled Santa Claus Lane (2002) which was a collection of Christmas songs that included duets with her sister, Lil' Romeo, and Christina Milian. Accompanied by the Disney Channel-only single "Tell Me a Story (About the Night Before)", the album peaked at 154 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and was certified gold.[14][15] While her songs were hits on Radio Disney, including "Why Not" and "What Dreams Are Made Of" which had been featured in The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), Recke and executives at Buena Vista Music Group envisioned Duff reaching a more mature audience.[12]
Duff dated pop singer Aaron Carter on and off between 2001 and 2003 before he met and dated Lindsay Lohan. It was reported that Carter soon left Lohan and went back to dating Duff, starting a feud between the two actresses.[16] After Duff showed up with Chad Michael Murray to the red carpet premiere for Lohan's film Freaky Friday (2003), Lohan further fueled this feud by appearing at a red carpet premiere for Duff's film Cheaper by the Dozen (2003).[17] In 2007, it was reported that the two reconciled, with Lohan accepting an invitation to Duff's Dignity album release party.[18] A spat with Avril Lavigne also made headlines because Lavigne called Duff a "mommy's girl". The two have never had any public reconciliation.[19]
2003: Metamorphosis, Agent Cody Banks and Cheaper by the Dozen
Duff at the MuchMusic Video Awards (2007)
She released her debut album Metamorphosis (2003) shortly after her departure from the Lizzie McGuire franchise. The album received mixed reviews from music critics; some complimented it for being a modern-day bubblegum album, while others considered the album to be a promotional gimmick for the singer, lacking real substance. Nonetheless, Metamorphosis reached number one on the Billboard 200 and Canadian Albums Chart and sold over five million copies worldwide by late 2005.[2][20] Its lead single "So Yesterday" was a top ten hit in several countries despite not impacting in her native US; its follow-up "Come Clean" had the same effect and was made the Laguna Beach theme song.[21] The third single "Little Voice" was not released in the US but was a minor hit in Australia.[22]
Duff further promoted the album with the Metamorphosis Tour that ran
from November to December 2003. Most shows scheduled in major cities
were sold out.[23] Metamorphosis earned Duff her first Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Female Singer as well as Best New Female Artist at the World Music Awards
in 2004. Before embarking on another American tour titled Most Wanted
from July to September 2004, Duff also recorded a cover of The Go-Go's "Our Lips Are Sealed" with her sister for the soundtrack of A Cinderella Story.[24]
In 2003, Duff received her first major role in a feature film when she was cast alongside Frankie Muniz, playing his love interest in Agent Cody Banks. The film received positive reviews; Scott Foundas of Variety magazine labelled Duff's performance "charming," yet thought she was "sidelined with little to do much of the time."[25] The same year, Duff reprised her role as Lizzie McGuire for The Lizzie McGuire Movie. It received mixed reviews; some slammed her acting skills whilst David Levine from Filmcritic.com called it "an unabashed promotion of Duff's image."[26][27][28] Later that year, Duff played one of the 12 children of Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt in the family film Cheaper by the Dozen, which remains her highest grossing film to date, despite not-so-complimentary reviews of Duff's performance. Slant Magazine reviewer Nick Schager wrote that Duff "does nothing more than look perky and stylish."[29][30]
Duff also made several guest appearances in television shows which
included the role of a makeup salesperson in a 2003 episode of George Lopez; she later reappeared in the show in 2005 as Kenzie, a feminist poet friend of the character Carmen (Masiela Lusha). In 2003, she also portrayed one of The Shangri-Las opposite her sister Haylie in season two of American Dreams, while in 2005, she played a classmate and idolizer of the title character in Joan of Arcadia.[31]
2004–06: Hilary Duff, Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Most Wanted
In July 2004, a 16-year-old Duff began dating Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden (who was 25).[32] After a long period of tabloid speculation, Duff's mother Susan announced their relationship in a June 2005 interview for Seventeen magazine.[33] In November 2006, Duff and Madden broke up.[34]
The same year, Duff's parents separated after 22 years of marriage. She
wrote about the pain caused by the separation in her songs "Stranger" and "Gypsy Woman" for her fourth studio album, Dignity.[35]
Released on Duff's seventeenth birthday, her second studio album was the self-titled Hilary Duff
(2004). This time, she was more involved in crafting of the album by
co-writing songs, desiring it to be her departure from her young Lizzie McGuire image.[36] The album takes a more rockier-edge than Metamorphosis, of which critics received negatively and compared her to Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson. Despite its two singles "Fly" and "Someone's Watching Over Me" not being major hits, the album debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard
200 chart, selling 192,000 copies in its first week, and became her
second consecutive number one debut in Canada. The self-titled album has
sold 1.8 million copies in the US and was certified platinum by the
RIAA.[37]
Duff during an interview for MuchMusic (2007)
Duff followed her self-titled album with her first compilation album titled Most Wanted (2005), which comprises three new songs, songs from her previous two albums and remixes.[38] Most Wanted
received mostly negative reviews from critics, who deemed the release
as premature, stating that Duff did not have enough material to warrant a
compilation. However, new songs "Wake Up" (which was written by Duff's boyfriend at the time Joel Madden and his brother Benji – both members of Good Charlotte), "Beat of My Heart"
and "Break My Heart" received favorable comments; critics believing
that their dance-orientated sound stood out from the rest of the album. Most Wanted debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming her second number one in the US, and became her third number one debut in Canada.[39]
It sold over two hundred thousand copies within its first week of
release and was certified platinum by the RIAA a month after its
release.[40][41]
She followed the international success of the album and its singles by
embarking on her first worldwide concert tour to support the album.
Titled the Still Most Wanted Tour, the tour ran from July 2005 through
September 2006. In 2006, an Italy-only compilation 4ever Hilary Duff
was released alongside an exclusive DVD due to Italian fans not getting
as many of the normal releases of her albums pressed in the country.
With her sister, Duff also recorded a cover version of Madonna's "Material Girl" to for their movie Material Girls (2006).[42]
In 2004, she starred in the romantic comedy A Cinderella Story alongside Chad Michael Murray. Reviews of her performance mostly negative: "her appeal lies precisely in being Hilary Duff," wrote Reel
critic Sarah Chauncy. However, the film went on to become a moderate
box office hit, and some critics were impressed by Duff's performance.[29][43][44] Later that year, she starred in Raise Your Voice,
her first drama film. While some critics praised her for appearing in a
more mature and serious role than her previous films, the film itself
was heavily panned and was not successful at the box office.[45]
Several reviews were indifferent towards her acting performance and
were critical of Duff's vocals, with critics pointing out what appeared
to be her digitally enhanced voice.[46][47][48][49] Her roles in the two films combined led to her first Razzie nomination for Worst Actress in 2004.[50]
Her subsequent role in The Perfect Man (2005) and the reprisal of her character in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005) combined accrued her second Razzie nomination for Worst Actress in 2005.[51] The former, in which she co-stars with Heather Locklear and Chris Noth,
"Duff plays her standard character—an introverted romantic who falls
for a guy whose hunky exterior belies an artistic soul," wrote Matt
Singer from the Village Voice.[52] It was poorly received both critically and commercially. The latter, which was less successful as the first Cheaper by the Dozen, was panned by critics.[53] "Duff just looks like she'd rather be in a different movie," wrote a harsh Mike Clarke from USA Today.[54]
Additionally, the Duff sisters lent their voices to the computer animated comedy Foodfight! in late 2005, but the film has never been released.[55] Duff paired with her sister again in the satirical comedy Material Girls
(2006) but it was unsuccessful, both commercially and critically,
earning both sisters a shared Razzie nomination for Worst Actress,
becoming Hilary's third consecutive nomination in this field in three
years.[56] The two were also nominated for Worst Screen Couple.[57]
In 2006, Duff was stalked by a 19-year-old Russian immigrant
identified as Max and his 50-year-old roommate David Joseph Klein. She
filed for restraining orders against the two men,[58]
claiming that Max "threatened to kill himself" to get her attention.
She also alleged that he threatened to "remove enemies" who stand in his
way, including Duff's boyfriend at the time Joel Madden. Max, later
identified as Maksim Myaskovskiy, was sentenced to 117 days in prison.
2007–09: Dignity, Best of Hilary Duff and independent films
Duff performing (2007)
Duff co-wrote the material for her third studio album Dignity (2007), along with Kara DioGuardi, who co-produced the album with Rhett Lawrence, Tim & Bob, and Richard Vission. In contrast to the pop rock themes of her prior releases, Dignity takes on more of a dance and electropop[59][60][61] sound and makes use of more instruments.[62]
The lyrics reference the events Duff experienced in the years leading
to the album's release while the album's songs contain influences of
rock and roll and hip hop music. Critical response was mostly positive;
while Duff's "weak" singing voice was noted, the album was praised for
its songwriting and her new musical direction. Upon release, Dignity debuted at number three in the US, a lower peak than Duff's previous albums and with lower sales, which Billboard
attributed to the loss of fans during her musical evolution. Despite
the relatively poor performance of the album, it produced Duff's
highest-peaking US single to date, "With Love" (number 24), which also peaked at number 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, becoming the first of her three consecutive number ones on that chart; her second being "Stranger", the album's third single.[63] Dignity
has reached the top ten in several countries and was certified gold in
the US by the RIAA. She embarked on her fourth concert tour, simply
titled Dignity, from July 2007 to February 2008, which went around North
America, Brazil and Australia. Following this, Duff had sold thirteen
million albums worldwide and had performed across the world on four
concert tours.[64]
Duff attending the Tribeca Film Festival (2008)
A two-part introspective documentary television special Hilary Duff: This Is Now
was produced to chronicle Duff's return to the recording industry. The
show took two weeks to film and was shot in both the US and around
Europe. It was broadcast on MTV in April 2007. Duff was also the guest star on The Andy Milonakis Show for its third season premiere in September 2007.
Duff was cast in War, Inc. (2008) a political satire. Her role as an oversexed Central Asian pop star garnered praise, despite the film receiving generally negative reviews from critics. War, Inc.
opened on an extremely limited release in only two theaters across the
United States. The film went on to open in a further thirty theaters
across the United States. It was second in largest per theater gross. It
closed on August 7, 2008, without a wide release, grossing only
$580,862 domestically.[65]
Duff's most recent release and first greatest hits album was titled Best of Hilary Duff (2008). Like Most Wanted (2005), the album features songs from her previous three albums, remixes and two new tracks: "Reach Out" and "Holiday". "Reach Out", which samples Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus",
was released in the preceding month of the album's release as its first
single. The song became Duff's third number one dance hit in the US,
but the album failed to reach the success of its predecessors, was her
first album not to receive any RIAA certifications and peaked at number
125 on the US chart.[66]
Duff said she hoped to write a third new song for the release and to
have "Holiday" released as a single. Hollywood Records later scrapped
these plans, adding to their large list of cancelations which, in turn,
led Duff to make the decision to leave the label after six years of
service and develop this album to quickly end her contract, which had
expected one more album.[67] She announced to MTV that she would begin work on her new album in December 2008 but it was never developed.[68][69] In 2009, Duff and Richard Vission contributed on a song titled "Any Other Day" for the What Goes Up soundtrack.
In 2009, she starred in two independent drama films. The first, as the title role of a young suicidal and rebellious teen in According to Greta which received mixed reviews; Andrew Barker of Variety magazine was unkind to Duff's "child star" approach to acting and wanted her to stay away from teen parts.[70] However, Los Angeles Times critic Robert Abele wrote that her attempt to "transform her bright-eyed wholesomeness into rebellious snark" in Greta "is a valiant one."[71] The second, as a narcissistic seductress in What Goes Up which also received mixed reviews. Brian Lowry of Variety
magazine stated that Duff's performance "amounts to a near-adult role"
yet labeled her role, and the film in general, "confused."[72]
Duff was also meant to star as Bonnie in a 2009 independent remake of Bonnie and Clyde titled The Story of Bonnie and Clyde. Her co-star was slated to be Kevin Zegers.[73] However, in 2011, it was announced that Duff and Zegers were dropped from the cast due to scheduling conflicts.[74]
Despite turning down the lead role of Annie Mills in the television series 90210
in early 2008 as she was more interested in looking for projects
outside the teen genre, Duff attained a recurring guest star role in the
third season of Gossip Girl.[75][76] She played Olivia Burke, a movie star who enrols at NYU in search of a traditional college experience. In the ninth episode titled "They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?", Duff's character ended up in a threesome with Penn Badgley's character Dan and Jessica Szhor's character Vanessa, which led to protest by parent groups.[77]
The following year, she won a Teen Choice Award for Best Female Scene
Stealer for her role as Olivia Burke; Enid Portugez of the LA Times also praised her performance by giving a positive review to her involvement in this adult role.[78][79] She appeared in six episodes of the season. The same year too she had guest roles in Ghost Whisperer and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
2010–present: Family, Bloodworth and fifth studio album
Canadian ice hockey player Mike Comrie married Duff in 2010.
In 2007, Duff began dating NHL player Mike Comrie. On February 19, 2010, Duff and Comrie announced their engagement.[80][81] The couple married on August 14, 2010, in Santa Barbara, California.[82] Duff gave birth to their son Luca Cruz Comrie on March 20, 2012.[83][84]
In 2010, Duff starred in the ABC Family television film Beauty & the Briefcase,
in which she plays a fashion magazine columnist who writes about her
dating struggles in the city. The film had a rating of 2.4 million
viewers.[85]
Her most recent credits include Raven Halfacre, the teenage daughter of a promiscuous alcoholic mother, in the drama film Bloodworth (2011) in which Los Angeles Times reviewer Sheri Linden thought she "acquits herself well" despite not warming to the film. The Examiner also wrote that the "biggest surprise performance [in the film] probably belongs to Hilary Duff."[86] She also played Shasta O'Neil, a sexy high school senior, in the Polish brothers' comedy Stay Cool (2011) in which she co-starred with Winona Ryder, Mark Polish, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, and Jon Cryer to neither much critical nor commercial avail.[87][88] In 2012, she appeared in the independent film She Wants Me, directed by Rob Margolies, as a well-known starlet Kim Powers who enters a love triangle.[89]
In August 2012, Duff signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to develop a television comedy for which she will star and produce.[90][91][92] In early 2013, Duff guest starred in the television shows Raising Hope[93] and the season ten finale of Two and a Half Men.[94] She also lend her voice for an animated movie named Wings, together with Jesse McCartney and Josh Duhamel. In July 2013, Duff has already finished filming a movie named Flock of Dudes, set for a 2014 release.
In October 2011, Duff mentioned plans of a possible new album to E! Online.[95] In January 2012, she confirmed that she had begun recording via her official website and Twitter.[96][97]
In an August 2013 interview with Idolator.com, Duff stated that the
songs recorded in 2012 will not make it to the final cut of her upcoming
album. She also mentioned how interested she was in making an EDM-driven
record. It was also confirmed in the interview that Duff has already
begun recording brand new material. No official release date has been
announced.[98]
In September 2013, Duff updated her Instagram account revealing that she is working with producer Billy Mann for her upcoming album. Mann is well-known for his works with P!nk, Celine Dion, Boyzone, Robyn and many more.
Other ventures
Entrepreneurship
Duff at a book signing (2010)
In addition to being signed with modelling agency IMG Models, Duff has launched two clothing lines. The first, "Stuff by Hilary Duff", which was distributed through Target in the US, Kmart in Australia, Zellers in Canada, and Edgars Stores in South Africa from March 2004 onwards.[99]
The company later expanded its business into furniture, fragrances and
jewelry which were primarily targeted at the teen and preteen crowd but,
by the end of 2008, "Stuff by Hilary Duff" was officially discontinued
since Duff did not have full control of the line any longer.[100][101]
Her second was a collaboration with DKNY Jeans
where she co-designed a collection of special pieces. In the objective
of designing a clothing line for girls her own age, the collaborative
apparel line, titled Femme for DKNY Jeans, debuted in the US in August 2009 and was around for a limited time.[102][103][104][105] A series of three-minute long shorts titled The Chase were released to promote the brand.
Duff has also released her own perfume, titled "With Love... Hilary Duff", which was distributed by the Elizabeth Arden company from September 2006 onward. The perfume was initially sold only in Macy's
in the US, but later branched out to Europe, Japan and Canada. "With
Love...Hilary Duff" was one of the three best-selling fragrances
launched at US department stores in late 2006. A summer version of the
perfume, titled "Wrapped with Love", was released in January 2008 while a
spring gift set version was released in time for that year's
Valentine's Day.[106]
Books
With Simon & Schuster, Duff set up a book writing deal. Published in October 2010, her first novel Elixir, co-written with Elise Allen, has since been released internationally and become a New York Times best-seller.[107]
The book, aimed at young adults, traces the life of a
seventeen-year-old photojournalist searching the world for her father
after his disappearance. After fate brings her and an unknown beautiful
man who had began to mysteriously feature in her photographs, the pair
strike up a love triangle, racing against time to unravel their pasts in
order to save their futures. To promote the book, a book tour was
organized. Duff travelled across the USA, Brazil, Paris and many more
beginning the end of 2010. Following the huge success of Elixir, its sequel titled Devoted, was released in hardcover in October 2011. Devoted picks up where Elixir left off and continues the story of the dangerous love triangle.[108] Once again, Duff embarked on a book tour, this time to promote Devoted. The third and final novel True, was released in April 2013.[109] Though True was not promoted with any book tour, Duff had a book signing session in LA. It was also promoted on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Duff also planned to release a non-fiction book in 2012 based on children coping with divorce.[110] As of now, Duff currently has no plans in writing another book.
Philanthropy
Duff at the launch of National Military Families Week (2005)
Duff has involved herself with various philanthropic activities.[111] For natural disasters, she donated $250,000 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina
in addition to donating over 2.5 million meals to Hurricane Katrina
victims in southern US in 2005. In August 2006, Duff traveled to a New Orleans elementary school and worked with USA Harvest to distribute meals.[112][113]
She also has helped various youth charities and is a member of Kids with a Cause.
Duff has also served on the Advisory Board of the Audrey Hepburn Child
Benefit Fund and the Celebrity Council of Kids with a Cause.[114] October 2008 saw Duff starring in a public service announcement for The Think Before You Speak Campaign by Ad Council and GLSEN to prevent youth from using anti-LGBT vocabulary, such as the phrase "That's So Gay."[115] In July 2009, Duff was named as a Youth Ambassador to the children of the Colombian capital, Bogotá. As a Youth Ambassador, she spent five days in the country, distributing backpacks filled with food to needy children.[116]
A strong animal rights supporter, Duff has commented, when asked what she would do if not a celebrity, "I always wanted to be a veterinarian
when I was younger, but then I figured out that animals actually die
there, so that was not the job for me. Definitely something with kids or
animals or something like that."[117]
In 2012, a few months after giving birth to her son, Duff was
actively involved in the Johnson's Baby Cares campaign. The campaign
included activities such as sending 'care kits' and 'care cards' to new
mothers across the US as a motivation. It also raises funds for children
and poor families together with Save The Children.[118] Duff had also promoted the campaign on numerous television talk shows.
In September 2013, Duff was involved with the Stomp Out Bullying
campaign. Duff starred in a short public service announcement and it was
released to Youtube on September 5, 2013.
Public image
Duff posing for cameras (2007)
Following her success from her Lizzie McGuire days, Richard Huff of the New York Daily News called Duff "a 2002 version of Annette Funicello"
yet admitted that the character of Lizzie McGuire was both a blessing
and burden for her. In 2003, Huff stated that Duff's public image is
"tied" to Lizzie McGuire.[3][119]
In 2005, Katie Long from the Centre of Parent/Youth Understanding wrote
an analysis about Duff and her suitability as an idol for young teens.
Duff "is not like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera…yet"
who supposedly use their sex appeal to sell albums and "is someone that
adolescent girls can relate to." The writer also stated that because
Duff is all over the media, "how can [fans] not love her?"[120]
However, while Duff is a "positive role model" who has a "close
relationship" with her family, the writer acknowledged that as Duff
matures, "her looks and message will most likely mature as well."[120]
Over the years, she has striven to distance herself from her
wholesome Disney image, which has included a revamp of her image and
sound with the release of Dignity (2007). Since then, she has
performed in more mature roles in films and appeared in more provocative
photo shoots. In 2007, she graced the covers of Us Weekly and Shape in a bikini whilst her appearance on the cover of Maxim was accompanied by the declaration that she had gone "from the queen of teen to breakout sex symbol."[121] Following this, Duff placed at #23 on the annual Hot 100 Women list composed by Maxim. She has remained on the list ever since in addition to being regularly listed on the annual FHM list of the 100 Sexiest Women (she peaked at #8 in 2008). The Associated Press
wrote that this sudden provocativeness was representative of "a clear
move [on Duff's part] to put her Lizzie McGuire past behind her," and
that more provocative imaging of her would help her singles to garner
mainstream radio play: "Ultimately, nature, time and genetics may help
Duff in a way Disney, despite all its might, cannot."[121] However, despite "the fact that she is grown up," Duff "has managed to maintain her sweet persona," wrote Young Hollywood.[122]
In a June 2006 interview with Elle magazine, Duff was quoted as saying: "...(virginity)
is definitely something I like about myself. It doesn't mean I haven't
thought about sex, because everyone I know has had it and you want to
fit in."[123][124] Duff later told MuchMusic
that she did not say the quotes attributed to her in the article; the
subject was "definitely not something that I would talk about..."[125] She denied the quotes again in a 2008 interview with Maxim magazine.[126]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | True Women | Extra | Uncredited |
| 1998 | Casper Meets Wendy | Wendy | |
| 1998 | Playing by Heart | Extra | Uncredited |
| 1999 | The Soul Collector | Ellie | TV film |
| 2002 | Cadet Kelly | Kelly | Disney Channel Original Movie |
| 2002 | Human Nature | Young Lila Jute | |
| 2003 | Agent Cody Banks | Natalie Connors | |
| 2003 | The Lizzie McGuire Movie | Lizzie McGuire / Isabella Parigi | |
| 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Lorraine Baker | |
| 2004 | A Cinderella Story | Samantha "Sam" Montgomery | |
| 2004 | Raise Your Voice | Teresa "Terri" Fletcher | |
| 2004 | In Search of Santa | Crystal (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2005 | The Perfect Man | Holly Hamilton | |
| 2005 | Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | Lorraine Baker | |
| 2005 | Foodfight! | Sunshine Goodness (voice) | Unreleased |
| 2006 | Material Girls | Tanzania "Tanzie" Marchetta | |
| 2008 | War, Inc. | Yonica Babyyeah | |
| 2009 | Stay Cool | Shasta O'Neil | |
| 2009 | What Goes Up | Lucy Diamond | |
| 2009 | According to Greta | Greta | Also executive producer |
| 2010 | Beauty & the Briefcase | Lane Daniels | ABC Family Original Movie; also producer |
| 2011 | Bloodworth | Raven Halfacre | |
| 2012 | She Wants Me | Kim Powers | |
| 2013 | Wings | Windy (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2014 | Flock of Dudes | Amanda | Post-Production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes and episode(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | True Women | Uncredited[127] | Mini-series |
| 2000 | Chicago Hope | Jessie Seldon[127] | "Cold Hearts" (Season 6, episode 17) |
| 2001–04 | Lizzie McGuire | Elizabeth Brooke McGuire[127] | Lead role, Disney Channel Original Series, 65 episodes |
| 2003 | George Lopez | Stephanie[127] | "Team Leader" (Season 2, episode 22) |
| 2003 | American Dreams | The Shangri-Las (with Haylie Duff)[127] | "Change a Comin" (Season 2, episode 8) |
| 2004 | Frasier | Voice of Britney[127] | "Frasier-Lite" (Season 11, episode 12) |
| 2005 | Joan of Arcadia | Dylan Samuels | "The Rise & Fall of Joan Girardi" (Season 2, episode 14) |
| 2005 | George Lopez | Kenzie | "George's Grand Slam" (Season 4, episode 19) |
| 2005 | Dear Santa | Herself | TV special |
| 2007 | The Andy Milonakis Show | Herself | "Andy Moves to L.A." (Season 3, episode 1) |
| 2007 | Hilary Duff: This Is Now | Herself | MTV documentary |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer | Morgan Jeffries | "Thrilled to Death" (Season 4, episode 19) |
| 2009 | Law & Order: SVU | Ashlee Walker | "Selfish" (Season 10, episode 19) |
| 2009 | Gossip Girl | Olivia Burke | Recurring (Season 3); 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Community | Meghan | "Aerodynamics of Gender" (Season 2, episode 7) |
| 2012 | Project Runway | Herself | "It's Fashion Baby" (Season 10, episode 11) |
| 2013 | Raising Hope | Rachel[128] | "The Old Girl" (Season 3, episode 20) |
| 2013 | Two and a Half Men | Stacey | "Cows, Prepare to be Tipped" (Season 10, episode 23) |
Discography
Main article: Hilary Duff discography
- Santa Claus Lane (2002)
- Metamorphosis (2003)
- Hilary Duff (2004)
- Dignity (2007)
Bibliography
The Elixir Trilogy with Elise Allen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Elixir (2010)
- Devoted (2011)
- True (2013)
Awards and nominations
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Hilary Duff
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