Brittany Murphy

Date of birth: November 10, 1977
Date of death: December 20, 2009
Aged: 32

Brittany Anne Murphy (née Bertolotti) is an American actress and recording artist. She has starred in Hollywood films such as Just Married; Clueless; Girl, Interrupted; 8 Mile; Sin City; The Dead Girl; and Happy Feet, among other films.

Murphy was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Sharon Murphy, who is of Irish and Eastern European descent, and Angelo Bertolotti, an Italian American. Murphy's parents divorced shortly after her birth, and she was raised in Edison, New Jersey and Burbank, California by her single, working-class mother; she has had little contact with her father, who later served time for racketeering, since the divorce. Murphy was raised a Baptist and attended a Lutheran school, but is now a non-denominational practicing Christian.

When she was nine years old, Murphy landed a singing role in a musical version of Les Misérables, and had signed on with a manager by the time she turned thirteen. Her mother, Sharon was diagnosed as having breast cancer, when Brittany was 15. She survived after having a double mastectomy.

Murphy landed her first job in Hollywood when she was fourteen, starring as Brenda Drexell in the television series Drexell's Class. She then went on to play Molly Morgan in the short lived The Torkelsons spinoff Almost Home. She also had a small role in Season 3 of Boy Meets World as Topanga's best friend Trini. She was also the lead singer of the band Blessed With Soul in the early 1990s, and was at one time signed on to play late singer Janis Joplin in a biography, but the film was not made because of legal disputes over music rights. Murphy has since starred in many successful films, including Clueless (1995), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Don't Say a Word (2001), 8 Mile (2002) and Uptown Girls (2003) as well as many lesser known films, such as Spun (2003). She has also appeared on several television series, including Sister, Sister, Boy Meets World and as the voice of Luanne Platter (as well as the younger version of Joseph Gribble) on the long-running animated series King of the Hill.

She most recently appeared in the films Little Black Book (2004), which was considered a critical and commercial failure, and the critically acclaimed Sin City (2005). Also in 2005, she appeared in the promo video for Tears for Fears' comeback single Closest Thing To Heaven, and in August, Brittany co-presented UK music show CD:UK alongside Holly Willoughby.

Murphy is also filming five other films. She will star in The Ramen Girl. The Other Side, and The White Hotel. She is reprising her role as Shellie in Sin City 2.

In the Spring of 2006, Paul Oakenfold along with Brittany Murphy released the single "Faster Kill Pussycat", with the album A Lively Mind which was released on June 6 in the United States. The song has become a club hit, and hit number one on Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart. It also hit number seven in the UK singles chart in June 2006. She dabbled in music again with the release of her movie Happy Feet, in which she covered Queen's classic "Somebody to Love" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland".

Brittany is currently working on her debut album, which is inspired by synth-pop sound. The album will be released in 2008. She is working with various producers and DJs including with Paul Oakenfold, Chris Cox, Max Martin and Timbaland.

Actor Jonathan Brandis was Murphy's high school prom date. She dated Ashton Kutcher; they met on the set of "Just Married". Once engaged to talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz, in December 2005, Murphy became engaged to Joe Macaluso, a production assistant she met while working on her film, Little Black Book. In August 2006, they ended their engagement. In May 2007, Murphy married screenwriter Simon Monjack in a private Jewish ceremony officiated by a rabbi.

During 2005, Murphy was the spokesmodel for Jordache jeans.

In 2006, Brittany Murphy was voted 36th in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women List, 29th in Celebrity Sleuth's 25 Sexiest List and in May of the same year, Maxim magazine named Murphy #49 on its annual Hot 100 List.

See also:  Singer,  Actress,  American,  Musician