Elizabeth Jane Hurley (born 10 June 1965 in Hampshire, England) is an
English actress, fashion model, producer and designer.
Early Life
Hurley's father, who was of Irish Catholic descent, was an army major,
while her mother was a schoolteacher. She has an older sister, Katie,
and a younger brother, Michael. Hurley took ballet classes as a child
and at the age of twelve, received a scholarship at a boarding school,
although she was subsequently expelled for poor grades. She then moved
to the Harriet Costello School. Hurley later attended the London
Studio Centre and Basingstoke College of Technology.
Career
In the late 1980s, Hurley won a "Face of the Year" competition at a
local newspaper in Winchester, England, and gained a year's modelling
also launched an acting career, appearing in several low budget
English and Hollywood films, including the 1992 thriller Passenger 57
in which Hurley played a terrorist. She also appeared on television on
both sides of the Atlantic, appearing in the British series Rumpole of
the Bailey and the George Lucas-produced The Young Indiana Jones
Chronicles
In 1994 Hurley attended the London premi?re of the film Four Weddings
and a Funeral starring her then-companion Hugh Grant. Hurley's
appearance in a black Versace dress held together with gold safety
often been referred to simply as "that dress" and, following Versace's
murder in 1997, the London Times' obituary cited it as the thing for
which the subject was best known. In 1995 Hurley began working with
top cosmetics company Est?e Lauder as their main spokesmodel. Within
her first month with the company Hurley launched the best-selling
perfume Pleasures. In 1997 Hurley was cast as the female lead in the
hit Mike Myers spy comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
After the success of that film Hurley appeared in several more
which was her last major American film to date. In 2006 Hurley's
contract with Est?e Lauder was renewed for the 12th year with a
subsequent contract extension.
Hurley and Grant also joined forces to create Simian Films, a
production company. Through this joint venture Hurley produced two
films starring Grant, Extreme Measures (1996) and Mickey Blue Eyes
(1999). She also produced the 2004 film Method in which she starred.
In 2006 the company was dissolved as both Hurley and Grant focused on
other projects.
In 2005 Hurley's beachwear line Elizabeth Hurley Beach debuted in
select Saks Fifth Avenue stores in the United States, Harrod's in the
UK, various other locations worldwide and through her website. In
2006, the line expanded its distribution among Europe, the Middle
East, Australia and Asia. Additionally, Hurley hosted the first season
of the British reality series Project Catwalk featuring novice fashion
designers.
Personal Life
Hurley had a long relationship with Hugh Grant, spanning from
1987-2001. After their relationship ended, Hurley began a relationship
with multi-millionaire American film producer Stephen Bing. In 2001
Hurley revealed that she was pregnant with Bing's child, a claim Bing
rejected. On April 4, 2002 Hurley gave birth to a son, christened
Damian Charles Hurley. A DNA test conducted 4 months after the child's
needed]
Damian was baptised a Roman Catholic, although Hurley herself has not
yet been received into the Roman Catholic church despite publicly
Hurley's companion has been Indian textile heir Arun Nayar.
She maintains three homes: in London; in Ampney Crucis, a village in
Gloucestershire, England; and in Beverly Hills, California.
Charity Work
Since she was initially signed with Est?e Lauder, Hurley has taken an
active role within the company's breast cancer charity. Hurley
revealed that her grandmother died from breast cancer because she
refused to reveal the lump that she discovered for a number of years.
By the time that it was revealed, it was too late to save her life.
Hurley was the Mistress of Ceremonies at The Hot Pink Party, at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, to mark the tenth anniversary
Lauder created a lipstick named "Elizabeth Pink" after Hurley, the
proceeds of the sale of every tube of "Elizabeth Pink" benefit The
Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Hurley has also acted as mistress of ceremonies for The Prince's
Trust, a charity founded by Prince Charles which aids youth in
Britain.
Filmography
* Method (2004) .... Rebecca Fairbanks
* Serving Sara (2002) .... Sara Moore
* Bad Boy (2002) .... Anna Lockheart
* Double Whammy (2001) .... Dr. Ann Beamer
* Bedazzled (2000) .... The Devil
* The Weight of Water (2000) .... Adaline Gunne
* Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) .... Vanessa Kensington
* Edtv (1999) .... Jill
* My Favorite Martian (1999) .... Brace Channing
* Permanent Midnight (1998) .... Sandra
* Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) .... Vanessa
Kensington
* Dangerous Ground (1997) .... Karen
* Samson and Delilah (1996) (TV) .... Dalilah
* Harrison: Cry of the City (1996) (TV) .... Cecilia Harrison
* Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995) .... Antonia Dyer
* The Shamrock Conspiracy (1995) (TV) .... Cecilia Harrison
* Sharpe's Enemy (1994) (TV) .... Lady Isabella Farthingdale
* Beyond Bedlam (1993) .... Stephanie Lyell
* Passenger 57 (1992) .... Sabrina Ritchie
* The Long Winter (1992) .... Emma Stapleton
* The Orchid House (1991) (TV) .... Natalie
* Kill Cruise (1990) .... Lou
* Death Has a Bad Reputation (1990) (TV) .... Julia Latham
* Act of Will (1989) (TV) .... Christina
* Christabel (1988) (TV) .... Christabel Bielenberg
* Rowing with the Wind (1988) .... Claire Clairmont
* Aria (1987) .... Marietta
Modeling Campaigns
* Est?e Lauder, 1995-present.
* Elizabeth Hurley Beach, 2005-present.
* Jordache, Fall/Winter 2006.
* MQ Clothiers of Sweden, 2006.
* Got Milk?, Spring/Summer 2006.
* Patrick Cox, Spring/Summer 2006.
* Lancel, 2005-2006.
* Saloni, 2004-2005.