When did they even get a break? Alongside those ever-active ladies, you will also find some haven’t been in the public eye for years. One thing is for sure, though — they all made the early 2000s what they were.
Mischa Barton
The famous Fox T.V. series, "The O.C." became an instant 00s hit. The show made Mischa Barton famous overnight for her performance as the character Marissa Cooper. The British-American actress received a number of Teen Choice Awards. Mischa eventually left the show after its third season finale in May 2006.
Mischa Barton was also crowned by Glamour magazine as the "Next Big Thing" and hailed by Entertainment Weekly as the “It Girl” of 2003. Ever since she departed "The O.C." during its pinnacle of recognition after the third season, she has made public gossip for her legal issues and impulsive actions.
Eva Mendes
An actress, model, and businesswoman, Eva made her breakthrough in the 2001 thriller 'Training Day," which she stated was a motivation to keep on with the acting profession.
She got more exposure to the public after a role in "2 Fast 2 Furious," starring alongside Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson. She would go on doing roles in romantic comedies such as "Hitch" until her role in "Ghost Rider." There’s something about the Cuban actor. She’s got that “it” factor that makes everyone sit up and pay attention.
Jessica Simpson
Pop princess Jessica Simpson was on top of the celebrity world back in the early 2000s. She saw huge success as a pop artist and then went on to act in several TV shows and movies, including "The Dukes of Hazzard", "Employee of the Month", and the reality TV show "Newlyweds".
However, Simpson started to get flack for the ‘dumb blonde’ image that was labeled on her and disappeared from the public eye for many years. It wasn’t until 2017 that she revealed her substance abuse issues and financial troubles. Her lifestyle brand, The Jessica Simpson Collection, had to file for bankruptcy after being over $60 million in debt. Still, she'll always be a 00s staple.
Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood has been acting since she was just a kid and has been a longtime indie darling of cinema. Her break-out role was that of Tracy Freeland in 2003's "Thirteen." Wood wowed audiences with her tender voice in 2007's The Beatles-inspired musical "Across the Universe."
One of her most noteworthy roles of recent years is the humanoid, sentient robot, Dolores Abernathy in the HBO show "Westworld." Of course, the big and small screen is only half of the picture.
Lucy Liu
The gorgeous actress first broke out in her role as Ling Woo in the popular 90s sitcom "Ally McBeal." Lucy found herself in leading lady status by playing Alex Munday in the 2000 and 2003 megahit "Charlie's Angles" reboots, making up one-third of the crimefighting heroines.
The steely starlet was known as the all-rounder Angel and was an expert in electronics and martial arts and a master tactician. Liu went on to land even more major acting gigs including in 2002's musical "Chicago" and in Tarantino’s 2003's "Kill Bill."
Hilary Duff
Is there anyone more quintessential 00s teen star than Hilary Duff? The cute Lizzie McGuire, who made her start on the Disney channel, has come a very long way from her childhood acting days. Duff made a small fortune playing Lizzie on Disney and then continued to land roles in TV movies.
If you watched a 00s Rom-Com, she was probably in it! The most notable ones were "Cinderella Story," "The Perfect Man" and "Raise Your Voice." Those who were true fans will also remember her early aughts music career.
Julia Stiles
After her star role as the rebellious Kat in the 1999 hit film "10 Things I Hate About You" Julia Stiles established herself as a different type of “It Girl”. Everyone was anxious to see what Stiles would do next, and two years later, "Save the Last Dance" came out. Stiles was climbing her way up the A-list celebrity ladder, and then the ladder came crashing down.
This was due to the fact that, apart from a supporting role in the "Bourne" film saga, Julia Stiles acted in a few films that were a complete failure. Like so many other 00s teen actresses, she seems to just have disappeared.
Zoe Saldana
Saldana is an American actress born to Dominican and Puerto Rican parents and began her film career in "Center Stage", which came out in 2000. After that role, her way to dominating the decade was short. She was a part of projects such as 2002's "Crossroads" with Britney Spears, 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and of course, 2009's "Avatar."
Luckily for her, her career has only continued growing since, starring in massive hits like "Star Trek" and of course "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Avengers: Endgame."
Alyson Hannigan
Born in Washington, D.C., this redhead had a real estate agent for a mom and a truck driver for a dad. Raised in Atlanta, Alyson was already appearing in commercials for Oreos at the age of four.
In 1997, she began her role on the hit show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Her star status rose even more after appearing in the mega-popular "American Pie" and "How I Met Your Mother." While we all got to know and love her during the early 00s, now she's already an established star.
Jennifer Lopez
Can one even begin to talk about the 2000s without mentioning Jenifer Lopez? While she wasn't exclusively an actress, but also a successful musician, her acting career helped cement her as one of the true symbols of the early aughts. Do we even have to remind you of the movies she was in?
2001's "The Wedding Planner, "2004's "Jersey Girl," and 2005's "Monster-In-Law" were all movies we rushed to the cinema to watch, all thanks to Jeniffer. Fortunately for us, she's still an active actress to this day.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
After 2001's "Heartbreakers," Jennifer Love Hewitt was pretty darn huge. She was raking in cash as a teen queen. Jennifer continued to act and had another huge hit TV show on her hands when she was cast as the lead on "Ghost Whisperer." The actress has also released four albums over the years, the last in 2002, and penned a book of dating advice titled "The Day I Shot Cupid."
It's safe to say that, during the 00s, it was hard to turn your head and not see Jeniffer somewhere on your screen. Today she's a doting mother of three children. Hewitt is happily married to Brian Hallisay.
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba has been on the screen since she was 12 years old and has since become a major Hollywood celebrity. In the 00s, she was pretty much everywhere. She starred in the action show "Dark Angel" as Max — the genetically modified soldier for good. Her depiction of modern female empowerment was loved by all.
She then appeared in "Honey," "Sin City," and of course "Fantastic Four." Die-hard fans will also remember her from her roles in "Good Luck Chuck" and "Rise of the Silver Surfer."
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie's first acting roles were in her father's films, in which she co-starred with her famous brother, Jake Gyllenhaal. Her first big acting debut, though, was in the cult classic, "Donnie Darko", in 2001. Her next big role was in 2002's "Secretary".
From then on, she went on to star in "Sherrybaby", "The Dark Night", "Mona Lisa Smile", "Away We Go", "Stranger Than Fiction," and many more. Since the 00s, she moved on to doing bigger and greater things, like directing her own movies.
Debra Messing
Before her role on the groundbreaking show, "Will and Grace," she co-starred in the Fox hit comedy "Ned & Stacy" which ran from 1995 to 2017! Besides her roles on TV, Messing was also featured in many 00s films, including "The Women", "The Mothman Prophecies" and "Along Came Polly".
As Gracee Adler in "Will and Grace," she became a renowned comedic actress, and in 2002 she was named one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Rebecca Romijn
Berkeley, California, native Rebecca Romijn left the University of California Santa Cruz to pursue a modeling career in Paris when she was just 19. By 1994, the gorgeous star had landed a contract with Victoria's Secret. Five years later, Rebecca turned heads when she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Nowadays, her acting work has overtaken her modeling career. She played Mystique in the original X-Men trilogy, and has also had roles in movies like “Rollerball” and “The Punisher.” Television has also been part of Rebecca's life, with roles on “Ugly Betty” and “Star Trek: Discovery.”
Alexis Bledel
You know you’ve made a splash in Hollywood when more people will readily remember your character’s name than your real name – even 20 years later. Alexis is famous for her role as Rory Gilmore in the early 2000s hit series, "Gilmore Girls", as well as her lead role in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."
The 00s were a fruitful decade for her, as she also starred in "Sin City," "Tuck Everlasting," and many more. Nowadays, fans can see her in the critically-acclaimed series, "The Handmaid’s Tale." But still, try watching it without seeing Rory!
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet was slowly making a name for herself in the ’90s with roles in films such as "Sense and Sensibility" and "Heavenly Creatures", but her starring performance in the 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" set her in stone as a megastar of the decade to come.
After "Titanic," the British beauty appeared in acclaimed movies such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Steve Jobs". Kate has gone on to act in many movies, but we still have a soft spot for the ones she made in the 00s when her star was just starting to rise.
Brittany Snow
Brittany started off her career on the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light." She then transitioned to the NBC series "American Dreams." Her role in "American Dreams" won her three Teen Choice Awards.
Besides acting, Brittany is a singer and an advocate for a number of issues. She has been open about struggling with eating disorders, which lead her to co-found the "Love is Louder Movement." She is also adamant about ending bullying in schools. 00s casting directors couldn't get enough of her, casting her in endless amounts of teen movies, such as "Hairspray," and "John Tucker Must Die."
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
The Olsen twins shot to fame in the 90s, with nascent acting careers, beginning at just six months old. Their early filmography was packed with stunt casting as twins, identical strangers, and sisters, and their star power grew. The two started their own production company, releasing movies all through the 00s. Some of you may remember "Passport to Paris," "Switching Goals," and "New York Minute," to name a few.
The two also had two TV shows, "It Takes Two," and "So Little Time." But just as the 00s came to an end, so did the twins' movie career. Today, they prefer to dedicate their time to fashion and be away from the spotlight.
Shannen Doherty
Shannen was a bright star of the 00s, so much so that it was the busiest time for her! After playing the super dramatic Brenda in the original "Beverly Hills 90210", she strongly paved her way into Hollywood. Doherty soon moved on and impressed everyone as Prue Halliwell in "Charmed."
Sadly, her bad reputation followed her throughout her career and the offers began to dry up. The actress continued with sporadic television appearances and the occasional TV movie. Unfrotaunetly, she was never able to bounce back.
Olivia Wilde
Few people know that Olivia Wilde used to model for Abercrombie & Fitch. Her modeling career was short-lived, however, as she chose to pursue acting instead. When she began her career on television, she appeared on a show called “skins” under the name Jewel Goldman. She changed her name to Olivia Wilde after her favorite writer, Oscar Wilde.
The actress made a breakthrough in her career after she earned a role in “The O.C.” and later on in “House.” Wilde has also appeared in films including “The Change-Up,” “In Time,” “Butter,” and more. Don't we all miss these innocent days before she became a director and her romantic scandals became so public?
Neve Campbell
Neve Campbell was ubiquitous in the lives of anyone who grew up in the ‘90s and ‘00s. Whether she was playing a teen witch in “The Craft” (1995) or survived a series of murders in “Scream” (1996), Campbell was truly memorable. In the 00s she was in "Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical," "Last Call," and "Closing the Ring."
While she hasn't given up acting for good, she did move from Los Angeles and now lives in the UK, where she raises her two kids. Her recent roles are few and far between.
Blake Lively
Blake Lively is one of the most candid celebrities out there, and she doesn't take herself too seriously. Born in 1987, the actress was a 00's golden girl. She starred in 2005's "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" as Bridget Vreeland.
In 2008 she reprised her role in the 2nd installment of the film. But, she will always be remembered as Serena van der Woodsen in 2007's hit teen show "Gossip Girl."
Evangeline Lilly
If you were alive and old enough to watch "Lost" when it first premiered in 2004 — you probably did. That was one of the decade's most talked-about shows. Anyone who watched it knows who Evangeline Lilly is. Born in 1979, she rose to fame while guest starring in shows like "Tru Calling" and "Smallville" in the early 00s.
Then, with "Lost," she became the hottest TV star of the decade. She has been able to work consistently since but since "Lost" she's mostly been forgotten, though she's still alive and kicking bad guys in the gut as Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Katie Holmes
Katie has been scouted for her looks since she was little. She was 16 when she competed in her first modeling contest and would go on to have a successful amateur teen career in modeling. Holmes had her moment in the spotlight playing Joey in "Dawson’s Creek" and then fully engrained herself into Hollywood when she paired up with Tom Cruise.
She was even cast in the 2005 box-office hit "Batman Begins." After that, she cut her losses and focused on family life. And we ask, has anybody seen her in anything lately? The answer would be a hard no.
Rachel Bilson
What screams 00s more than the teen show "The O.C."? Rachel Bilson was one of the original mean girls that everyone loved to hate, and then just ended up loving. We love a good character arc! Fun fact: Rachel's character on "The O.C." was only supposed to feature in a few episodes, but fans loved her so much that she became part of the main cast all the way until the series' end.
Art bled into real life when Rachel dated on-screen partner Adam Brody, in real life. She was also romantically linked to comedic actor Bill Hader for some time, but the couple split in 2020. Sadly, it seems she has decided to act less.
Marcia Cross
Hailing from Massachusetts, Marcia wanted to act ever since she was a child. After Juilliard, this fierce redhead’s dream came true. Her career kicked off on television, and she has been best known for starring in the saucy ABC drama "Desperate Housewives" in 2004. The show ran throughout the decade and only ended in 2012 after 8 seasons.
The role garnered her several nominations for Golden Globe and Emmy awards as well as a permanent place in our hearts.
Kirsten Dunst
Few actresses have garnered as much attention at an early age or even maintained a robust career as Kirsten Dunst. It can be easy to forget that she was once a 2000s starlet.
Whether it's "Get Over It," "Wimbledon," the Spiderman series, "Mona Lisa Smile," or "Melancholia," we've all seen Kirsten in major roles, performing with a real girl-next-door charm that makes her easy to love. No longer a 00s teen star, she's proved herself as more than a mere flash in the pan; Dunst established herself as one of the most talented actresses out there.
Liv Tyler
A classic example of being born with a silver spoon, Liv is the daughter of the famous Steve Tyler and Bebe Buell! People noted her in small but significant roles in "That Thing You Do" and "Empire Records" in the early 90s.
Later on, Tyler moved on to shine in bigger budget movies like the 00's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Armageddon," and her career has not had a setback since then. Still, you must admit she'll never get to be as iconic as she was in the 00s!
Natalie Portman
One of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, Portman made her debut in a feature film named "Leon: The Professional" in 1994. Her brilliant acting in movies like "Black Swan," "Garden State," and "Closer" mesmerized audiences, and her name became synonymous with Hollywood A-list status.
Unlike other actresses, Portman did not leave her career back in the 00s but continued working on amazing projects. She was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her outstanding performance in the title role of "Jackie" in 2017.
Michelle Yeoh
Before landing a role in 1997’s "Tomorrow Never Dies", and becoming a 2000s phenomenon, Malaysian-born Michelle Yeoh was having major success as an actress in Asia. She starred in some of China’s biggest hit movies at the time. Owing to her kick-ass style in many martial arts action films, she landed a role as a Bond girl.
Following that part, she landed the lead role in the 2000's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" — an Academy Award-winning film. Sadly, after the glorious 00s, it seemed like her star faded for a bit, but luckily she had made a comeback in recent years with movies like "Crazy Rich Asians" and "Everything, Everywhere All At Once."
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone started to make a name for herself as a teen idol at age 16 when she appeared in Aerosmith’s “Cryin” music video. Three years later, she became one of the most famous, popular, and sought-after 19-year-old in Hollywood after her star role in the 1995 hit, "Clueless."
In the late 90s and early 00s, Silverstone became the voice of a generation. She worked consistently throughout the decade but later took a break from acting.
Lacey Chabert
Although most people know her for her role as Gretchen Wieners, one of Regina’s minions in 2005's "Mean Girls," Lacey Chabert got her acting start back in the 90s. Chabert played one of Erica Kane’s daughters in the famous soap opera, "All My Children."
She later went on to star in "Party of Five" and did voiceovers for many popular movies and shows, including "The Wild Thornberrys" and "The Lion King 2." Chabert has mostly done Hallmark movies, racking up fourteen so far. Nowadays, she lives with her husband David Nehdar and has a beautiful daughter who was born in 2016.
Melinda Clarke
Did you know that this redhead was actually born with dark brown hair? She fooled us for years! We were sure she was a natural redhead when we saw her in some of the 2000s best TV shows. Some examples are "The O.C.", "Entourage ", and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
She hasn't been an active actress for many years now (since 2018), but that doesn't mean we forgot about her!
Julianne Moore
Daughter of a U.S. Army Paratrooper and born at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Moore is a total military brat. She attended nine different schools as her father was relocated, which might explain how she can fit into any role.
She has been a part of many iconic movies, including "Boogie Nights", and "The Big Lebowski. " In 2015, she received an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Still Alice." In 2021, she participated in the film version of the musical "Dear Evan Hansen." She's a natural redhead but has admitted she goes to the hairdresser to make her hair color look bolder and better.
Jennie Garth
People were introduced to Garth in the early 90s through the super hit television show "Growing Pains." This was her very first notable appearance on screen, before proceeding to land the role of her life. The character of Kelly Taylor in "Beverly Hills, 90210" gave Garth the chance to win the hearts of people around the world.
Her career took off in the 2000s with TV shows like "What I Like About You", the revival of 90210, and a host of TV movies.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams is known to be one of the most sizzling red-headed actresses! She has Oscar nominations for her roles in 2005's "Junebug", 2010's "The Fighter", and 2008's "Doubt."
She was incredibly busy in the late 00s, appearing in ten movies between 2007-2009. While it was one of her best decades, she has also worked a lot since, most recently appearing in 2022's "Disenchanted."
Megan Fox
Megan Fox became a staple in the TV sitcom, "Hope & Faith." In 2004, she achieved her first film appearance in the teen comedy, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," and a breakout performance in 2007 in the hit action film, "Transformers". She was also in the Transformers sequel, "Revenge of the Fallen."
Today, the beautiful actress who rose to fame at the beginning of the millennium is actually busier than ever. It seems that projects haven't stopped coming her way.
Emma Roberts
It's hard to have a normal childhood when your aunt is someone as famous as Julia Roberts and your dad, Eric, is almost as famous. Emma was born into the Hollywood elite, and it looks like that's where she's going to stay. Roberts has followed in her Aunt's footsteps as a sweetheart that is charming people on and off the stage.
Today she is already a mainstream star, but back in the 00s, she was just starting out. Her most notable projects of the decade were "Unfabulous," "Nancy Drew" and "Wild Child."
Salma Hayek
Salma will always be remembered for the titular role in 2002's "Frida." Her fabulous portrayal of Frida Kahlo in the movie made her wildly known and widely appreciated by audiences all across America. During the 00s, she also participated in movies like 2003's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," "Spy Kids 3" and 2006's "Lonely Hearts."
While her breakthrough roles were in the 00s, that doesn't mean she slowed down or stopped since then — she's still very much busy and working to this day!
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was thrown into the spotlight at just 3 years old. She appeared in ads for Calvin Klein Kids, Abercrombie, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, and more. At 11 years old, Lohan earned her famous role in the Disney film “The Parent Trap.”
As Lohan got older, she landed roles in iconic 00s teen movies like “Get a Clue,” and “Freaky Friday.” During this time she was also working on a music career and recorded several songs for Disney. At the peak of her career, Lohan took on more serious roles in films like “Mean Girls,” and “Bobby.” Unfortunately, substance abuse issues have since hindered her career.
Hilary Swank
Famous Hollywood actress Hilary Swank dropped out of high school at 16 to study acting. She got her first acting debut at 18. She was cast as Kimberly in the 1992 film "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." By the time the year 2000 hit, she got big. She won an Oscar in 2005 for her amazing performance in the movie "Million Dollar Baby.
In her 2007 she participated in "Freedom Writers," and by 2009, she finished the decade playing Amelia Earhart in the film "Amelia."
Scarlett Johansson
The American actress and singer, known by geeks all across the world as Black Widow, got her start in the 00s. Scarlett Johansson dreamed of being an actress from a very young age and debuted in her first film when she was just 10 years old.
By 2018 she was already the highest-paid actress of the year and has been the recipient of several awards, including a Tony Award and a British Academy Film Award. To many, Johansson is considered a Hollywood sex symbol. To us, she is an all-American sweetheart.
Jayma Mays
Jayma grew up in Tennessee and first hit TV screens with a role on the Friends spinoff "Joey" in 2004. In 2007, she starred in her first film, "Epic Movie", where she also met her husband, fellow actor Adam Campbell.
Beginning in 2009, Jayma was featured in the popular musical TV show "Glee", playing the role of Emma Pillsbury. That role endeared her to many around the world. She also garnered plenty of attention by starring in the 2006 NBC series "Heroes."
Cynthia Nixon
Nothing reminds us of the turn of the millennium more than HBO's "Sex and the City." Cynthia Nixon, who played Miranda, was an essential part of the show.
As we are all reminiscing about that magical, or maybe terrible time in history, it's only fitting that in 2021 we got a new season of the show, titled "And Just Like That..." Nixon reprised her role as Miranda on the show. While still an active actress, she has also branched out into politics and even ran for governor in New York in 2018!
Kristen Bell
Today everyone knows Kristen thanks to roles she's had in “The Good Place” and “Frozen” films, but it's not like she wasn't doing anything before that. In fact, she was one of the busiest stars of the 00s.
Bell first came into our lives in 2004's "Veronica Mars," where she played the titular character. She then moved on to other projects like 2008's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," and 2009's "Couples Retreat." Some of you might even remember that she had a role in the 00's hit TV show, "Heroes."
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams started acting at the young age of 9. Her first big break came when she was cast for the 1994 classic film "Lassie." Like other child actors, Williams was heavily bullied when she returned to school, and so in 9th grade, she finally got her parents to approve of homeschooling. In 1998, she was cast in the American hit "Dawson’s Creek."
From then on, it’s been nothing but 00s box-office hits and massive paychecks for her. Movies like "Brokeback Mountain" and "I'm Not There." Unlike other actresses of that decade, she's still going strong today.
Reese Witherspoon
Here’s a 00s girl that went on to have a very successful career, with two Golden Globe awards, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and an Oscar. Reese Witherspoon starred in some of the 00s' most famous films. She landed leading roles in hits such as the "Legally Blonde" film franchise, "Walk the Line," and "Wild."
While she got her start in the 2000s, she got even bigger later on with roles in shows like "Big Little Lies" and "The Morning Show." She split from Ryan Phillipe in 2007 and is now happily married to producer Jim Toth. Reese has three beautiful kids.
Jennifer Aniston
The 2000 to 2010 decade would not have been complete without the presence of Jennifer Aniston. While she had her start in 1994's "Friends," it was during the 00s that she truly became America's Sweetheart.
While the famous sitcom ended in 2004, the actress took on endless amounts of projects between 2000 and 2010. Some of them include 2004's "Along Came Polly," where she starred as Polly Prince, and movies like "Rumor Has it..." and "Marley and Me." While she's still very much loved today, back then, she was the one and only It Girl.
Kat Dennings
With her curvaceous figure and dark hair, Kat Denning isn’t just a great actress, she’s also one of the most unique beauties in the industry.
The actress made her acting debut in 2000, in HBO's "Sex and the City" by playing an obnoxious 13-year-old who hires Samantha to handle PR for her Bat Mitzvah. The talented actress was nominated for 4 acting awards between 2008 and 2014. As of May 2021 is engaged to rock star Andrew W.K.
Emma Watson
The world was first introduced to the incredible Emma Watson after her portrayal of Hermione Granger. It was, of course in the highly successful "Harry Potter" film series, which ran from 2000-2011, making Emma the quintessential 00s kid-to-teen star.
She has since appeared in various popular films, such as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and 2017's live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast". The actress is an avid women's rights advocate and travels the world to speak on the topic.
Tara Reid
In the late '90s and early 2000s, Reid was on her way up. We fell in love with her thanks to her role in "American Pie" and her appearance in "The Big Lebowski," but we got to know the real her thanks to her time on "Wild On!". It was later renamed "Taradise."
Sadly, ever since the 00s, her once-promising career has turned into a classic case of too many jägerbombs. She's been appearing in a lot of small projects, but the small parts don't get a lot of press. She's still working, and it looks like she's cleaned things up, but she's unlikely to get back to her fleeting stardom.
Renée Zellweger
What's more 00s than Renée Zellweger in "Bridget Jones’s Diary”? Nothing is. Not to mention 2002's "Chicago." Zellweger was also one of the highest-paid actresses in 2008, but sadly, right after that, it seemed that her career momentum slowed down and she was starring in flop after flop.
Before we ruffle any feathers, there’s no doubt that Renée Zellweger is an amazing actress. Still, her box office bombs, combined with some questionable plastic surgery that left her looking completely different, have resulted in her kind of disappearing from the public eye.
Laura Prepon
Laura was born in Watchung, New Jersey in 1980. She's the daughter of a high school teacher mother and a surgeon father. As a teen, she did some modeling and had several small acting roles. Her most notable role was in "That 70s Show,” which started in 1998 and ended in 2006. The show made Laura into a 00s star.
Her career didn't end there, in fact, it only grew bigger and better with her role in "Orange Is the New Black." She also had a recurring role on “How I Met Your Mother” as Ted's two-timing college girlfriend.
Amber Heard
Amber Heard recently made it to the news with her highly-publicized divorce from actor Johnny Depp. However, it would be wrong to forget her acting chops because of it. You might have seen her in "Never Back Down," "Drive Angry," "3 Days To Kill," "Pineapple Express," and "Friday Night Lights."
All of these titles were major 2000s hits! There is no doubt that she will appear in more projects in the future.
Lauren Ambrose
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Lauren has amassed a serious following due to her films and TV shows. Ambrose started off in theater in New York before getting supporting roles on the long-running TV series "Law & Order."
The actress starred in the 1998 teen classic "Can’t Hardly Wait." From 2001 to 2005, she starred in the hit HBO series "Six Feet Under" playing the role of Claire Fisher. She also has twangy music talent and is part of a dixie jazz band called "Lauren Ambrose and the Leisure Class."
Judy Greer
This redhead is both a talented actress and an author. Born in Detroit in 1975 as Judith Therese Evans, she started off her career in small roles in big films like the 2000s "What Women Want."
She's one of these actresses who are mostly cast to play quirky characters. She's been cast as a supporting actor in countless projects through the decade and we suspect there's a chance she was one of the busiest actresses of that time.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
While starring in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Sarah Michelle Gellar really became a pop culture icon of the 90s and 2000s. She was a blonde babe with a fierce attitude, and so she went on to land big gigs in "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Cruel Intentions," and "Scream 2."
They were all favorite cult classics but then, Gellar seemed to disappear from the Hollywood map. Luckily for us, she has since made a return to acting.
Mila Kunis
Every girl in the late 90s and early 2000s wanted to be Mila Kunis. She was somehow super cute and totally beautiful at the same time, and she repeatedly got to kiss Ashton Kutcher on screen. Well, not much has changed! She’s still gorgeous, and now she’s married to Ashton Kutcher, and the pair has two kids with some very lucky genes.
Mila is still gracing our screens today – and if you can’t see her, you can likely still hear her. She’s been voicing Meg on the animated series "Family Guy" for over 20 years. The more you know!
Angelina Jolie
Do we even need to introduce Angelina Jolie? Of course not! She's one of the biggest stars of Hollywood, but back in the 90s and 00s, she was still an upcoming talent. She first rose to fame when she got a starring role in 1999's "Girl, Interrupted."
She then went on to star in movies like "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" and 2005's s "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" where she of course met her now ex-husband, Brad Pitt.
Zooey Deschanel
Known for her "adorkable" portrayal of Jess Day on "New Girl" from 2011-2018, Zooey Deschanel is what we would call a "manic pixie dream girl." But, before she became mainstream she appeared in many 00s indie movies.
Everyone remembers 2009's "500 Days of Summer" where Zooey starred alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt. One year earlier she acted with Jim Carrey in 2008's "Yes Man." Sadly, she hasn't done much since "New Girl." We hope we'll get to see more of her in the upcoming decades.
Raven Symoné
Raven Symoné was only two when she began her modeling career. At age four, she auditioned for a role on “The Cosby Show.” Although she was young for the original part, Cosby created the role of little Olivia for her. In 2001, the young star auditioned to play a role in an upcoming Disney Channel series. Instead, the producers offered her a lead character and changed the show's name to “That’s So Raven” (2003).
Later, she appeared in numerous Disney titles, including “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” (1999), “The Proud Family” (2001), “Cory in the House” (2007), and “Princess Diaries 2” (2004). She was definitely one of the more prominent 00s stars!
Isla Fisher
This Irish-Australian actress kicked off her Hollywood career playing Mary Jane in the 2002 movie "Scooby-Doo." She has really risen to fame since then.
She starred in a number of notable movies, including "Wedding Crashers" and "The Great Gatsby." Isla married comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in 2010 and is now a mother of three. Her family life is as strong as her career. One of her most notable roles was that of Rebecca Bloom in the 2009 hit movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic."
Jada Pinkett Smith
Some of you might only know Jada as Will Smith's wife, but she's a lot more than that. Anyone who was around during the turn of the millennium would know that she was part of the second and third installations of the legendary "Matrix" Series. Ever since then, it seems like she is less interested in acting, and finds producing more fulfilling.
Today she is also widely known for "Red Table Talk" — a show in which she has tough conversations on camera with her daughter Willow and her mother Adrienne, as well as with a variety of celebrity guests.
Amanda Bynes
The adorable and talented Amanda won all our hearts in Nickelodeon’s "All That" and "The Amanda Show", and when she grew up a little, in "What I Like About You" on the WB channel.
She was one of the hottest teen stars of the 00s. At that time, Amanda Bynes's career was on fire. Sadly as she got older she had trouble in her personal life, which resulted in no acting projects since 2010.
Carmen Electra
No 00s list is complete without the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Carmen Electra. Tara Leigh Patrick, AKA Carmen Electra, began her career after an incidental encounter with famous music artist Prince, who ended up producing her first album as an aspiring singer. Today, she is more commonly known for her time modeling for Playboy, and as Lani Mckenzie on the 1997’s TV series "Baywatch". After her late 90s breakthrough, she was everywhere during the early 00s.
Electra has appeared in a number of popular films over the years, including '"Starsky & Hutch", "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" and the "Scary Movie" franchise parodies. She has also hosted MTV’s "Singled Out."
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts stole our hearts as Vivian in the 90s classic, "Pretty Woman." Apart from being obsessed with every single one of her outfits in the movies, her attitude was sassy and adorable. Roberts went on to star in several semi-famous movies of the 90s, such as "My Best Friend’s Wedding," "The Pelican Brief," "Runaway Bride," and the unforgettable "Notting Hill."
But, her career did not slow down in the 00s, she landed many big roles and worked consistently through the decade. One of her most notable films of that era was "Ocean's Twelve."
Leighton Meester
Most people recognize Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf from 2007's “Gossip Girl,” but before taking on this role, she was a model. She appeared in ads for Jimmy Choo, Herbal Essences, Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, and Limited Too.
Before her breakout role, Meester made guest appearances in “Law & Order,” “Veronica Mars,” “Entourage,” and more. You wouldn't expect this gossip girl to sweep you off your feet with her lovely 'Jewel-esque' voice, but that's exactly what happened with her cover of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac which she performed with friend Dana Williams. She also made an appearance on Cobra Starship's 2009 “Good Girls Go Bad.”
Cameron Diaz
This oos A-list actor decided to completely abandon Hollywood. Maybe we didn't notice that she hasn't been in a new movie in years because we find ourselves re-watching the 90s and 00s classics "There's Something About Mary," "Charlie's Angels," "In Her Shoes," and of course, arguably the best romantic comedy, "The Holiday."
It seems that Cameron Diaz simply grew tired of her years of hard work and has since settled down with now-husband Good Charlotte's Benji Madden. In fact, she has been out of our screens since 2014, rendering her celebrity status invalid.
Stacey Dash
Dash is best known to the world for co-starring in the super-successful movie, "Clueless," and in the TV series of the same name. With extreme grace, she portrayed the character of Dionne, who is best friends with Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone. Dash continued her acting career with several films and TV shows in the early part of the 2000s.
She later disappeared and we all missed her until she came back in 2014. It was a big year for her when Fox News offered her to work with them as a commentator and cultural analyst! While this venture tanked in 2017, Dash kept acting in both films and TV shows, such as 2020's "Finding Love in Quarantine."
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried started modeling as a child, appearing in ads for clothing companies like Limited Too. Seyfried was also featured on the cover of three “Sweet Valley High” novels. She gave up modeling at 17 years old and began to transition into acting.
The actress made her film debut in 2004 when she starred in the teen comedy film "Mean Girls." Since then, Seyfried has appeared in various films, including 2008's "Mamma Mia!" with Meryl Streep.
Christina Hendricks
You can't think of 2000s TV without thinking about "Mad Men." Hendricks will forever be remembered for her role as Joan Harris in the show. During the 00s, Hendrick was a part of almost every show, from "ER" and "Firefly" to "Cold Case" and "Without a Trace."
Ever since "Mad Men" wrapped in 2015, she has been consistently busy with many different TV roles. We, for once, would love to see her on the big screen.
Michelle Trachtenberg
Born in 1985, Michelle Trachtenberg had her debut with a small part in "Clarissa Explains It All." Soon, she won the role of Nona Mecklenberg in "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," which ran until 1996, rocketing her to fame at the tender age of nine.
Next, she starred as the titular character in "Harriet the Spy." In the '00s her career picked up with roles in shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl."
Rachel McAdams
Who can forget Rachel McAdams as the beautiful Allie Hamilton in the iconic film 2004's "The Notebook"? She simply took everyone’s breath away with her gorgeous red locks in those classic hairdos. The Canadian actress has a few different unforgettable roles under her belt, including that of Regina Goerge in 2005's "Mean Girls."
She also portrayed Claire Cleary in 2005's "Wedding Crashers." In 2009 she starred in the film adaption of the successful novel "The Time Traveler's Wife."
Selma Blair
Perpetual villainess Blair starred opposite some of Hollywood’s hottest stars in the '90s and early 2000s, including Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Julia Stiles. She guest starred on "Friends," and "Xena: Warrior Princess." She was also a part of classics such as "Legally Blonde" and "Hellboy." What has she not done in the 00s?
Selma revealed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in October 2018 and continues to publicly battle the disease. She shares her son Arthur with ex Jason Bleick.
Gabrielle Union-Wade
Gabrielle Union-Wade first made a splash in hit teen movies like “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999). She went on to have an amazing 2000s career with more hit movies like 2000's “Bring It On,” 2003's "Bad Boys II," and "Deliver Us From Eva." You know a star has made it big when they are in two hit movies in the same year.
Gabrielle went on to have a successful career and is still very busy today. Still, most of us remember her as one of these iconic 2000s actresses.
Keira Knightley
During the 00s, Keira Knightley was shining in period dramas, independent movies, and top blockbusters. She has been nominated for two academy awards and was appointed OBE (Order of the British Empire). She is our kind of woman. Most of us still remember her role as Elizabeth Swan in the “Pirates of the Caribbean Movies.”
Of course, she was also a part of "Love Actually," where she plays Juliet. The brilliant actress is no longer the top star she used to be, but she still works consistently on projects she's passionate about.
Drew Barrymore
We first saw her in the classic 80s film, "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," playing little sister Gertie. But it wasn’t until the cult horror film "Scream" that Drew Barrymore became an extremely successful actress.
In the 00's she became the ultimate leading lady, with movies like "Charlie’s Angels," "He's Just Not That Into You," "The Perfect Catch" and "Donnie Darko." Recently, she has made a comeback with her successful talk show, "The Drew Barrymore Show."
Halle Berry
Halle Berry was everywhere in Hollywood during the 2000s. Her career saw numerous highs and lows, from winning Oscar glory to enduring Razzie humiliation. In April 2007, Berry cemented her achievements and contributions to the film industry and got a star to her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Berry joined the illustrious list of Hollywood greats with a star in front of the Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.