Hilary Duff

Though a talented recording artist, Houston native Hilary Erhard Duff didn't begin her career as a singer, but rather as an actress. Born in 1987, Hilary began taking acting classes from an early age at the urging of her mother, alongside older sister Haylie Duff. Hilary was cast in a number of television commercials and small, unaccredited movie appearances before starring in the 1998 children's film Wendy Meets Casper.

Hilary's career took off in 2001, when she was cast as the lead character in the Disney Channel children's television series Lizzie McGuire. The 65-episode series was incredibly successful, leading to a spinoff movie in late 2003. Hillary began her recording career in 2002, when she released the Holiday-themed Santa Claus Lane on Walt Disney Records. While mostly kiddie faire in the spirit of her television show, the album is notable for its contributions by Christina Milan and Romeo, two stars who also started their careers recording for Disney.

She released her second album, Metamorphosis, in 2003 on pop music label Hollywood Records. While still family-friendly, the album represents something of a transformation from her roots as a child sitcom star - hence its title. The album sold has sold 5 million copies worldwide, riding on the success of catchy singles "Why Not" and "So Yesterday". Her next album, 2004's Hilary Duff - recorded between filming sessions for three movies she was starring in that year - followed much the same teen-pop pattern as Metamorphosis.

Hilary released her most recent album, Dignity, in April 2007. A significant departure from her earlier efforts, the album eschews her bubblegum-pop beginnings in favor of a more modern sound rife with urban and dance influences, citing the recent work of Gwen Stefani and Beyonce as inspiration. The album has produced three singles: "Play With Fire", "Stranger", and "With Love". Her next musical project is rumored to be a collaboration with Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame.

In addition to her roles as a singer and an actress, Hilary is an avid animal rights activist, and has been managing her own clothing line since 2004. Her next movie, political comedy War Inc., is slated to be released in May 2008.

From Discogs:

Born: September 28, 1987, Houston, TexasSister of Haylie Duff.

From Lastfm:

Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987 in Houston, Texas, United States) is an American actress, singer, songwriter, fashion designer, film producer, spokesperson, and model signed to IMG Models New York. After gaining fame for her starring role on the television show Lizzie McGuire, she went on to have a film career. Her most commercially successful pictures include Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), and A Cinderella Story (2004). Duff has expanded her repertoire into pop music, with three RIAA certified-platinum albums.

Read more about Hilary Duff on Last.fm.

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From Wikipedia:

Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress and singer. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, Duff gained fame for playing the title role in the television series Lizzie McGuire. Duff subsequently ventured into feature films, with many successful movies to her credit which included, Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005).

Duff expanded her repertoire into pop music with the release of three RIAA-certified platinum albums and over thirteen million records sold worldwide as of February 2007. Her first studio album, Metamorphosis (2003), was certified triple platinum and she followed it up with two more platinum albums, Hilary Duff (2004) and Most Wanted (2005). Duff released her third studio album, Dignity (2007), which was certified gold in August 2007 and released two singles, "With Love", her highest charting US single to date and "Stranger". In November 2008, she released a compilation of her greatest hits, Best of Hilary Duff, whose single "Reach Out" became her third #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play.

Duff has also launched clothing lines which include Stuff by Hilary Duff and Femme for DKNY Jeans and two exclusive perfume collections with Elizabeth Arden. Duff and her mother were listed as producers for the movie Material Girls. Duff is credited as executive producer for her independent film According to Greta and is also signed on as a model to IMG Models New York. On February 19, 2010, Duff became engaged to NHL player Mike Comrie and they got married on August 14, 2010.