Emma Watson

FACTS ABOUT EMMA WATSON

Date of Birth:	15 April 1990
Birthplace:	Paris, France
Age:	20
First Name:	Emma
Middle Name:	Charlotte Duerre
Last Name:	Watson
Build:	Slim
Height:	5' 6" (168 cm)
Eye Color:	Brown - Dark
Hair Color:	Blonde
Star Sign:	Aries
Claim to Fame:	Hermione on Harry Potter
Occupation:	Actress
Religion:	Christian
Occupation Category:	Actress
Nationality:	English
Alternative Names:	Em

BIOGRAPHY FOR SOPHIA BUSH

Sophia Anna Bush (born Jul. 8, 1982 (29 years ago)) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Brooke Davis in the CW series One Tree Hill and for her movie portrayals in the 2007 (4 years ago) remake The Hitcher and John Tucker Must Die. 

EARLY YEARS

Bush, an only child, was born and raised in Pasadena, California to Charles William Bush, an advertising and celebrity photographer, and Maureen, a photography studio manager. Bush has Italian ancestry, and attended Westridge School for Girls (Pasadena), as well as the University of Southern California. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she served as Social Chair. 

In 2000 (11 years ago), she was the Tournament of Roses Parade Queen. Bush attended USC for three years before landing the role of Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill (2003, 8 years ago). 

CAREER

Bush made her first big screen appearance in the comedy Van Wilder. Following, she made appearances in several TV shows, including Nip/Tuck, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Punk'd. She was cast as Kate Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, but was replaced by Claire Danes because the director thought she was too young. In 2003 (8 years ago), she won the role of Brooke Davis in the TV series One Tree Hill. The series rose Bush to fame. 

In between seasons of One Tree Hill, Bush has been cast in several films, such as Supercross, Stay Alive, John Tucker Must Die, and The Hitcher (the 2007 (4 years ago) remake). 

Bush received a "Rising Star" award at the Vail movie Festival for her work in The Hitcher. She has also won three Teen Choice Awards for her work in John Tucker Must Die and The Hitcher. 

BIOGRAPHY FOR EMMA WATSON

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson (born 15 Apr. 1990 (21 years ago)) is a British actress who rose to prominence playing Hermione Granger, one of three starring roles in the Harry Potter movie series. Watson was cast as Hermione at the age of nine, having previously only acted in school plays. From 2001 (10 years ago) to 2009 (2 years ago), she starred in six Harry Potter movies alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint; she will return for the final two installments: the two parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Watson's work on the Harry Potter series has earned her several awards and more than £10 million. 

In 2007 (4 years ago), Watson announced her involvement in two non-Harry Potter productions: the made-for-TV adaptation of the novel Ballet Shoes and an animated film, The Tale of Despereaux. Ballet Shoes was broadcast on 26 dec. 2007 (4 years ago) to an audience of 5.2 million, and The Tale of Despereaux, based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo, was released in 2008 (3 years ago) and grossed over US $70 million dollars in worldwide sales. 

EARLY YEARS

Emma Watson was born in Paris, the daughter of British lawyers Jacqueline Luesby and Chris Watson. Watson has one French grandmother, and lived in Paris until the age of five. She moved with her mother and younger brother, Alex, to Oxfordshire, following her parents' divorce. 

From the age of six, Watson wanted to become an actress, and for a number of years, she trained at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, a part-time theatre school where she studied singing, dancing and acting. By age 10, she had performed in various Stagecoach productions and school plays, including Arthur: The Young Years and The Happy Prince, but she had never acted professionally before the Harry Potter series. "I had no idea of the scale of the movie series", she said in a 2007 (4 years ago) interview with Parade; "if I had I would have been completely overwhelmed". 

CAREER

Harry Potter 

In 1999 (12 years ago), casting began for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States), the movie adaptation of British author J. K. Rowling's bestselling novel. Of importance to the casting directors were the lead role of Harry Potter and the supporting roles of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, Harry's best friends. Casting agents found Watson through her Oxford theatre teacher, and producers were impressed by her confidence. After eight auditions, producer David Heyman told Watson and fellow applicants Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint that they had been cast for the roles of Hermione, Harry and Ron, respectively. Rowling supported Watson from her first screen test. 

The release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001 (10 years ago) was Watson's debut screen performance. The movie broke records for opening-day sales and opening weekend takings and was the highest-grossing movie of 2001 (10 years ago). Critics praised the performances of the three leads, often singling out Watson for particular acclaim; The Daily Telegraph called her performance "admirable", and IGN said she "stole the show". Watson was nominated for five awards for her performance in Philosopher's Stone, winning the Young Artist Award for Leading Young Actress. 

A year later, Watson again starred as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second installment of the series. Although the movie received mixed reviews, reviewers were positive about the lead actors' performances. The Los Angeles Times said Watson and her peers had matured between films, while The Times criticised director Chris Columbus for "under-employing" Watson's hugely popular character. Watson received an Otto Award from the German magazine Bravo for her performance. 

In 2004 (7 years ago), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (4 walls) was released. Watson was appreciative of the more assertive role Hermione played, calling her character "charismatic" and "a fantastic role to play". Although critics panned Radcliffe's performance, labelling him 'wooden', they praised Watson; The New York Times lauded her performance, saying "Luckily Mr. Radcliffe's blandness is offset by Ms. Watson's spiky impatience. Harry may show off his expanding wizardly skills ... but Hermione ... earns the loudest applause with a decidedly unmagical punch to Draco Malfoy's deserving nose". Although Prisoner of Azkaban remains the lowest-grossing Harry Potter movie as of Apr. 2009 (2 years ago), Watson's personal performance won her two Otto Awards and the Child Performance of the Year award from Total Film. 

With Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (6 walls) (2005, 6 years ago), both Watson and the Harry Potter movie series reached new milestones. The movie set records for a Harry Potter opening weekend, a non-May opening weekend in the US, and an opening weekend in the UK. Critics praised the increasing maturity of Watson and her teenage co-stars; the New York Times called her performance "touchingly earnest". For Watson, much of the humour of the movie sprang from the tension among the three lead characters as they matured. She said, "I loved all the arguing ... I think it's much more realistic that they would argue and that there would be problems." Nominated for three awards for Goblet of Fire, Watson won a bronze Otto Award. Later that year, Watson became the youngest person to appear on the cover of Teen Vogue. In 2006 (5 years ago), Watson played Hermione in The Queen's Handbag, a special mini-episode of Harry Potter in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday. 

The fifth movie in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (8 walls) was released in 2007 (4 years ago). A huge financial success, the movie set a record worldwide opening-weekend gross of $332.7 million. Watson won the inaugural National Movie Award for Best Female Performance. As the fame of the actress and the series continued, Watson and fellow Harry Potter co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint left imprints of their hands, feet and wands in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on 9 Jul. 2007 (4 years ago). 

Despite the success of Order of the Phoenix, the future of the Harry Potter franchise became surrounded in doubt, as all three lead actors were hesitant to sign on to continue their roles for the final two episodes. Radcliffe eventually signed for the final movies on 2 Mar. 2007 (4 years ago), but Watson was considerably more hesitant. She explained that the decision was significant, as the movies represented a further four-year commitment to the role, but eventually conceded that she "could never let [the role of] Hermione go", signing for the role on 23 Mar. 2007 (4 years ago). In return for committing to the final films, Watson's pay was doubled to £2 million per film; she concluded that "in the end, the pluses outweighed the minuses". Principal photography for the sixth movie began in late 2007 (4 years ago), with Watson's part being filmed from 18 dec. to 17 May 2008 (3 years ago). 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (7 walls) premiered on 15 Jul. 2009 (2 years ago), having been controversially delayed from Nov. 2008 (3 years ago). With the lead actors now in their late teens, critics were increasingly willing to review them on the same level as the rest of the film's all-star cast, which the Los Angeles Times described as "a comprehensive guide to contemporary UK acting". The Washington Post felt Watson to have given "[her] most charming performance to date",, while The Daily Telegraph described the lead actors as "newly-liberated and energized, eager to give all they have to what’s left of the series". 

Watson's filming for the final installment of the Harry Potter movie series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, began on 18 Feb. 2009 (2 years ago). The film, divided into two parts filmed back-to-back for financial and scripting reasons, is scheduled for release in Nov. 2010 (last year) and Jul. 2011 (this year). 

Other work 

Watson's first non-Harry Potter role was in the 2007 (4 years ago) TV movie Ballet Shoes. She said of the project, "I was all set to go back to school after finishing Harry Potter [and the Order of the Phoenix] but couldn't resist Ballet Shoes. I really loved it." A BBC adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's novel of the same name, the movie stars Watson as aspiring actress Pauline Fossil, the eldest of three sisters around whom the story revolves. Director Sandra Goldbacher commented, "Emma was perfect for Pauline ... She has a piercing, delicate aura that makes you want to gaze and gaze at her." Ballet Shoes was broadcast on Boxing Day in the United Kingdom, to an estimated audience of 5.2 million (22% of the viewing total). The movie received generally poor critical reviews, with The Times describing it as "progressing with little emotional investment, or magic, or dramatic momentum". However, the performances of its cast were generally praised; The Daily Telegraph wrote that the movie "was certainly well done, not least because it confirmed how good child actors are these days". 

Watson also took a role in the animated movie The Tale of Despereaux, a children's comedy starring Matthew Broderick and Tracey Ullman which was released in dec. 2008 (3 years ago). She voiced the character of Princess Pea in the film. 

Watson's other media work has been limited, taking second place to the completion of higher education. Despite a storm of rumour in Apr. 2008 (3 years ago), linking her to the role of Betsy Balcombe in an anticipated movie Napoleon and Betsy, the production never materialised. Equally, suggestions that she was to replace Keira Knightley (93 walls) as the face of the fashion house Chanel were flatly denied by both parties, despite being presented as a fait accompli by a major British newspaper. In Apr. 2009 (2 years ago), rumours emerged of a similar deal with Burberry; the contract was eventually confirmed on 9 Jun. 2009; Watson modelling Burberry's Autumn/Winter 2009 (2 years ago) collection for an estimated six-figure fee. As she has grown older, Watson has become something of a budding fashion devotee, saying that she sees fashion as very similar to art, which she studied in school. In sep. 2008 (3 years ago), she told a blogger, "I've been focusing on art a lot, and fashion's a great extension of that." 

PERSONAL LIFE

Watson's extended family has grown as her divorced parents have both had children by new partners. Her father has identical twin girls, Nina and Lucy, and a four-year-old son, Toby. Her mother's partner has two sons (Watson's stepbrothers), who "regularly stay with her". Watson's full brother, Alexander, has appeared as an extra in two Harry Potter films, and her half-sisters were cast as the young Pauline Fossil in the BBC's Ballet Shoes adaptation. 

After moving to Oxford with her mother and brother, Watson attended The Dragon School, an independent preparatory school, until Jun. 2003 (8 years ago) and then moved to Headington School, an independent school for girls, also in Oxford. While on movie sets, Watson and her peers were tutored for up to five hours a day; despite the focus on filming she maintained high academic standards. In Jun. 2006 (5 years ago), Watson took GCSE examinations in 10 subjects, achieving eight A* and two A grades; she was a target of friendly ridicule on the Harry Potter set because of her straight-A exam results. She received A grades in her 2008 (3 years ago) A level examinations in English Literature, Geography and Art, and in her 2007 (4 years ago) AS (advanced subsidiary) level in History of Art. 

Before beginning her university studies, Watson took a gap year to movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows beginning in Feb. 2009 (2 years ago), but said she "definitely wants to go to university". Despite numerous contradictory news stories, some from highly-reputable sources, claiming that she is 'definitely' attending Trinity College, Cambridge, Columbia University, Brown University or Yale, Watson was reluctant to publicly commit to any one institution, saying that she would announce her decision first on her official website. In interviews with Jonathan Ross and David Letterman in Jul. 2009 (2 years ago), she confirmed that she was planning to study liberal arts in the United States, saying that – having missed so much school as a child for filming – the "broad curriculum" of American higher education appealed to her more than British universities, "where you have to just choose one thing to study for three years". In Jul. 2009 (2 years ago), after a second storm of rumour, The Providence Journal reported that Watson had "grudgingly admitted" that she had chosen Brown University, Rhode Island. Watson defended her attempts to avoid announcing her choice of university – accidentally slipped by Daniel Radcliffe and producer David Heyman, in interviews publicising the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (7 walls) – saying that she "want[ed] to be normal. I really want anonymity. I want to do it properly, like everyone else. As long as I don’t walk in and see Harry Potter posters everywhere, I’ll be fine". 

Watson's work in the Harry Potter series has earned her more than £10 million, and she has acknowledged she will never have to work for money – in Mar. 2009 (2 years ago) she was ranked 6th on the Forbes list of "Most Valuable Young Stars". However, she has declined to leave school to become a full-time actress, saying "People can’t understand why I don’t want to ... but school life keeps me in touch with my friends. It keeps me in touch with reality". She has been positive about working as a child actress, saying her parents and colleagues helped make her experience a positive one. Watson enjoys a close friendship with her fellow Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, describing them as a "unique support system" for the stresses of movie work, and saying that after working with them for the ten years of the movie series, "they really are like my siblings". 

Watson lists her interests as dancing, singing, field hockey, tennis, art, and fly fishing, and she donates to WTT (Wild Trout Trust). She describes herself as "a bit of a feminist", and admires fellow actors Johnny Depp (8 walls) and Julia Roberts. 

FILMOGRAPHY

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (4 walls)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (6 walls)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (8 walls)

Ballet Shoes

The Tale of Despereaux

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (7 walls)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

Young Artist Awards

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films

Empire

American Moviegoer Awards

Young Artist Awards

Otto Awards

Otto Awards

Total Film

Broadcast movie Critics Association

Otto Awards

Broadcast movie Critics Association

Otto Awards

MTV Movie Awards

ITV National movie Awards

UK Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards

UK Sony Ericsson Empire Awards

Constellation Award

Otto Awards

SyFy Genre Awards

Glamour Awards

Source: en.wikipedia.org

christina aguilera

FACTS ABOUT CHRISTINA AGUILERA

Date of Birth: 18 December 1980

Birthplace: Staten Island, New York

Age: 29

First Name: Christina

Middle Name: Maria

Last Name: Aguilera

Build: Slim

Height: 5' 1?" (156 cm)

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Blonde

Star Sign: Sagittarius

Claim to Fame: Genie in a Bottle

Occupation: Singer

Religion: Roman Catholic

Occupation Category: Singer

Nationality: American

Music Genre: Pop, Pop/Rock

Music Style: Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop, Neo-Soul, Pop, R&B, Teen Pop

Music Mood: Carefree, Cheerful, Earnest, Energetic, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Fun, Happy, Party/Celebratory, Playful, Romantic, Rousing, Sensual, Sentimental, Sexy, Stylish, Sweet, Theatrical, Trashy, Warm

Musical Instrument: Vocals

Alternative Names: Xtina, Christina Maria (Aguilera) Bratman, Christina Aquilera



BIOGRAPHY FOR CHRISTINA AGUILERA

Christina María Aguilera (born dec. 18, 1980 (31 years ago)) is an American pop musician. Aguilera first appeared on national TV in 1990 (21 years ago) as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's TV series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection" for the movie Mulan. She came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera (1999, 12 years ago), which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. A Latin pop album, Mi Reflejo (2001, 10 years ago), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success but she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image.



After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her second studio album Stripped (2002, 9 years ago), which received mixed reviews and produced substantial sales. The second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and sustained the album's sales amidst controversy over Aguilera's sexual image. Aguilera's third studio album Back to Basics (2006, 5 years ago), included elements of soul, jazz, and blues music, and was released to positive critical reception.



Aside from being known for her vocal ability, music videos and ever-changing image, musically, she includes themes of dealing with public scrutiny, her childhood, and female empowerment in her music. Apart from her work in music, she has also dedicated much of her time as a philanthropist for charities, human rights and world issues. Aguilera's work has earned her numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award, amongst eighteen nominations. She has become one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, selling more than 42 million records worldwide.

EARLY YEARS

Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, to Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army at the time and Shelly Loraine Fidler, a teacher of the Spanish language. Aguilera's father was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador (Christina's maternal grandmother emigrated from County Clare, Ireland.) Her father, Fausto, was stationed at Earnest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Japan. Aguilera lived with her father and mother until she was seven years old. Aguilera grew up hearing Spanish and thus understands the language, although she is more fluent in English. When Aguilera's parents divorced, her mother took her, and her younger sister Rachel, to her grandmother's home in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a town outside of Pittsburgh. According to both Aguilera and Fidler, her father was very controlling, as well as physically and emotionally abusive. She later wrote about her difficult childhood in the songs "I'm OK" in Stripped, and "Oh Mother" in Back to Basics. Although her father has written to Aguilera, she has ruled out any chance of reuniting with him. Since then, Fidler has married a paramedic named Jim Kearns, and changed her name.



As a child, Aguilera aspired to be a singer. She was known locally as "the little girl with the big voice", singing in local talent shows and competitions. According to VH1's Driven, whenever competitors learned they would be up against her in any given week, they would immediately withdraw, prompting insiders to claim it was "like sending a lamb to the slaughter." Her peers soon became jealous of her and would frequently subject her to ridicule, ostracism, and, in one gym class, attempted assault. Acts of vandalism around her house included the slashing of the tires on the family car. Eventually, the family relocated to another suburb in the Pittsburgh area (this time, Wexford) and took to secrecy about Aguilera's talent lest another backlash occur. She attended Marshall Middle School near Wexford and North Allegheny Intermediate High School until she was later home schooled.



On Mar. 15, 1990 (21 years ago), she appeared on Star Search singing "A Sunday Kind of Love", but lost the competition at number 2. Soon after losing on Star Search, she returned home and appeared on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV's Wake Up with Larry Richert to perform the same song. People remarked that the then ten-year-old "sounded 20."



Throughout her youth in Pittsburgh, Aguilera sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins (9 walls) hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games. Her first major role in entertainment came in 1993 (18 years ago) when she joined the Disney Channel's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club. Her co-stars included Justin Timberlake (11 walls), Britney Spears (80 walls), Ryan Gosling and Keri Russell, the show lasted another year until its cancellation. According to the documentary Driven, Aguilera's co-stars called her "the Diva". One of her most notable performances was of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing".



At the age of fourteen, Aguilera recorded her first song, "All I Wanna Do", a hit duet with Japanese singer Keizo Nakanishi. In 1997 (14 years ago), she represented the United States at the "Golden Stag" International Festival with a two-song set.



CAREER

1998–2001: Pop music beginnings and Christina Aguilera

In 1998 (13 years ago), Aguilera sang the High "E" in full voice (and again on the song "Candyman" from her Back To Basics album for a full 8 seconds) (E5) on a cover of Whitney Houston's "Run to You" which she recorded with a tape recorder in her bathroom. She was then selected to record the song "Reflection" for the Disney production of Mulan (1998, 13 years ago). Recording "Reflection" led to Aguilera earning a contract with RCA Records the same week. "Reflection" peaked within the top twenty on the Adult Contemporary Singles Chart, and it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song" in 1998 (13 years ago). Under the exclusive representation of Steve Kurtz, Aguilera's self-titled debut album Christina Aguilera was released on Aug. 24, 1999 (12 years ago). It reached the top of the Billboard 200 and Canadian album charts, selling eight million copies in the U.S. and over sixteen million copies worldwide. The album is also included in the Top 100 Albums of All Time list of The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) based on US sales.



Her singles "Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" topped the Billboard Hot 100 during 1999 (12 years ago) and 2000 (11 years ago), and "I Turn to You" reached #3. According to the album's songwriters, Aguilera wanted to display the range and audacity in her voice during the promotion of the album, and performed acoustic sets and appeared on TV shows accompanied only by a piano. She ended the year on MTV's New Year's Special, as she performed and was MTV's first artist of the millennium. At the 42nd Grammy Awards Aguilera received a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nomination for "Genie in a Bottle" and despite earlier predictions, she won the award Grammy Award for Best New Artist.



Aguilera's manager Kurtz told MTV that Christina was talking about recording a Spanish-language album even before she recorded her debut album. In 2000 (11 years ago) Aguilera started recording with producer Rudy Pérez in Miami. Later in 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera, first emphasized her Latin heritage by releasing her first Spanish album, Mi Reflejo on sep. 12, 2000 (11 years ago). This album contained Spanish versions of songs from her English debut as well as new Spanish tracks. Though some criticized Aguilera for trying to cash in on the Latin music boom at the time. According to Pérez, Aguilera was only semi-fluent, while recording. She understood the language, because she has grown up with her father, who is a native of Ecuador. He added "Her Latin roots are undeniable". The album still managed to peak at #27 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Latin charts for 20 weeks. In 2001 (10 years ago), it won Aguilera a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. The album went Gold in the US. She also won the World Music Award as the best selling Latin artist that year.



Aguilera also released a Christmas album on Oct. 24, 2000 (11 years ago) called My Kind of Christmas. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified Platinum in the US. Ricky Martin asked Aguilera to duet with him on the track "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" from his album Sound Loaded; released in 2001 (10 years ago) as the album's second single. The single reached number one on the World Chart.



In 2001 (10 years ago), Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink were chosen to remake Labelle's 1975 (36 years ago) single "Lady Marmalade" for the movie Moulin Rouge! and its soundtrack. The single Missy Elliott produced hit number one on the Hot 100 for five weeks and was the most successful airplay-only single in history. It also reached number one in eleven other countries amd earned all four performers a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Aguilera's appearance in the music video was compared to that of Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. The video won two MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year in 2001 (10 years ago), where Aguilera accepted the award saying, "I guess the big hair paid off."



That year a single emerged into record stores called "Just Be Free", one of the demos Aguilera recorded when she was around fifteen years old. When RCA Records discovered the single, they advised fans not to purchase it. Months later, Warlock Records was set to release Just Be Free, an album which contains the demo tracks. Aguilera filed a breach of contract and unfair competition suit against Warlock and the album's producers to block the release. Instead, the two parties came to a settlement to release the album. Aguilera lent out her name, likeness and image (wallpaper) for an unspecified amount of damages. Many of the details of the lawsuit remain confidential. When the album was released in Aug. 2001 (10 years ago), it had a photograph of Aguilera when she was fifteen years old.



Although Aguilera's debut album was very well received, she was dissatisfied with the music and image (wallpaper) her management had created for her. Aguilera was marketed as a bubblegum pop singer because of the genre's upward financial trend. She mentioned plans of her next album to have much more depth, both musically and lyrically. Aguilera's views of Steve Kurtz's influence in matters of the singer's creative direction, the role of being her exclusive personal manager and overscheduling had in part caused her to seek legal means of terminating their management contract. She revealed while recording her then upcoming album, "I was being overworked. You find out that someone you thought was a friend is stealing money behind your back, and it's heartbreaking. I put faith in the people around me, and unfortunately, it bit me in the butt." Kurtz was terminated and Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.



2002–2003: Stripped era

In sep. 2001 (10 years ago), Aguilera began recording the album of new material that has the title of stripped. On Oct. 29, 2002 (9 years ago), after much delay, Aguilera's second full-length English album, Stripped, was released, selling more than 330,000 copies in the first week and peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200. Unlike previous work, the album showcased Aguilera's raunchier side. The majority of Stripped was co-written by Aguilera (who had recently signed a global music publishing contract with BMG Music Publishing), and was influenced by many different subjects and music styles, including contemporary R&B, gospel, soul, balladry, pop rock, and hip hop. The majority of the album was produced by Scott Storch and singer-songwriter Linda Perry who produced her more personal records. Rockwilder and singer Alicia Keys (12 walls) also contributed a track each. Upon initial release, the album was very well-received by critics, although Aguilera's vocals were overlooked as she began to cultivate a more sexually provocative image. After the release of the album, she took part in photoshoots for magazines, many of these photographs featured her nude or semi-nude. Her cover for Rolling Stone, featured the singer only wearing boots and a well-placed electric guitar. It was during this time Aguilera referred to herself as "Xtina", even getting a tattoo of her nickname on the back of her neck and several piercings.



Initially, the raunchy image (wallpaper) had a negative effect on Aguilera in the U.S., especially after the release of her controversial "Dirrty" music video. She denied that this change was a matter of publicity, claiming that the image (wallpaper) better reflected her true personality than did the image (wallpaper) she cultivated back in 1999 (12 years ago). While the video for "Dirrty" became very popular on MTV, it disappointed on the U.S. singles chart. However, the single was a hit worldwide, reaching number one in the UK and Ireland. The second single, "Beautiful" received critical praise. The classically influenced ballad reached number one in several countries and peaked at #2 in the US. "Beautiful" earned Aguilera the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Three more singles ("Fighter", "Can't Hold Us Down" featuring Lil' Kim, "The Voice Within") were released in the following two years and were hits that helped the album stay on the charts for the next two years. Stripped stayed on the U.S. and UK album charts well into 2004 (7 years ago), and went on to be certified four-times platinum in the U.S. with over twelve million copies sold worldwide. It appeared at number ten on Billboard's year-end album chart. Kelly Clarkson's second single "Miss Independent" was co-written by Aguilera, having been half-finished for Stripped.



Aguilera joined Justin Timberlake (11 walls) that Jun. on the final leg of his international Justified tour, held in the U.S. This portion of the tour became a co-headliner called the "Justified & Stripped Tour". In August, an overhead lighting grid collapsed from the ceiling of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing major damage to the sound and video equipment below. Because the collapse occurred hours before the show, only a few stagehands were injured, but a few shows were cancelled or postponed. In the fourth quarter of that year, Aguilera continued to tour internationally without Timberlake, and changed the name of the tour to the "Stripped World Tour". She also dyed her hair black. It was one of the top-grossing tours of that year, and sold out most of its venues. Rolling Stone readers named it the best tour of the year. She was a special guest performer with the Pussycat Dolls' dance troupe and appeared on a Maxim spread alongside them. Her second Maxim cover that year set record sales for the issue, by the end of the year she topped the annual Hot 100 list later saying, "We had fun working with certain clothes, or the lack thereof." After much delay, Aguilera's first DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) live-recording from a concert tour, Stripped Live in the UK, was released in Nov. 2004 (7 years ago).



In light of the tour's success, another U.S. tour was scheduled to begin in mid-2004 with a new theme. The tour however was scrapped because of the vocal cord injuries Aguilera suffered shortly before the tour's opening date. In a tribute to Madonna's performance at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera performed a kiss with the singer-actress at the 2003 (8 years ago) edition of the ceremony in August. The incident occurred during the opening performance of Madonna's songs "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" with fellow popstar Britney Spears.



2004–2007: Artistic development and Back to Basics

Aguilera later decided to embrace a more mature image; this move was met with more praise than criticism, with articles using punch lines such as "From Crass to Class." She eventually dyed her hair cherry blonde and recorded a jingle, "Hello", for a Mercedes-Benz ad. Shortly after, she dyed her hair flaxen blonde and cut it short, and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; she is one of the main proponents (along with Dita Von Teese (20 walls), Gwen Stefani (16 walls), and Ashley Judd (62 walls)) in bringing back the 1920s-1940s Hollywood glamour look.



In late summer 2004 (7 years ago), Aguilera released two singles. The first, "Car Wash", was a remake of the Rose Royce disco song recorded as a collaboration with rapper Missy Elliott for the soundtrack to the movie Shark Tale. The second song was also a collaboration, but this time as a second single from one of Nelly's double-release albums, Sweat, titled "Tilt Ya Head Back". Both singles failed commercially in the U.S., but did considerably better in other parts of the world.



Aguilera collaborated with jazz artist Herbie Hancock on a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" recorded for Hancock's album Possibilities, released in Aug. 2005 (6 years ago). Aguilera and Hancock were later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She helped open the 50th Anniversary for Disneyland performing "When You Wish upon a Star", and she also collaborated with Andrea Bocelli on the song "Somos Novios" for his album Amore.



Aguilera's third English studio album, Back to Basics, released Aug. 15, 2006 (5 years ago), debuted at #1 in the U.S., the U.K. and eleven other countries. Aguilera described the double CD as "a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music, but with a modern twist." Although critics commented on the album's length saying, "At one disc, this would have been nothing short of masterful." The critically acclaimed lead single "Ain't No Other Man" was a substantial success, reaching #2 on the World Chart, #6 in the U.S., and #2 in U.K. Producers on the album included DJ Premier, Kwamé, Linda Perry, and Mark Ronson. One track, "F.U.S.S.", was written as a response to the animosity between Aguilera and her former producer Scott Storch. In an interview she said, "That's a way of burying my experience with him. When I tried to work with him again, he made uncalled-for demands. It was disappointing that someone would get affected like that." She received writing credit for the album and was the executive producer. The follow-up singles did very well in different regions, "Hurt" in Europe and "Candyman" in the Pacific. She co-directed both music videos, the former with Floria Sigismondi who directed her "Fighter" video, and the latter, "Candyman", with director/photographer Matthew Rolston which was inspired by The Andrews Sisters. According to Sony BMG, Back to Basics has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide.



In late 2006 (5 years ago) Aguilera collaborated with Sean "Diddy" Combs on a track, titled "Tell Me", from his album Press Play. She also began the "Back to Basics Tour" in Europe followed by a 41-date North American tour in early 2007 (4 years ago). After this, she toured Asia and Australia, where it was supposed to end on Aug. 3, however she canceled her dates in Melbourne and her final two in Auckland due to an illness. Her extravagant arena tour included cabaret, three-ring circus and juke joint sets and 10 piece costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli. It was the most successful US tour by a female in 2007 (4 years ago). In early 2008 (3 years ago), she released her concert DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.



At the 49th Grammy Awards, Aguilera again won the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Ain't No Other Man". She made a noteworthy performance at the ceremony paying tribute to James Brown with her rendition of his song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". In Jan. 2007 (4 years ago), she was named the 19th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of US$60 million.



Aguilera performed "Steppin' Out With My Baby" with Tony Bennett on his NBC special Tony Bennett: An American Classic and on Saturday Night Live. They performed at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards where both specials received Emmys. "Steppin' Out" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.



2008–present: Keeps Gettin' Better and forthcoming album

In 2008 (3 years ago) Aguilera was featured on the soundtrack to the film, Shine a Light, from a live recording of the song "Live With Me" with the Rolling Stones. The film's soundtrack was released on Apr. 1, 2008 (3 years ago). To commemorate Aguilera's ten years in the music industry, RCA Records released, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits on Nov. 11, 2008 (3 years ago) exclusively at Target stores. The greatest hits included her first three number one singles, and other songs released from her previous three albums. The album's lead single, "Keeps Gettin' Better" was premiered at the 2008 (3 years ago) MTV Video Music Awards and was her highest debut peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.



In a Jul. 2008 (3 years ago) interview Aguilera revealed several details about her album saying, "I can tell you that this record is all about fun. I'll be referencing Pop art, Andy Warhol's art. So it will [sound] fun and fast-paced, and visually, it will be full of color". She also added, "there's also going to be a modern element to it that comes from my love of Tokyo". Australian singer-songwriter Sia, will contribute her songwriting skills for Aguilera's album saying, "I'm going to write with Christina in mid-September - It might not work, she might not like any of the stuff I write, and it may not make the cut, but I'm pretty excited about it." She launched her online radio station which is part of Clear Channel's iheartradio revealing details about her upcoming projects. There she revealed that she worked with M.I.A., Santigold and Ladytron adding, "The overall versatility of this record is truly something special for me. The result was just crazy magic. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy on the record." The album is expected for release in Fall 2009 (2 years ago).



Film and TV

In 1991 (20 years ago) Aguilera auditioned for a role on The New Mickey Mouse Club, however she did not meet the age requirements. Two years later she joined the cast performing musical numbers and sketch comedy until the show's cancellation in 1994 (17 years ago). Since then Aguilera has done numerous TV appearances, in 1999 (12 years ago) she made a cameo appearance performing on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She hosted a Saturday Night Live episode in 2004 (7 years ago) prior which included a Sex & The City skit where she portrayed Samantha Jones revealing to everyone she was a man the entire time. Prior to this she appeared as a musical guest for episodes hosted by Christopher Walken in 2000 (11 years ago), Salma Hayek (21 walls) in 2003 (8 years ago) and then again in 2006 (5 years ago) with Alec Baldwin. In regards to acting in film, she's mentioned in several interviews that she intends to pursue edgy acting roles similar to Angelina Jolie. She voiced a small singing part in the animated movie Shark Tale playing a rastafarian jellyfish in the film's closing musical number. The film's stars included, among others, Jolie herself.



In 2008 (3 years ago) she appeared in the Martin Scorsese documentary Shine A Light which chronicles a two day Rolling Stones concert in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The movie features Aguilera performing "Live With Me" alongside Mick Jagger. Shine A Light premiered at the Berlin movie Festival on Feb. 7 and was released worldwide on Apr. 4, 2008 (3 years ago). She will appear as herself in the upcoming Judd Apatow film, Get Him to the Greek.



Aguilera will appear as a guest judge on the sixth season of Project Runway on Lifetime TV.



In 2009 (2 years ago) Variety confirmed that she will be working in her first feature film, a musical, titled Burlesque, scheduled to begin shooting in late 2009 (2 years ago). Aguilera will portray a small town girl who "finds love, family and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club". The movie will be directed by Steve Antin and co-star Cher.



Products and endorsement

In 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera was the face for make-up line Fetish where she worked in choosing colors and packaging for the line. She ended her contract the following year. Throughout her career Aguilera has endorsed several brands, including Skechers, Mercedes-Benz, Verizon Wireless, and soft drink giants Coca-Cola in 2001 (10 years ago), and Pepsi in 2006 (5 years ago). She became the muse and model for fashion house Versace appearing in a campaign for the 2003 (8 years ago) fall line. In 2004 (7 years ago) Aguilera earned £200,000GBP (about $500,000USD) for opening the summer sale at London's Harrods store which took in record breaking profits during the four week period. Aguilera signed a contract with European cell phone operator Orange to promote the new Sony Ericsson Walkman phone during the 2006 (5 years ago) World Cup.



In 2008 (3 years ago) jewelry designer Stephen Webster and close friend of Aguilera released "Shattered", a collection of sterling silver pieces, through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Aguilera, who inspired the collection, was featured as a Hitchcock heroine saying, "Working together on this campaign and collection has been an incredible experience. I am honored to be a part of it all." They reprised their work together for Webster's 2009 (2 years ago) spring line.



Aguilera released two fragrances throughout Europe, the first one Xpose, was released in late 2004 (7 years ago) and sold relatively well. Through Procter and Gamble Aguilera released her signature fragrance, Simply Christina in 2007 (4 years ago). In Christmas 2007 (4 years ago), the fragrance became the number one perfume in the UK, and Germany where it topped sales for the year. The perfume won as the people's choice for favorite celebrity fragrance at the annual UK Fifi Awards 2008 (3 years ago). She released her third fragrance, Inspire, accompanied with a body care collection, on sep. 1, 2008 (3 years ago). The perfume hit shelves in the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Northern and Eastern Europe. It is Aguilera's first fragrance released outside of Europe. Her worldwide ad campaign included a TV ad shot by David LaChapelle and was released in the US through Macy's department stores. The release coincided with Macy's 150th anniversary which featured Aguilera in commemorative photos. She is set to release her fourth fragrance By Night in October.



PERSONAL LIFE

1999–2003

In late 1999 (12 years ago), Aguilera was rumored to have dated MTV VJ Carson Daly. The relationship was the subject of much discussion after the release of Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady", in which Eminem (16 walls) satirically suggests that Aguilera had performed fellatio on both Daly and Fred Durst, the lead singer of Limp Bizkit, and had given the rapper himself a venereal disease. Aguilera called the song's innuendo "disgusting" and "untrue." Aguilera and Eminem (16 walls) reportedly resolved the issue three years later backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards.



In Oct. 2000 (11 years ago), Aguilera filed a Breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against Steve Kurtz for improper, undue and inappropriate influence over her professional activities, as well as fraud. According to legal documents, Kurtz did not protect her rights and interests. Instead, he took action that was for his own interest, at the cost of hers. The lawsuit came about when Aguilera discovered Kurtz used more of her commissionable income than he was allotted, and had paid other managers to assist him. She also petitioned the California State Labor Commission to nullify the contract. After terminating Kurtz's services, Irving Azoff was hired as her new manager.



Kurtz countersued later that month for breach of contract, claiming that the singer violated the same agreement she had sued to void. In the lawsuit, he included others close to Aguilera, alleging their intent to sabotage his business relationship with her. He also singled out Azoff for being in violation of the terms of Kurtz's contract.



Aguilera appeared twice on Mr. Blackwell's Ten Worst Dressed Women's list in 2000 (11 years ago) and 2002 (9 years ago). It was during this time Aguilera's image (wallpaper) was ridiculed for her heavy make-up and outfits during award shows and public events. Aguilera insisted she doesn't mind the criticism and was merely making a statement. While seeing one of her music videos, Aguilera's grandma was disappointed saying, "I nearly died when I saw she was wearing so little. I rang her mom and said, 'Oh my God, what is Christina doing?' I feel sad for her really -- she is so young. I totally understand why people criticize her."



She dated Puerto Rican dancer Jorge Santos, he appeared on her tour and music videos throughout 2000 (11 years ago). They dated for nearly two years until the relationship ended on sep. 11, 2001 (10 years ago). He remained her dancer well into 2002 (9 years ago).



In 2003 (8 years ago), Aguilera was in several public feuds with other musicians including Pink who had worked with her on "Lady Marmalade", the singer mocked Aguilera on stage by using a blow-up doll during her tour. Kelly Osbourne also remarked that Aguilera was, "one of the most disgusting human beings in the world." Later that year at the MTV Europe Awards where Aguilera was hosting, Osbourne commented on the red carpet calling her a "cow", Aguilera was later seen throwing darts at a picture (wallpaper) of Kelly during the telecast. Several years later however Aguilera purchased The Osbourne house from Sharon and Ozzy which seemed to have ended their feud.



2004–2008

Aguilera began dating music marketing executive Jordan Bratman in 2002 (9 years ago). Their engagement was announced in Feb. 2005 (6 years ago), and they married on Nov. 19, 2005 (6 years ago), in a Napa Valley estate. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Aguilera revealed that she and Bratman enjoy being nude on Sundays, saying, "You have to keep marriage alive, spice it up". The story received so much attention that following the news supermodel Heidi Klum (67 walls) told Degeneres that she and her husband Seal would consider doing the same ritual.



In May 2006 (5 years ago), she posed nude for a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photoshoot in GQ magazine where she re-created several photographs done by Monroe and spoke about her marriage to Bratman. In the issue she also expressed disappointment in fellow singer Mariah Carey (29 walls), saying that Carey "was never cool to me", and that "one time we were at a party, I think she got really drunk, and had really derogatory things to say to me." Carey then released a statement saying, "It is sad yet predictable that she would use my name at this time to reinvent past incidents for promotional gain." Aguilera responded saying, "My intentions were not to upset Mariah with any statements published or taken out of context. I have all the respect in the world for her."



On sep. 9, 2007 (4 years ago), at a birthday party for a mutual friend, Paris Hilton (99 walls) publicly congratulated the singer on her pregnancy. Aguilera, however, had not yet confirmed her pregnancy at the time. Aguilera later confirmed this on Nov. 4 in an interview with Glamour magazine. On Jan. 12, 2008 (3 years ago), Aguilera gave birth to her son, Max Liron Bratman, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. His Latin firstname and Hebrew middle name roughly translate into “My Greatest Song”. Aguilera was reportedly paid $1.5 million by People magazine for her baby pictures, which according to Forbes places fifth on the list of the most expensive celebrity baby photos.



FILMOGRAPHY

1993–1995: Mickey Mouse Club — Herself

1999 (12 years ago): Beverly Hills, 90210 — Herself

2000 (11 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest

2003 (8 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest

2004 (7 years ago): Shark Tale — Voice

2004 (7 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Hostess

2006 (5 years ago): Saturday Night Live — Musical guest

2008 (3 years ago): Shine a Light — Musical guest

2010 (last year): Burlesque - Lead Role



DISCOGRAPHY

Studio albums:

Christina Aguilera (1999, 12 years ago)

Stripped (2002, 9 years ago)

Back to Basics (2006, 5 years ago)

Light & Darkness (2009, 2 years ago)

Other albums:

Mi Reflejo (2000, 11 years ago)

My Kind of Christmas (2000, 11 years ago)

Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits (2008, 3 years ago)

DVDs:

Genie Gets Her Wish (1999, 12 years ago)

My Reflection (2001, 10 years ago)

Stripped Live in the U.K. (2004, 7 years ago)

Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (2008, 3 years ago)



TOURS

Christina Aguilera: In Concert Tour (2000/2001)

Justified/Stripped Tour / Stripped World Tour (2003, 8 years ago)

Back to Basics Tour (2006/2007)





Source: en.wikipedia.org