Milla Jovovich, born Milica Natasha Jovovich, is a Ukrainian-born actress, an American supermodel, musician, and fashion designer.
She has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, for which music channel VH1 has referred to her as the "reigning queen of kick-butt". Born on 17th December 1975, Milla has appeared on the cover of more than a hundred magazines and has also starred in films such as The Fifth Element (1997), Ultraviolet (2006), and the 'Resident Evil' franchise.
Jovovich began modeling at eleven, when Richard Avedon featured her in Revlon's "Most Unforgettable Women in the World" advertisements, and she continued her career with other campaigns for L'Oréal cosmetics, Banana Republic, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, and Versace. In 1988, she had her first professional acting role in the television film The Night Train to Kathmandu, and later that year she appeared in her first feature film, Two Moon Junction.
Following more small television appearances such as the "Fair Exchange" (1989) and a 1989 role as a French girl (she was 14 at the time then) on a Married with Children episode and film roles, she gained notoriety with the romance film Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991). She appeared in 1993's Dazed and Confused alongside Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey. Jovovich then acted alongside Bruce Willis in the science fiction film The Fifth Element (1997), and later played the title role in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999). In 2002, she starred in the video game adaptation Resident Evil, which spawned three sequels: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), and Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010).
Milla went to modeling auditions from the age of nine but her remarkable modeling career began when photographer Gene Lemual recommended that Herb Ritts, another high-profile fashion photographer, shoot Milla for the cover of Lei magazine. This exposure propelled the model to great success and recognition in the fashion industry.
Milla’s next high profile appearance was on the cover of ‘The Face’ magazine, which prompted contracts with many more prestigious fashion magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Harpers Bazaar.
In addition to her modeling and acting career, Jovovich released a music album, The Divine Comedy in 1994. She continues to release demos for other songs on her official website and contributes to film soundtracks as well; Jovovich has yet to release another album. In 2003, she and model Carmen Hawk created the clothing line Jovovich-Hawk, which ceased operations in early 2008. In its third season prior to its demise, the pieces could be found at Fred Segal in Los Angeles, Harvey Nichols, and over 50 stores around the world.
It wasn’t long after reaching great success as a model that Milla began to show an interest in acting. In 1988 she debuted in the film ‘The Night Train to Kathmandu’ and this led to her starring in many more films across her career. In 1991 Milla’s fame as an actress grew with the film ‘Return to the Blue Lagoon’ and the next year she appeared as Christian Slater’s love interest in ‘Kuffs’. In 1997 Milla appeared with Bruce Willis in the sci-fi film, ‘The Fifth Element’, her debut in this genre went on to her starring in the film franchise ‘Resident Evil’ which was a series of five films. Her success as a sci-fi star led to music channel VH1 dubbing her the ‘Reigning Queen of kick-butt’.
Milla is still a familiar face in the fashion industry and sought after by high-end fashion houses, in 2002 she was announced as Miuccia Prada’s muse and in 2003 Harpers & Queen magazine claimed that Milla was Gianni Versace’s favourite supermodel. In 2006 Milla became the face of Mango and also appeared in advertisements for Etro.
Milla is married to film writer and director Paul W.S. Anderson, the two met while working together on the film ‘Resident Evil’. In 2007 Milla gave birth to her and Anderson's first child, daughter Ever Gabo Anderson. Milla was married twice previously, initially when she was 16 to on-screen boyfriend Shawn Andrews, while filming ‘Dazed & Confused’. Milla’s mother annulled the marriage two months later. In 1997 Milla then married ‘Fifth Element’ director Luc Bresson, they divorced two years later.
