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Elisha Cuthbert

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Elisha Cuthbert
File:Elisha GND.jpg
Elisha Cuthbert in a scene from
The Girl Next Door (2004).
BornNovember 30, 1982
Calgary, Alberta
OccupationActress

Elisha Ann Cuthbert (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian actress. She is known as a former host of the Canadian children's television series Popular Mechanics for Kids and had roles in numerous other Canadian productions before moving to Los Angeles at the age of 17. She made her American television debut in the action-thriller 24 and moved on to star in her first American feature film, The Girl Next Door. Since then, she has branched out into multiple genres.

Early life, education and career

File:Elishacuthbert luckygirl.jpg
Elisha Cuthbert in a promotional shot of Lucky Girl (2001).

Elisha Ann Cuthbert was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada the first child of Kevin and Patricia Cuthbert. Her family moved to Longueuil, Quebec, and Cuthbert grew up in Greenfield Park, near Montreal, becoming fluent in French as a result of her surroundings.[1]

She began her career in 1989 by modeling for various lines of children’s clothing, also becoming a foot model. She made her first televised appearance in the horror-themed series for children, Are You Afraid of the Dark? as a young girl in the episode “The Tale of the Nightshift” (she would later become a series regular) and landed her first role in a feature film in the family drama Dancing on the Moon. She went on to star in several family-themed movies and an airplane thriller, Airspeed, and also hosted Popular Mechanics for Kids with Jay Baruchel.[1] Cuthbert’s role as host of Popular Mechanics sometimes required her to act as a foreign correspondent, and she was required to fly around the world despite her aversion to plane travel.[2] Her reporting captured the attention of then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, who invited her to visit the White House.[3]

Later career

24

File:Kim bauer season 1.jpg
Elisha Cuthbert as Kim Bauer

In 2000, Cuthbert graduated from Centennial Regional High School and journeyed to Los Angeles, California to pursue a Hollywood acting career. She landed, in the same year, the part of Kim Bauer, the danger-prone daughter of CTU agent Jack Bauer (played by fellow Canadian Keifer Sutherland), in the television series 24. Cuthbert had given herself a deadline of six weeks to make something of her trip and was about to return home when she was offered the part during the fifth week. The show drew continual critical praise, though Cuthbert did not appear at all in the show's 4th season and guest-starred in only three episodes from the 5th.[4] She also reprised her role as Kim Bauer in 24: The Game.[5]

Rise to fame

Cuthbert starred in the Canadian television movie Lucky Girl in 2001 and was awarded a Gemini Award for her performance. She auditioned for the role of Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man film, though the role eventually went to Kirsten Dunst.[1] Cuthbert took a pair of minor roles early in her Hollywood career as young, desirable women in Old School and Love Actually. Cuthbert’s next film, The Girl Next Door, cast her in her first lead role as a burgeoning porn star, Danielle, alongside Emile Hirsch. Cuthbert had initial reservations about taking the part, but was persuaded by director Luke Greenfield into accepting. She researched the role, speaking to actual adult actresses from Wicked Pictures and Vivid Entertainment.[6] Upon its release the film received comparisons to Risky Business,[7][8], although Cuthbert claims her character was not directly based on De Mornay's character,[9] and was noted for Cuthbert’s sex appeal. Critics were divided; some praised the film for its boldness, while others, notably Roger Ebert, decried it for being gimmicky and exploitative.[10][11] Ebert wrote, “[The Girl Next Door] is a nasty piece of business, involving a romance between a teenage porn actress and a high school senior.”[12]

File:Elishacuthbert HoW.jpg
Elisha Cuthbert as Carly Jones in House of Wax (2005).

In her next big-screen outing, Cuthbert starred with Paris Hilton and Chad Michael Murray in the 2005 remake of the classic horror film House of Wax. It was the second remake, after Vincent Price’s 1953 version. Cuthbert, along with the rest of her cast mates, was made up to look haggard and frightened. In one scene, her character was to attempt to open her mouth while her lips were sealed with glue. For the sake of realism, Cuthbert opted for real superglue over prosthetics.[2] Despite her efforts, House of Wax was largely panned, with critics citing a range of flaws. It was called “notable for having some of the most moronic protagonists ever to populate a horror film,”[13] “a fright-challenged snooze,”[14] and “far [inferior to the] 1953 version.”[15] Despite being moderately budgeted at $40 million, House of Wax tanked at the US box office, but managed to recoup its losses by turning an overall worldwide profit.[16]

Following House of Wax, Cuthbert became involved in her third project where she took on the duties of co-star and co-producer of the indie film The Quiet, contributing to its $900,000 budget.[17] The Quiet was helmed by Jamie Babbit, best known for the teenage satire But I'm a Cheerleader. The Quiet was a change from Cuthbert’s past ventures. She played Nina, a temperamental cheerleader who suffered from sexual abuse, while Camilla Belle played Dot, a brooding, deaf orphan girl adopted by Nina’s family who became privy to their morbid secrets. Playing Nina disturbed Cuthbert, a role she described as “dark and heavy.” On one occasion, she had to excuse herself from the set and talk to her reflection in the bathroom mirror in order to settle down. Cuthbert studied her younger sister, Lee-Ann, to further understand the character.[18] The Quiet premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. It has yet to receive a wide release.

Current career

Presently, Cuthbert has been cast in three feature films. The first, Captivity, is a thriller centered around a fashion model and her chauffeur being taunted by a psychopath who has imprisoned them in a cellar.[19][20] Little is known about the second film, He Was a Quiet Man, at this point. Cuthbert’s character, Vanessa, will be a quadriplegic. The film is said to contain comedic and dramatic elements; the cast includes Christian Slater and William H. Macy.[21][22] The third film, Cat Tale, is an animated film set in a civilized world of cats and dogs. Cuthbert will voice Cleo, “the feline daughter of a wealthy kitty litter baron.”[23] Cat Tale is slated for release in 2007 by Walt Disney Pictures. Reports indicated that Cuthbert would be collaborating with Babbit and Belle again in the upcoming comedy Itty Bitty Titty Committee;[24] however, neither Cuthbert nor Belle are listed in the IMDb entry for the film.[25] Cuthbert appeared in the music video for Weezer’s “Perfect Situation” in early 2006, where she played the group’s fictional original singer who threw a diva tantrum that led to Rivers Cuomo, the unlikely roadie, becoming the frontman of the band.[26]

Personal life

Elisha Cuthbert is a natural blonde. She has blue eyes, stands at 5'4" and weighs approximately 110 lbs.[27] Cuthbert is a devoted hockey fan and Los Angeles Kings season ticket holder, as are her mother and brother, Jonathan, who are active in the sport. She maintained her own blog on NHL’s web site.[28] She began a relationship with Justin Timberlake’s personal assistant, Trace Ayala, and was engaged to him since June 2004. Sometime in November, 2005, Ayala remarked, "Neither one of us is in a hurry to get married."[29] Since then, she has reportedly been dating former L.A. King Sean Avery.[30] The status of the engagement with Ayala remains uncertain. Cuthbert regularly secures a place in FHM and Maxim’s annual Top 100 Sexiest/Hottest lists. She was ranked #5 by FHM in the magazine’s 2005 100 Sexiest Women in the World list and #22 in its 2006 list. In spite of this, Cuthbert has stated that she has as of yet no intention of fully disrobing for a film.[31]

Credits

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2007 Cat Tale Cleo (voice) In-production
2006 Captivity Jennifer Post-production
He Was a Quiet Man Vanessa Post-production
2005 The Quiet Nina Pending wide release
House of Wax Carly Jones
2004 The Girl Next Door Danielle
2003 Love Actually American Goddess Carol-Anne
Old School Darcie Goldberg
2001 Lucky Girl (TV) Katlin Palmerson Won a Gemini Award
2000 Who Gets the House? Emily Reece
1999 Believe Katherine Winslowe
Time at the Top Susan Shawson
1998 Airspeed Nicole Stone
1997 Mail to the Chief Madison Osgood
Nico the Unicorn Carolyn Price
1996 Dancing on the Moon Sarah

Television

Year Show Role Notes
2001 24 Kim Bauer 2001-2004 (guest appearances in 2006)
1999 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Megan 1999-2000
1997 Popular Mechanics for Kids Herself 1997-2000

References

  1. ^ a b c “Biography” Elisha Cuthbert @ ELISHA FANS.COM, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Staci Layne. “House of Wax Interview: Elisha Cuthbert” Horror.com, April 29, 2005, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  3. ^ Bronstein, Jake. “FHM Interview” FHM, October 2002, retrieved May 13, 2006
  4. ^ Specific episode credits for Cuthbert in 24 from IMDb, retrieved May 17th, 2006.
  5. ^ 24: The Game for IMDb, retrieved May 17th, 2006.
  6. ^ Gilchrist, Todd. “An Interview with Elisha Cuthbert” IGN.com, January 28, 2004, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  7. ^ Bowen, Kit. “The Girl Next Door” Hollywood.com, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  8. ^ “The Girl Next Door” PopMatters, April 8 2004, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  9. ^ “Elisha Cuthbert of The Girl Next Door Inteview” UnderGroundOnline, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  10. ^ “The Girl Next Door” Metacritic, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  11. ^ “THE GIRL NEXT DOOR” Box Office Mojo, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  12. ^ Ebert, Roger. Review of The Girl Next Door Chicago Sun-Times, April 9, 2004, retrieved May 13 2006.
  13. ^ Berardinelli, James. House of Wax ReelViews, May 2005, retrieved May 13 2006.
  14. ^ Westbrook, Bruce. House of Wax Houston Chronicle, August 5, 2005, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  15. ^ O’Connell, Sean. House of Wax FilmCritic.com, May 2005, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  16. ^ House of Wax Box Office Mojo, retrieved May 13, 2006.
  17. ^ Business details for The Quiet on IMDb, retrieved May 17th, 2006.
  18. ^ Foley, Jack. “House of Wax – Elisha Cuthbert interview” indie London, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  19. ^ “Captivity” Box Office Prophets, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  20. ^ Wray, James. “Elisha Cuthbert faces Captivity” M&C Movies, May 9, 2005, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  21. ^ Official site for He Was a Quiet Man, retrieved May 17th, 2006.
  22. ^ He Was a Quiet Man at IMDb, retrieved May 17th, 2006.
  23. ^ “Cat Tale” Animation World Network, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  24. ^ “Elisha Cuthbert Joins "The Itty Bitty Titty Committee"” Rotten Tomatoes, February 7, 2005, retrieved on May 13, 2006
  25. ^ The Itty Bitty Titty Committee on IMDb, retrieved May 17th, 2006.
  26. ^ Montgomery, James. “Elisha Cuthbert takes over Weezer, but Rivers won’t have any of it” MTV.com, October 18, 2005, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  27. ^ Biography Devoted to… Elisha Cuthbert, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  28. ^ Cuthbert, Elisha. “Hollywood Hockey Thoughts” NHL.com, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  29. ^ Elisha Cuthbert, Trace Ayala: No 'Hurry' to Marry People Magazine, November 25, 2005, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  30. ^ “Cuthbert Dating Hunter’s Ex?” Contact Music, December 15, 2005, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
  31. ^ Fischer, Paul. Elisha Cuthbert “The Girl Next Door” Dark Horizons, February 25, 2004, retrieved on May 13, 2006.
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