Background

Kate Garry Hudson is a well-known American actress and model. Hudson was born in Los Angeles, California on April 19, 1979 to celebrity parents.

Her mother is Oscar-winning veteran Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn and her father is comedian and singer Bill Hudson of The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show. She has Hungarian and Italian blood courtesy of her mother and father respectively. She has one biological older brother, actor Oliver Hudson. Both siblings were raised Jewish.

Early Years

Hudson grew up in Colorado with her mother, who divorced her husband less than two years after Hudson's birth. Her mother subsequently lived with actor Kurt Russell, whom Hudson considers as her real father. Although her parents wanted a different vocation for her, Hudson showed signs of following her mother.

At seven, Hudson played her mother's daughter in the 1986 film, Wildcats. After graduating from Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, Hudson entered New York University to study drama but cut short her college career to pursue acting full-time. She initially landed in an episode of Fox Network's Party of Five television series.

Career Highlights

Hudson entered the movie scene with 1998's Desert Blue, but gained more attention in 200 Cigarettes, where she joined the likes of Ben Affleck and Courtney Love, and Gossip. Her big break came in 2000 when she played the role of diehard rock fan Penny Lane in Almost Famous, which gave her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was followed by other movies of varying success, namely, The Four Feathers, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Le Divorce, Alex and Emma and Raising Helen.

In 2005 Hudson made the supernatural thriller The Skeleton Key, which grossed over $90 million in ticket sales worldwide, followed by the marital comedy You, Me and Dupree. Hudson ventured into directing in 2007 with the short film Cutlass. Despite the career mileage it would have afforded her, Hudson actually turned down the role of Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's girlfriend in the 2002 film version of Spider-Man.

Personal Life

Hudson was married to band front man Chris Robinson from 2000 to 2006 and has a son, Ryder Russell (born 2004), from that relationship. Although having celebrity background, Hudson was known to pursue her career path away from the influence of her famous parents; at the onset of her career, she turned down a big role in 1996's Escape from L.A. because she would be starring with Kurt Russell.

In 2000, People magazine included Hudson in its 50 Most Beautiful People in the World list, while in 2003, Premiere magazine included her in its annual Power 100 list, being the youngest at age 24. Unknown to many, Hudson is also the image model for Kamiseta, a popular brand of young women's wear in the Philippines.


Image Source: Wikipedia