Jennifer Love Hewitt

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Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt, January 2008
Born February 21, 1979 (1979-02-21) (age 29)
Waco, Texas, U.S.A.[1]
Occupation actress, singer-songwriter
Years active 1985 ─ present
Official website

Jennifer Love Hewitt (born February 21, 1979) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is well-known for her television and film roles in the Fox television series Party of Five, as Sarah Reeves, and also starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel, as Julie James. Hewitt can currently be seen on the CBS television program Ghost Whisperer, as Melinda Gordon, a young newlywed who can communicate with the ghost of the dead. In November of 2007 Hewitt became engaged to fellow actor Ross McCall.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and career

Hewitt was born in Waco, Texas, the daughter of Patricia Mae (née Shipp), a speech-language pathologist, and Herbert Daniel Hewitt, a medical technician.[2] Hewitt grew up in Nolanville, Texas; after the divorce of her parents, Hewitt and her only sibling, Todd Hewitt, were brought up by her mother. Her first name was given to her by her brother, after a girl he was fond of as a youngster, while her middle name, "Love", was given to her by her mother after her best friend in college.

As a young girl, Hewitt was attracted to music which led to her first encounters with the entertainment industry. At the age of three, she sang "The Greatest Love of All" at a livestock show. Just a year after that, at a restaurant-dance hall, she entertained an audience with her version of "Help Me Make It Through the Night". By the time she was five, Hewitt already had tap dancing and ballet in her portfolio. At nine, she became a member of the Texas Show Team (which also toured in the Soviet Union). At the age of ten, at the suggestion of talent scouts and winning the title of Texas Our Little Miss Talent Winner, she moved to Los Angeles, California, with her mother to pursue a career in both acting and singing.

[edit] Film career

Jennifer Love Hewitt as one of the main dancers in the Dance! Workout With Barbie video, released in 1992.
Jennifer Love Hewitt as one of the main dancers in the Dance! Workout With Barbie video, released in 1992.

After moving to Los Angeles, Hewitt appeared in more than twenty television commercials. Her first break came as a child actor on the Disney Channel variety show Kids Incorporated (1989 – 1991), where she was credited as just Love Hewitt. During this time she danced in and sang all the songs for a live action video called "Dance! Workout With Barbie" released by Buena Vista.

In 1993, she played Pierce Brosnan's daughter in a pilot for NBC called Running Wilde, which featured Brosnan as a reporter for Auto World magazine whose stories cover his own wild auto adventures. However, the series wasn't picked up and the pilot never aired. Hewitt later had roles in several short-lived television series, such as Fox's Shaky Ground (1992 – 1993), ABC's Byrds of Paradise (1994), and McKenna (1994 – 1995), and finally became a young star after landing the role of Sarah Reeves on the popular Fox Television show Party of Five (1995 – 1999). She assumed the role of Sarah after joining that show during its second season and continued it on the short-lived Party of Five spin-off, Time of Your Life (1999), which she also co-produced. The show was cancelled after only half a season.

Hewitt made her film debut in the independent film Munchie (1992). She became a film star after a lead role in the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), which enjoyed great box-office success (125,000,000 U.S. dollars worldwide). The film made Hewitt and her co-stars Freddie Prinze Jr., Ryan Phillippe, and Sarah Michelle Gellar some of the most popular young stars in the USA. She also appeared in the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), which, though ultimately not as successful as the first film, took in more money on its opening weekend. Other notable film roles have included the high-school comedy Can't Hardly Wait (1998) and a starring role with Sigourney Weaver in the romantic comedy Heartbreakers (2001).

In 2000, Hewitt appeared in The Audrey Hepburn Story. That same year, she was the "most popular actress on television" due to her Q-rating (a measurement of a celebrity's popularity) of thirty-seven. For that reason, Nokia chose her to become its spokesperson, because of her "fresh image", and her being "a symbol of youthfulness and wholesomeness".

In 2001, she appeared in the music video for the Enrique Iglesias song, "Hero", as the singer's love interest.

Hewitt wrote I'm Gonna Love You for the movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame II because, although she was a well-known singer at the time, her character Madellaine was the only character who didn't sing in the movie. The song won an award for Best Song on DVD Awards.

Since September 2005, Hewitt has starred in the television series Ghost Whisperer. In Australia, Ghost Whisperer has been popular since its introduction; in the United States, the show averages 9-11 million viewers for each new episode. Hewitt has also auditioned for many roles. She was asked to play "Juliet" in Romeo + Juliet, but the director felt she wasn't modern looking. The role went to Claire Danes. She also had to give up the role of "Darlene" in Brokedown Palace because of scheduling conflicts. Hewitt also auditioned for the role of "Elektra" in Daredevil.

[edit] Music career

In 1991, Meldac funded the recording of Hewitt's first album 'Love Songs', when she was just 12. The album was only released in Japan in 1992 where Hewitt became a pop star. Her explanation for her success in Japan is that the Japanese "love perky music. The poppier the music, the better."[3]

After she joined the cast of Party of Five in 1995, she signed to Atlantic Records, who rushed her first single and second album Let's Go Bang out in October. Neither the single nor the album generated much public interest.

Juggling her music career with her acting career, she recorded her follow-up in 1996. The first single, "No Ordinary Love" failed to chart and led to the album doing the same. Atlantic dropped Hewitt, who didn't return to the music scene for 3 years.

In 1999, she recorded the single "How Do I Deal" for the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Soundtrack. The song became Hewitt's first charting single by climbing to #59 on the Hot 100 and #36 on the Top 40 Mainstream. It also reached #8 in Australia.

In 2002, Hewitt signed to Jive Records and recorded her fourth album with singer/songwriter/producer Meredith Brooks. The first single, "BareNaked", became her biggest radio hit to date when it peaked at #24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, #31 on the Adult Top 40 and #25 on the Top 40 Mainstream. It also climbed to #6 in Australia. The success of the single propelled her album of the same name to peak at #37 on the Billboard 200 and #31 in Australia. However, it only remained on the chart for 3 weeks. The second single, "Can I Go Now", failed to chart in the US, while only managing to peak at #12 in Australia.

Since 2003, Hewitt hasn't actively done anything in the music industry, but a compilation called Cool with You: The Platinum Collection was released in Asia.

Hewitt co-wrote and performed two songs for the 'If Only' movie soundtrack which in 2004 she starred in. These were 'Love Will Show You Everything' and 'Take My Heart Back'.

Also in 2004 she appeared in the made-for-television musical "A Christmas Carol" in the singing role of Ebenezer Scrooge's fiance Emily.

[edit] Personal life

Hewitt is an honorary godparent of the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.[4]

Hewitt began dating Scottish actor Ross McCall in January 2006 after he made an appearance on Ghost Whisperer. In November 2007, while vacationing in Hawaii, the couple became engaged.[5] Some paparazzi photographs secretly taken during this vacation show a slightly plumper than usual Hewitt and were subsequently criticized by bloggers. Hewitt responded: "I've sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women's bodies are constantly scrutinized.... What I should be doing is celebrating some of the best days of my life and my engagement to the man of my dreams, instead of having to deal with photographers taking invasive pictures from bad angles."[6]

She has also dated singer-guitarist John Mayer,[7] talk show host Carson Daly, actor/model Kip Pardue, writer Chris Benson, singer-songwriter Rich Cronin, actor and singer Joey Lawrence and actor Will Friedle.

[edit] Magazine listings

Between the years of 1997 and 2008, Hewitt was rated one of the sexiest women in the world by the magazine FHM, and in 1999 and 2006 by Maxim magazine.

[edit] FHM

  • 91 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (1997)
  • 91 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (1998)
  • 31 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (1999)
  • 13 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2000)
  • 50 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2001)
  • 13 in FHM-USA's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2001)
  • 15 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2002)
  • 7 in FHM-USA's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2002)
  • 7 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2003)
  • 12 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2004)
  • 19 in FHM's 50 Sexiest Women from 1995-2004
  • 12 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2005)
  • 16 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2006)
  • 14 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World (2007)

[edit] Maxim

  • 1 in Maxim's Sexiest Women In The World (1999)
  • 29 in Maxim's Hot 100 List (2006)
  • 20 in "Maxims Hot 100 list (2008)

[edit] TV Guide

  • 1(female) in TV Guide's "Sexiest on TV"(May 5-11, 2008 issue)

[edit] Awards

Year Group Award Result Film/Show
1990 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast Nominated Kids Incorporated
1993 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Youth Series or Variety Show Nominated
1994 Young Artist Award Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Cable or Off Primetime Series Won
1996 Young Artist Award Best Professional Actress/Singer Nominated
1997 YoungStar Award Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series Nominated Party of Five
1998 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Nominated I Know What You Did Last Summer
Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Female Newcomer Won
Favorite Actress - Horror Nominated
1999 MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance Nominated Can't Hardly Wait
Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress - Horror Won I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
Teen Choice Award Film - Choice Actress Won
Film - Most Disgusting Scene Nominated
TV - Choice Actress Nominated Party of Five
Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Nominated Can't Hardly Wait
2000 Kid's Choice Award Favorite Television Actress Nominated Party of Five
People's Choice Award Favorite Female Performer in a New Television Series Won Time of Your Life
2003 DVD Exclusive Award Best Original Song Won "I'm Gonna Love You (Madellaine's Love Song)" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Kids' Choice Award Favorite Female Butt Kicker Won The Tuxedo
Teen Choice Award Choice Crossover Artist (Music/Acting) Nominated
2006 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Nominated Ghost Whisperer
Kids' Choice Award Favorite Television Actress Nominated
People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Star Nominated

[edit] Filmography

Upcoming:

  • She Had Brains, a Body, and the Ability to Make Men Love Her (2009)

[edit] Television work

Upcoming:

  • Angry Little Girls (set to air in 2008) (voice)
  • 24 (set to air in 2008) (Julie Campbell)

[edit] Commercials

In 2005, Hewitt appeared in a Hanes advertising campaign titled "Look who we've got our Hanes on now". The campaign also featured other celebrities such as Michael Jordan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Marisa Tomei, Damon Wayans, Kevin Bacon, Hugh Hefner, Matthew Perry, and on Spanish-language advertising, Aracely Arambula, and Pablo Montero. In 2006, the campaign added Christina Applegate to their lineup.

Hewitt has appeared in a "Don't Mess With Texas" commercial. This commercial also features fellow Texans: Matthew McConaughey, Los Lonely Boys, LeeAnn Womack, Lance Armstrong, Owen Wilson, and Erykah Badu. Dallas Cowboys running back Julius Jones, Chuck Norris (star of Walker Texas Ranger), and Janine Turner are also seen in the DMWT commercial.

She also appears in a commercial for Rodan & Fields acne medication Proactiv.

[edit] Production credits

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album Chart positions
U.S. AUS
1992 Love Songs NR NR
1995 Let's Go Bang - -
1996 Jennifer Love Hewitt - -
2002 BareNaked 37 31[8]
2006 Cool with You: The Platinum Collection NR NR
2007 Hey Everybody NR NR
  • NR indicates the album was not released in that country.

[edit] Singles

Year Single Chart peak positions [9] [10] [11] [12] Album
U.S. U.S. Adult AUS NZ NL SWI
1995 "Couldn't Find Another Man" — — — — — — Let's Go Bang
1996 "No Ordinary Love" — — — — — — Jennifer Love Hewitt
1999 "How Do I Deal" 59 — 8 5 — — I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Soundtrack
2002 "BareNaked" 124 31 6 26 73 — BareNaked
2003 "Can I Go Now" — — 12 — 26 69
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

[edit] Soundtracks

  • 1996: "It's Good To Know I'm Alive"
  • 1998: "How Do I Deal?"
  • From Disney's Superstars Hits:
  • 2002: "I'm Gonna Love You"
  • 2003: "Love Will Show You Everything", "Take My Heart Back"

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jennifer Love Hewitt's 'Ghost' (September 21, 2005). CBSNews.com. Accessed 2007-12-08.
  2. ^ Jennifer Love Hewitt Biography (1979-)
  3. ^ "Straight Talk" Jeffrey Zaslow, USA WEEKEND November 20-22, 1998
  4. ^ Audrey Hepburn.com: Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund: Board of Directors
  5. ^ Jennifer Love Hewitt engaged to be married
  6. ^ Jennifer Love Hewitt Takes On Bloggers. (December 6, 2007) CBSNews.com. Accessed 2007-12-08.
  7. ^ John Mayer Apologizes to Jennifer Love Hewitt
  8. ^ "Australian BareNaked chart positions". Australian-charts. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  9. ^ http://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Jennifer+Love+Hewitt&cat=s
  10. ^ http://charts.org.nz/search.asp?search=Jennifer+Love+Hewitt&cat=s
  11. ^ http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=Jennifer+Love+Hewitt&cat=s
  12. ^ http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=Jennifer+Love+Hewitt&cat=s

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Persondata
NAME Hewitt, Jennifer Love
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION actress, singer-songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH 1979-02-21
PLACE OF BIRTH Waco, Texas, U.S.A.
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH