Jessica Alba | Success Story of the Elegant Actress & Businesswoman

Jessica Alba is one of the most prominent stars in the American film industry. She has been acting since the age of eleven. In her three-decade-long career, Jessica has gained worldwide recognition for appearing in blockbuster movies and TV series. Moreover, since 2011, Jessica has established a digital-first consumer goods company. She is considered one of the industry’s most beautiful and successful women. In her career, Jessica has worked on significant projects like Sin City, Entourage, Machete, Dark Angel, Mechanic 2: Resurrection, Fantastic Four, and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. 

About

Jessica Alba rose to fame during the early 2000s. After starring in James Cameron’s Dark Angel, Jessica received her first Golden Globe nomination. She was nineteen at the time. Born in Pomona, California, Alba has worked in over thirty movies. In her successful career, she has worked with iconic stars like Chris Evans, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robert De Niro, Logan Lerman, Justin Timberlake, Paul Walker, Chris Pine, and Pierce Brosnan. Jessica has received several accolades for her acting performances. 

Early Life

On the 28th of April 1981, Jessica Marie Alba was born in Pomona, California, USA. Her father, Mark Alba, worked in the United States Air Force. In contrast, her mother, Catherine Louisa, was a lifeguard. Jessica has a younger brother named Joshua. The family lived paycheck-to-paycheck for many years. From an early age, Jessica started seeing herself as a feminist. Her family was conservative. They also frequently relocated from one place to another due to Mark’s career. During her childhood, Jessica had to suffer from some significant physical ailments. Every year, she suffered from pneumonia three to four times. Later, she was diagnosed with Atelectasis (partially collapsed lungs), asthma, a ruptured appendix, and a tonsillar cyst. 

Growing up, Jessica did not have many friends. Due to long periods of hospitalization, she hardly knew anyone at school. She attended the Claremont High School of the Pomona Valley in Claremont, California, for schooling. Jessica was inclined to act from the age of five. At age eleven, she convinced her mother to take her to an acting competition in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Her mother agreed, and Jessica took part in the competition. The grand prize for the contest was free acting lessons. Young Jessica, determined to pursue acting, won the grand prize. Simultaneously, her acting classes began. Within a few months, an agent signed Jessica. In 1994, at age thirteen, she grabbed her first acting opportunity. 

Beginning of Career

In 1994, Jonathan Prince, an American filmmaker, cast young Jessica in a minor role in Camp Nowhere. It was an adventure-comedy film. Jessica was supposed to be a part of the project for two weeks. However, a prominent actress’s exit earned Jessica a more significant role in the movie. Later, Alba appeared in two notable TV commercials, Nintendo and J.C. Penney. During her teen years, she starred in several independent films. In 1994, she also made her television debut. Famous American children’s cable channel Nickelodeon cast Jessica in The Secret World of Alex Mack. The following year, she starred in Flipper, a revival series of the famous 1964 TV series of the same name. At age sixteen, Jessica graduated from Claremont High School. Consequently, she enrolled at the Atlantic Theatre Company in Manhattan, NYC. 

Initial Years

William H. Macy and David Mamet founded the Atlantic Theatre Company. Jessica worked alongside William and his wife Felicity Huffman at the company. In 1998, Jessica starred in several TV series like Brooklyn South, Beverly Hills 90210, and Love Boat: The Next Wave. The following year, she portrayed the character of a snobby high school member in Never Been Kissed. The role garnered her considerable recognition. However, it was in 2000 when Jessica gained broader recognition in the industry. Legendary Canadian filmmaker James Cameron cast Jessica in an American sci-fi drama series Dark Angel. Alba was nineteen at the time.

Pathway to Success

Dark Angel marked James Cameron’s TV debut. The series was a critical hit and garnered several accolades. Every episode of the drama garnered over ten million viewers. Through the series, Jessica rose to fame and earned her first Golden Globe nomination. Following the success of Dark Angel, Jessica starred in Honey, a dance film revolving around an aspiring choreographer. It was a commercial success. 2005 was one of the most successful years of Jessica’s career. She appeared in the crime anthology Sin City followed by Fantastic Four. Both films achieved worldwide recognition. Sin City earned critical as well as commercial acclaim. In contrast, Fantastic Four couldn’t garner critical success but made over $300 million at the box office. Through these successes, Jessica became one of the most prominent stars in Hollywood. 

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Also read: Chris Evans’ Success Story