Born in Pomona, California, on April 28, 1981, Jessica Alba and her family moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, when she was an infant. Three years later, her Air Force father brought the family back to California, then to Del Rio, Texas, before finally settling in Southern California when Jessica was nine. In love with the idea of becoming an actress from the age of five, she was 12 before she took her first acting class. Nine months later, she was signed by an agent. A gifted young actress, Jessica has already played a variety of roles ranging from light comedy to gritty drama since beginning her career. She made her feature film debut in 1993 in Hollywood Pictures' comedy _Camp Nowhere (1994)_ (qv). Originally hired for two weeks, she got her break when an actress in a principal role suddenly dropped out. Jessica cheerfully admits it wasn't her prodigious talent or charm that inspired the director to tap her to take over the part - it was her hair, which matched the original performer's. The two-week job stretched to two months, and Jessica ended the film with an impressive first credit. Two national TV commercials for Nintendo and J.C. Penney quickly followed before Jessica was featured in several independent films. She branched out into TV in 1994 with a recurring role in Nickelodeon's popular comedy series _"The Secret World of Alex Mack" (1994)_ (qv). She played an insufferable young snob, devoted to making life miserable for the the title character, played by 'Larisa Oleynik' (qv). That same year, she won the role of "Maya" in _"Flipper" (1995)_ (qv) and filmed the pilot for the series. She spent 1995 shooting the first season's episodes in Australia. An avid swimmer and PADI-certified scuba diver, Jessica was delighted to be doing a show that allowed her to play with dolphins. The show's success guaranteed it a second season, which she also starred in. Her involvement in the show lasted from 1995 to 1997. Since the show ended, she has appeared in a number of TV shows and films. In 1996, she appeared in _Venus Rising (1995)_ (qv) as "Young Eve". The next year, she appeared on the _"The Dini Petty Show" (1989)_ (qv), a Canadian talk show, and spoke about her role in _"Flipper" (1995)_ (qv) and her general acting career. She began working on _P.U.N.K.S. (1999) (V)_ (qv), featuring 'Randy Quaid' (qv), in 1998. In early 1998, she appeared in _"Brooklyn South" (1997)_ (qv) as "Melissa". That same year, she was in two episodes of _"Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990)_ (qv) as "Leanne" and in two episodes of _"Love Boat: The Next Wave" (1998)_ (qv). She appeared in "Teen Magazine" in 1995 and various European magazines in the following several years. More importantly, she was featured in the February 1999 issue of "Vanity Fair" magazine. She also had major roles in two movies that year: _Never Been Kissed (1999)_ (qv) and _Idle Hands (1999)_ (qv). In 2000, she had roles in _Paranoid (2000/I)_ (qv) and starred in the sci-fi TV series _"Dark Angel" (2000)_ (qv).
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Jessica Alba
- I'm really good at being sarcastic with guys. That's the best way to hang out with them, because that's what guys like. They don't want the quiet, prissy little things.
- I like Spongebob Squarepants. He's goofy, like me.
- [July 2004] I just don't have a great feeling about what we're doing in Iraq. I don't know why we're there. Didn't we just give the power back over there? Why are we still there?
- [on racial stereotyping] My father is Mexican and very dark; my mother is very fair. I used to always get [script] breakdowns for things like Maria, the janitor's daughter who hangs around with white kids. I was born in the United States. I never thought about it until the industry made me think about being a Latin girl. It seemed like such a bizarre thing.
- My grandfather was the only Mexican at his college, the only Hispanic person at work and the only one at the all-white country club. He tried to forget his Mexican roots, because he never wanted his kids to be made to feel different in America. He and my grandmother didn't speak Spanish to their children. Now, as a third-generation American, I feel as if I have finally cut loose.
- Men are much bigger divas than women. When I used to do the action scenes in _"Dark Angel" (2000)_ (qv) I would have to play it rough. If you hit an actress accidentally, she would usually take it on the chin and say, "Don't do that again." But with the guys, they would put ice on it, take a 20-minute break and ask for X-rays. It was unbelievable. I would tell them, "Come on, man, get over it." That's actors for you.
- There is always an unspoken problem about casting Latina actresses. I have heard 'Jennifer Lopez (I)' (qv) talk about how it was for her, always being up for the role of the Latina chick.
- What happens when the looks fade?. If I don't establish myself as someone who can act a part rather than look the part, I will soon be finished.
- I love listening to 'Coldplay' (qv). But sometimes I listen to it too much and it depresses me. I call it a "reflective" mood.
- The most important thing I have learned in life was that being a teenager wasn't forever. I had a hard time being a teenager.
- I don't hang out with the Hollywood cool people. I'm not out trying to make friends with people because they're famous.
- I have my own spiritual thing, but am not part of an organized religion. I think religion is very special and individual to each person.
- I don't need to be in the press or seen. Just because I'm not in magazines or because I'm not in a movie doesn't mean I'm going away. It just means I have some sense of integrity.
- Living in L.A., everyone likes to mold you and change you. I don't care about fame, I don't care about being a celebrity. I know that's part of the job, but I don't feed into anyone's idea of who I should be.
- I used to come to Beverly Hills for auditions as a kid and think, "Why don't I live here? Why don't I drive that car?"
- I wasn't given a whole lot in my life. I was on the bottom of the class system. But I got wisdom. I never just did what people told me. I questioned everything. When I look back, it is really no surprise that I started working at 12.
- From a very early age, I remember thinking that adults were always acting like assholes. I couldn't understand why I had to respect them. My pre-school teacher forced me to write right-handed when I was left-handed. I didn't get why I had to change. Nobody could give me a reason. I have had a big problem with authority ever since.
- [Being raised by young parents] We all grew up together. My parents were so young. My dad hates it when I talk about our past, about not having things, living with grandma, wearing thrift-store clothes, cutting coupons.
- [on learning Spanish] I have a great accent because I grew up hearing it in the neighborhood. But I have no idea what I'm saying.
- [on growing up in L.A.] I never really belonged anywhere. I wasn't white. I was shunned by the Latin community for not being Latin enough. My grandfather was the only one in our family to go to college. He made a choice not to speak Spanish in the house. He didn't want his kids to be different.
- It's not always so great to be objectified but I don't feel I have much of a choice right now. I'm young in my career. I know I have to strike when the iron is hot. I look forward to the day when I can do a small movie and act and it's not about me wearing a bathing suit or chaps.
- One of the reasons why I chose not to be a devout Christian is because a lot of people gave me a lot of grief for just being a woman and made me feel ashamed for having a body because it tempted men. I didn't understand what that meant because I was like, "God created this . . ." That was a hard time in my life.
- I just didn't like the damsel-in-distress thing. I could relate to young girls wanting to see her take care of herself. And because I'm so good at action, I talked the writer and producer and director into throwing together a little fight sequence. It ended up taking three more weeks to shoot it. But at least I'm not tied up and asleep until my knight in shining armor comes and saves me. So I thought it was cool.
- My whole life, when I was growing up, not one race has ever accepted me. So I never felt connected or attached to any race specifically. I did grow up in a Mexican-American culture, but my mom [who's of French and Danish descent] was there the whole time. I mean, I had a very American upbringing, I feel American, and I don't speak Spanish. So, to say that I'm a Latin actress, OK, but it's not fitting; it would be insincere. If you're going to look genetically, I'm actually less Latin than 'Cameron Diaz' (qv), whose father is from Cuba. But she's not getting called a Latin actress because she's got blond hair and blue eyes.
- The movies that I do are usually physically demanding in one way or another. It's a good way to keep your health on track. Especially when you've been on-set for 14 hours, it's nice to relieve that stress in another way than having to rely on a big meal and wine.
- Thank you to the fans. I do movies for you. Practice safe sex and drive hybrids if you can.
- My first kiss was when I was 7, and it was scandalous because he was 10! I only did it so he would pick me on our neighborhood baseball team. And at the time, I thought it was great, but then it sucked because he didn't even pick me!
- Men's magazines have nipples so why don't women have a magazine where men show their penises? There's Playgirl but not a fashion magazine like Elle. If there was a magazine like that I'd buy it. Nudity's not a big deal to me . . . I've said I won't go naked in any of my movies, because I don't want to. But that doesn't mean I don't want to see other people strip off!
- It's porn [_Good Luck Chuck (2007)_ (qv)]. There were all these actresses who got conned into being completely naked. Some were strippers, probably. But every day when I was done, I ran away. I was like, "Bye". As long as they didn't disrespect me, I could give a rat's butt.
- It's probably the most influential thing that I've ever had. Thank god for Dark Angel. Getting a blessing by James Cameron to star in his first television show. Really the first thing he did after Titanic was hire me.
- To me, box office is the most important thing. If the movie makes money, then I'm fine.
- My theory is that if you look confident, you can pull off anything - even if you have no clue what you're doing.
- When I went blonde for _Sin City (2005)_ (qv) three years ago, I swear I've never had more male attention. I'd go to a bar and all these Arab Princes and much older men would want to buy me a drink - I'm talking guys in their 80s!
- There's this mentality that you need the big dress and the big day - the day every girl gets to be a princess. I didn't agree with any of that. This tradition of obeying your husband like he's your king? It's a load of crap. Love and honor, yes. But you should love and honor yourself too, and all your friends.
- [on 'Lindsay Lohan' (qv)] She's really nice. We hang out and chat for hours about girl stuff.
- No, I'll never do a nude scene. I can act sexy and wear sexy clothes but I can't go naked. I come from a very Catholic family so it wasn't seen as a good thing to flaunt yourself like that. I can handle being sexy with clothes on but not with them off.
- [on 'James Cameron (I)' (qv)] There's nobody like him, and we're all blessed to have him be one of the best directors in our lifetime.
- _Avatar (2009)_ (qv) is incredible, just incredible. I love what Jim ['James Cameron (I)' (qv)] is doing for the environment, just in what his movie says about taking care of and trying to save our planet. It's such a beautiful message.
- I'm a total nerd at heart. If I'm not working I spend the whole day in my pajamas. I've never been desperate to be out there at parties, or to be playing the dating game.
- Pregnancy was the most incredible experience I've ever had. So I'll take the stretch marks. I'll take the sagging boobs. I'll take the cellulite I can never get rid of.
- My mom grew up around a huge family, and they always wanted more kids, and I was like, 'Why don't you just adopt?' I'm totally inspired. If you have the love, and the capacity to love children, you should just adopt. And I plan on doing it.
- I love 'Kate Winslet' (qv), she has a beautiful body, as does 'Monica Bellucci' (qv), 'Beyoncé Knowles' (qv), 'Jennifer Lopez (I)' (qv), 'Jessica Biel' (qv), 'Scarlett Johansson' (qv). There are so many gorgeous girls out there.
- I've bought 70 percent of my house off Craigslist! I've found so many things: couches, tables, lamps. I love the idea of recycling furniture and there being a history there.
- [on her daughter] I'm very strict with her. When it's time for her to eat, whether she's hollering or whatever, it's time to eat. She gets a time out if she cries for no reason. So then she stops because she doesn't want a time out.
- [on having more children] Yeah, I think so, it's the best thing ever. So, having more kids, I can wrap my head around it.
- No, I'll never do a nude scene. I can act sexy and wear sexy clothes but I can't go naked.
- [on 'Lindsay Lohan' (qv)] The fact that she can poke fun at herself - she's a brilliant actress. Mean Girls is a classic. It's so good. How can you ever forget that? I think people should probably focus more on someone's career and maybe less on someone's personal circumstances. It's nobody's business. Everyone goes through their own thing.
- [on herself after childbirth] My breasts are saggy, I've got cellulite, my hips are bigger... every actress out there is more beautiful than me.
- Good actors never use the script unless it's amazing writing. All the good actors I've worked with, they all say whatever they want to say.
- [on the criticism she received on her acting career] I know I haven't been swimming in the deep end with some of the movies I've done. I wasn't trying to. I knew what they were.
- When I read the script for _Machete (2010)_ (qv), I was uncomfortable with the sexual content. I got really nervous even talking about it.
- I wish I was more educated but I make do with the tools I was given in life.
- [on being a parent] It's the best of life. Honor walks and talks, has a lot of opinions.
- Honor is so beautiful and I feel so enriched by being part of her life. She's my main priority now and I want to give her the best life possible. Before she was born I was totally focused on my career, but now with Cash and our daughter I feel that I'm building a wonderful family. I would like to have more children at some point.
- We didn't plan on starting a family so soon but when it happened we realized what a beautiful moment it was. We're a lot closer. The beauty of marriage and having a family is knowing you're sharing everything with someone else and are committed to being part of each others lives. Cash and I understand that and together with our daughter, we want to have a wonderful life.
- Oddly, I think I'm a little more wild and free since I had Honor because once she's in bed all my mom friends come over and we have dance parties at my house. It's really dorky and I probably wouldn't have done that before. But no, I don't go out. I hang out with my friends and I'm pretty chilled.
- [on being criticized by _4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)_ (qv) director 'Tim Story (I)' (qv)] - [The director told me] 'It looks too real. It looks too painful. Can you be prettier when you cry? Cry pretty, Jessica'. He was like, 'Don't do that thing with your face. Just make it flat. We can CGI the tears in'. I'm like, 'but there's no connection to a human being'. And then it all got me thinking: 'Am I not good enough? Are my instincts and my emotions not good enough? Do people hate them so much that they don't want me to be a person? Am I not allowed to be a person in my work?' And so I just said, 'Fuck it - I don't care about this business anymore.'
- I don't do nudity. I just don't. Maybe that makes me a bad actress. Maybe I won't get hired in some things. But I have too much anxiety.
- I can't ever get down to the weight I was before I had Honor [her first child]. My body's just different. The jeans just sort of zip up differently, and things hang differently.
- (on physical attraction fading and personality being more important in relationships): The physical is so fleeting anyway. And when you're in a relationship, the physical lasts for, maximum, two years. And then you don't care how attractive you are to that person - if they drive you nuts, they drive you nuts.
- (on expecting her second child) The nursery isn't ready. It's not even close, but I'm accumulating things. In the beginning the baby stays with me in the room, so you don't need the nursery ready so soon. We're remodeling our house, so it's going to take a few months. I'm really taking my time.
- I was a child actor and it worked for me, given the circumstances I was in, but I'm lucky enough to give my daughter and my second baby a completely different life and an education that I never had the opportunity to have. When they're done with college, if they want to get into the arts, that's fine. I think you will be a better artist the more life experience you have, but I wouldn't encourage them to work in this type of environment as children.
- It's hard. On the weekends is when my husband and I make a concerted effort to just not email or text, but really spend our time with our daughter and be completely, 100 percent focused on her. During the week, it's here and there, depending on if I am busy with meetings or not. It is tough, because I do care about my career. I do have that, but she's my number one priority. If she's not doing okay, nothing matters.
- It feels like you're really officially, really truly a mom when you have two kids. [With] one kid you're a mom for sure, but two takes it to another level.
- [on chipping her front tooth while filming Good Luck Chuck] I chipped my front tooth doing a kiss with Dane [Cook] and he chipped his bottom tooth. We were doing this comedic 'Mr and Mrs Smith' love scene, and we were slamming into walls and breaking things and tumbling over couches and stuff. At one point, he slammed my head into a picture frame and, while my head was smacking into the wall and breaking the picture, his teeth slammed into my teeth. Now I have a bond on my tooth and when I take it off I look like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. I look really silly. I guess I'd be perfect for a sequel. I can definitely take the bond off of my tooth and throw people off a bit. I get to take this thing off and be somebody else for a little while. It's like a disguise.
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