Elisha Ann Cuthbert (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian film and television actress. Cuthbert is known as the former co-host of the Canadian children's television series Popular Mechanics for Kids. She had her first film role in the 2003 feature film Old School and starred the following year in The Girl Next Door. She has also had starring roles in the 2005 House of Wax film and the 2007 horror film Captivity. Her most prominent role is as Kim Bauer in the American action-thriller television series 24.
Early life
Cuthbert was born in Calgary, Alberta, the daughter of Patricia, a homemaker, and Kevin, an automotive design engineer.She has two younger siblings, Jonathan and Lee-Ann, and she grew up in Greenfield Park, near Montreal, Quebec. In 2000, she graduated from Centennial Regional High School and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17 to pursue an acting career.
Early career
When she was nine, Cuthbert started modeling for various lines of children's clothing and also became a foot model.She made her first televised appearance as an extra in the horror-themed series for children Are You Afraid of the Dark?; she later became a series regular on the forever show. Cuthbert also co-hosted Popular Mechanics for Kids, which was filmed in Montreal. Her reporting captured the attention of then–First Lady Hillary Clinton, who invited her to visit the White House.
Cuthbert landed her first role in a feature film in the family drama Dancing on the Moon (1997). She appeared in several other Canadian family-themed movies and an airplane thriller, Airspeed. Cuthbert starred in the Canadian television movie Lucky Girl in 2001 and was awarded a Gemini Award for her performance.
Soon after her move to Los Angeles, Cuthbert was cast in the role of Kim Bauer, daughter of federal agent Jack Bauer in the television series 24. She appeared in the show's first three seasons, but not in its fourth; she guest-starred in only two episodes in the fifth season. She also reprised her role as Kim Bauer in 24: The Game and again guest-starred in five episodes of the seventh season and in two episodes of the eighth season.
2002–2005: Commercial success
Cuthbert auditioned for the role of Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man film, but the role went to Kirsten Dunst.[citation needed]
She began her Hollywood film career with small roles in Old School and Love Actually in 2003.
Cuthbert's next film, The Girl Next Door, cast her in her first lead role as an ex–porn star, Danielle, opposite 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. Upon its release, the film received comparisons to Risky Business,[– although Cuthbert claims her character was not directly based on Rebecca De Mornay's character. Critics were divided; some praised the film for its boldness, while others, notably Roger Ebert, decried it as gimmicky and exploitativeEbert wrote that he saw Cuthbert's character Danielle as "quite the most unpleasant character I have seen in some time."
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. Cuthbert, along with the rest of the cast, was made up to look haggard. 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. 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," though out of those characters, critics tended to think Cuthbert "fares the best." Though receiving negative reviews the film was a box office success. Others noted Cuthbert as an "exception," playing her role "earnestly" and "fine."
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Dancing on the Moon | Sarah | |
| 1997 | Mail to the Chief | Madison Osgood | |
| 1997 | Nico the Unicorn | Carolyn Price | |
| 1998 | Airspeed | Nicole Stone | |
| 1999 | Believe | Katherine Winslowe | |
| 1999 | Time at the Top | Susan Shawson | |
| 2000 | Who Gets the House? | Emily Reece | |
| 2001 | Lucky Girl | Katlin Palmerson | |
| 2003 | Love Actually | American Goddess Carol | |
| 2003 | Old School | Darcie Goldberg | |
| 2004 | The Girl Next Door | Danielle (aka "D") | |
| 2005 | House of Wax | Carly Jones | |
| 2006 | The Quiet | Nina Deer | |
| 2007 | Captivity | Jennifer Tree | |
| 2007 | He Was a Quiet Man | Vanessa | |
| 2008 | My Sassy Girl | Jordan Roark | |
| 2008 | Guns | Frances Dett | |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Barbara Lefay/Barby |
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