Almost everyone who has spent time with Kate Hudson -including directors, family members, co-stars and interviewers - is quick to comment on her ability to light up a room. Through some combination of a winning smile, solid work ethic, and good old-fashioned talent, the young actress has gone from indie beginner to Vanity Fair cover girl in just three years. What's more, she's done it all without capitalizing on the success of legendary mom, Goldie Hawn. By all accounts, Hudson was a born performer - as a child she danced and sang at every opportunity. Her family hoped that she would attend New York University after graduating from high school, but she opted to get her feet wet in the professional acting world first. She made her big-screen debut as an ambitious young starlet stranded in a tiny California town in Desert Blue. Her next two films, while critically panned, made it into wider release: 200 Cigarettes (in which she played an earnest but accident-prone ditz) and Gossip (which cast her as a rich, virginal college student). Perhaps Hudson's biggest break was landing the role of rock groupie (or "Band Aide") Penny Lane in Almost Famous. The part was originally intended for Sarah Polley; when Polley backed out to pursue another project, director Cameron Crowe considered scrapping the film altogether. Hudson, who had been cast in a smaller role (as William's stewardess sister), begged for a chance to read for Penny. Crowe was impressed, Hudson got the part, and the show went on. As much as Tinseltown gossipmongers would like to put them at odds, mother and daughter agree that Hawn is one of Hudson's biggest supporters. Kate has never been particularly close to her birth father, musician Bill Hudson; she considers her true "Pa" to be Hawn's longtime partner, Kurt Russell, who has lived with the family since she was three. Her brother, Oliver Hudson, is an actor and aspiring writer-director.



Bride Wars (2009): $7,000,000
My Best Friend's Girl (2008): $7,000,000
Raising Helen (2004): $7,000,000
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003): $4,500,000
The Four Feathers (2002): $750,000
Ricochet River (2001): $7,000
Desert Blue (1998): $8,000

Daughter of Bill Hudson and Goldie Hawn, but raised by Goldie's longtime partner, Kurt Russell, whom she considers her father. Turned down the part of Peter Parker's girlfriend Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man (2002) for the role of Ethne Eustace in The Four Feathers (2002). Graduated from Crossroads, a Santa Monica performing arts school, in 1997. Ranked #99 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List. It is her first appearance on the list and she was the youngest person on it that year at the age of 24. Enjoys playing guitar, writing music, and arts & crafts Niece of Brett Hudson and Mark Hudson who, along with her father, Bill Hudson, were part of the rock group, The Hudson Brothers. When she was 11, her mother relented and got her an audition for a lead role in a never-produced television show with Howie Mandel. Hudson won the part - but Hawn didn't tell her, turned it down, and kept the secret until she admitted it a year later. She can play guitar and piano. Admires Bette Davis Dislikes wearing make-up and washes her face with Cetaphil Father Bill Hudson is the son of Sicilian immigrants (who Anglicized their surname); mother Goldie Hawn is half Anglo-Saxon and half Jewish. Kate was raised Jewish and Buddhist - as she describes it - "Jew-Bu". Has 3 dogs: Clara (a Pomeranian), Doctor (an English bulldog), and Bella (a Neapolitan mastiff) Buys her clothes from vintage clothing shops and makes her own jewelry Rank #38 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties Ranked #51 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women In The World" (2002). Her ex-stepmother is actress Cindy Williams. She was married to Bill Hudson, her father, and they had two children together named Zachary and Emily. The two are now divorced. She lost 60 pounds in the three months after giving birth to her son, Ryder, for her role in The Skeleton Key (2005). Her ex-husband, Chris Robinson, is the lead singer of The Black Crowes. After the National Enquirer reported that she had an eating disorder, she successfully won a libel suit against them. As a result of the suit, she has become one of the only people who successfully forced the Enquirer to admit they fabricated a story (rather than claiming it was a mistake). Announced separation from her husband of almost six years, Chris Robinson [July 2006]. Auditioned for the role of Lady Jocelyn in A Knight's Tale (2001), but lost out to Shannyn Sossamon. Ranked #27 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list. Kurt Russell walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Chris Robinson. Was in a relationship with Lance Armstrong in 2008. Born at 10:51 AM (PST). Granddaughter of Rut Hawn and Laura Hawn. Met best friend Liv Tyler at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California in the 90s.