Kirsten Caroline Dunst was born on April 30, 1982 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA to Klaus Dunst, a German medical-services exec. who's now stationed in New Jersey while the rest of his family lives on the West Coast. Klaus separated from Kirsten's mother Inez Dunst, a former art-gallery owner. She also has a brother named Christian, who was born in 1986. Kirsten started out in showbiz at the age of three, where she began filming television commercials (a grand total of more than 70). She made her feature film debut in a segment of Woody Allen's 1989 film New York Stories. Shortly after in the same year her family moved to Los Angeles, where her film career took off.

In 1994 she made her breakthrough performance in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles alongside such stars as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination, the MTV Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and the Saturn award for Best Young Actress. In 1995, she was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. Over the next few years she made a string of hit movies including Little Women, Jumanji and Small Soldiers.

2000 was Kirsten's biggest year yet - she received rave reviews for her role as Lux Lisbon in Sofia Coppola's Independent film The Virgin Suicides. She proved her status as a leading actress in the comedy hit Bring It On, and she graduated from Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles in June of that year. She is now working on her own production company with her mother called "Wooden Spoon Productions."



Marie Antoinette (2006): $8,000,000
Elizabethtown (2005): $8,000,000
Wimbledon (2004): $5,000,000

Was a Ford model as a child. Attended the Anne Rice's Memnoch Ball in New Orleans in 1995. Parents are separated. She lives with her mother Inez, and brother Christian in Southern California. Graduated from Notre Dame High School, a private Catholic high school in Los Angeles, in May/June 2000. Went to the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey up until the sixth grade, when she left to pursue her career in California. Nabbed the lead role of Peter Parker's girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson, in Spider-Man (2002) after Kate Hudson and Alicia Witt turned it down. Name is pronounced "Keer-sten" (not "Kur-sten"). One of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars under 25" [2002] Furthered her singing career with a song that appears durings the end credits to The Cat's Meow (2001). Auditioned along with Kate Hudson to replace Sarah Polley for the role of Penny Lane in Almost Famous (2000), she didn't get the part but Cameron Crowe later said it was "very, very close". Her nickname is Kiki as when she was a child she could not pronounce Kirsten. She then provided the voice of Kiki in the English dubbing of the Miyazaki animated feature, Majo no takkyûbin (1989) (aka "Kiki's Delivery Service"). Is a big fan of the British television show "Da Ali G Show" (2000). Her favorite show is "Friends" (1994). Is a fan of the television show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2000). Ranked #25 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002). Like her Bring It On (2000) character "Torrance Shipman," Kirsten was a cheerleader in high school. She was called back to reshoot some scenes for Get Over It (2001) while filming the first Spider-Man (2002) movie, which explains why her character suddenly goes from blond to red in a few scenes. Jake Gyllenhaal gave Kirsten a gray and white kitten for her birthday. She named the cat Sophie. Was ranked #15 in E's 50 cutest child stars all grown-up.(2005). Dyed her hair red for Spider-Man 3 (2007). Lives in New York and Los Angeles. [2007] Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2008 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Actress category for her performance in the film Spider-Man 3 (2007). She failed to receive a nomination however. Was ranked #24 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actress list. (2008).