By 1999, Michelle Pfeiffer had been cited in People magazine as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" six times. Three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Pfeiffer has proved herself as more than just a pretty face; her physical beauty is accompanied by her dramatic versatility as an actress. Though she began her career playing "dumb blondes," she soon won the chance to captivate audiences with her ability to portray both serious and comedic characters. She has received critical acclaim for such films as Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and box office success playing a former Marine turned high school teacher in Dangerous Minds (1995), yet rarely have her critical successes also been box office ones.

Born in Santa Ana, California, in 1957 (some sources also list 1958 and 1959), Michelle Pfeiffer was the second of four children by a heating and air conditioning contractor. Never considering herself pretty, Michelle says she...