Who is Hilary Duff

In the most dignified way possible, "Dignity"--the title track to this fizz-bomb of a dance-pop disc--sends a disgusted eye-roll and a flagrant puh-lease to underwear-eschewing celebutantes everywhere: "You'd show up to the opening of an envelope," sings Duff, who hangs onto her signature sweetness despite having entered full-on diss mode. "It's not news when you've got a new bag/It's not news when you're looking your best/Come on, give it a rest." Well said. And sung. Not that calling out the phony and the full of it is what Duff, or Dignity, is all about.

Mostly, the disc is a beat-studded chronicling of an incredibly healthy 19-year-old psyche: On "Happy," she's happy despite an ex's attempts to make her miserable; on "With Love"--maybe her catchiest, most grown-up song to date--she's willing to accept rejection as long as kindness plays a role in its delivery. Musically, with the help of groove-conscious producers like Tim & Bob and Will.i.am, Duff edges ever closer to adult sensibilities; her goofball Lizzie McGuire days seem far behind. It's an evolution anybody could have seen coming, actually. Has there ever been a starlet with her head on straighter? --Tammy La Gorce

Glamour girls Hilary and Haylie Duff (featured in Lizzie McGuire and 7th Heaven, respectively) star as cosmetic heiresses Ava and Tanzie Marchetta, whose lives get turned upside down when their deceased father's company is accused of selling toxic products. Wouldn't you know it, Ava and Tanzie decide to go all Erin Brockovich and investigate. Material Girls should be awful--but it isn't. It's not a great film, it may not even be a good film, but it's more watchable than it has any right to be, thanks to the confident and thoughtful guiding hand of director Martha Coolidge (Rambling Rose, Valley Girl). It's hard to say exactly how a director can keep something like Material Girls from being as insipid as, say, New York Minute. Coolidge injects some hint of awareness of what it actually means to be poor, casts some surprising actors (like Anjelica Huston, Prizzi's Honor; Brent Spiner, Star Trek: The Next Generation; and Lukas Haas, Brick), and somehow makes the Marchetta sisters both vapid and sympathetic--all of which is some impressive cinematic alchemy. The result is the most enjoyable film of Hilary Duff's career. -- Bret Fetzer


Sisters Tanzie and Ava (Hilary and Haylie Duff) have it all ? designer clothes to wear, hunky guys to date and millions of dollars to spend. Their life has been one big party since inheriting their dad's cosmetics company... but the party ends when a product scandal leaves the celebutantes without a penny to their name. It's a hilarious riches-to-rags tale as the girls go from maximum fun to minimum wage. Co-starring Anjelica Huston and Lukas Haas, MATERIAL GIRLS proves that laughter is always in fashion.

Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Maria Conchita Alonso, Anjelica Huston, Brent Spiner,

The best performance in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is by an actress you've probably never heard of: 11-year-old Alyson Stoner, who plays Sarah, one of twelve children of Tom and Kate Baker (Steve Martin, Bowfinger, and Bonnie Hunt, Return to Me). The movie follows the popular clan of the previous remake of Cheaper by the Dozen as they go to a camp in the mountains, where Tom renews his rivalry with Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy, Bringing Down the House). To the movie's credit, it doesn't quite degenerate into a National Lampoon's Vacation knock-off, though it comes perilously close. But thanks to the grace of Bonnie Hunt and general good spirits of the cast of kids (including Tom Welling, Smallville; Hilary Duff, The Perfect Man, who in some scenes becomes uncomfortably Lolita-esque; and Piper Perabo, Coyote Ugly, among others), this unnecessary sequel manages to remain enjoyable to anyone with a taste for broad family movies. But Stoner--as a tomboy getting her first crush--brings considerable charisma to her generically-written part, and her scenes give the movie a much-needed emotional lift. Otherwise, it's a movie in which Carmen Electra plays the voice of reason (in a series of tight-fitting tops). -- Bret Fetzer

Steve Martin is funnier than ever in this hilarious sequel! Tom Baker (Steve Martin) and wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) bring their clan together for a memorable summer getaway. But their dream vacation turns into an outrageous competition with the overachieving, overzealous family of Tom's long-time rival, Jimmy Murtaugh (Eugene Levy). Featuring all the original Baker kids, including Hilary Duff, Tom Welling and Piper Perabo, this super-sized comedy is fun for the whole family!

One of Hilary Duff's most attractive qualities is that she's not a borderline anorexic like too many Hollywood starlets; she has a warm, full-bodied presence that makes her dangerously glossy prettiness accessible. Similarly, Heather Locklear--who's been an iconic plastic blonde on television for decades--is cultivating a bruised humanity as she matures. These two combine forces in The Perfect Man, a curious teen comedy/adult romance hybrid about a single mother named Jean (Locklear, Melrose Place) whose tactic for getting over a broken heart is to move to a different part of the country, uprooting her two daughters Holly and Zoe (Hilary Duff, Cheaper by the Dozen, and newcomer Aria Wallace) in the process. Holly, to keep her mother from falling into another desperate and doomed relationship, uses advice from a schoolfriend's uncle (Chris Noth, Sex and the City) to send Jean flowers and love letters from a secret admirer. Of course, sustaining this fantasy requires some wacky antics, but The Perfect Man balances goofiness with an emotional mother/daughter tug-of-war and has some entertaining supporting actors (including Caroline Rhea, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Carson Kressley, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). The plot, however, has holes so big that it collapses even as it unfolds. -- Bret Fetzer


Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear and Chris Noth star in this hilarious yet heartwarming comedy about mothers, daughters and the outrageous lengths people will go to for love. Holly Hamilton (Duff) is on a mission to find her single mom (Locklear) a perfect man%u2026.Even if she has to make that man up! Without other options, she creates an imaginary secret admirer based on a charming restaurateur (Noth). But this scheme keeps Holly on her toes more than it actually sweeps her mother off her feet. One crazy mishap after another leads the two of them to discover that sometimes what you're looking for is already right in front of you.

Dennis DeYoung, Hilary Duff, Mazin Elsadig, Ben Feldman, Christopher Gilbertson

# A girl from a small town (Hilary Duff) heads to the big city of Los Angeles to spend the summer at a performing arts high school.
# Plot Synopsis: Hilary Duff stars in this great film about a teen age girl who is very upset about her brother's death in a car crash. Terri (Hilary Duff) has a love of singing and making up her own songs. Her brother (before his death) secretly submits a DVD of her singing to a musical contest down in L.A. Her father doesn't want her to go, but secretly her mom lets her go and everything goes fine, except she has stage fright. She gets through her stage fright with the help of her new friend Jay. At the end of the contest everyone at the musical school have to perform something. And if they win, they win a scholarship along with it. Her dad finds out, comes down to L.A. and makes her go home! Will he let her stay? and will she win the contest? Viewers are on the edges of their seats to find out what happens...


Perky teen starlet Hilary Duff wholeheartedly embraces the kind of earnest innocence all parents wish their daughters had. In Raise Your Voice, Terri Fletcher (Duff, A Cinderella Story, The Lizzie McGuire Movie) yearns to go to a prestigious music conservatory in Los Angeles. Her father (David Keith, An Officer and a Gentleman) won't let her because L.A. is a bad place--but her loving mom (Rita Wilson) and kooky aunt (Rebecca DeMornay, Risky Business) sneak her away. Once there, she gets a sassy roommate-of-color, geeky cool friends, a snooty rival, and a sexy British boyfriend (Oliver James, What a Girl Wants). Of course, all conflicts with family and friends come to a head at a big competition at which Terri rediscovers herself. Formulaic?Yes (see also Fame, Dirty Dancing, and School of Rock). Bland? Yes. Will preteen girls enjoy it anyway? Maybe, because Duff plays it so sincere. -- Bret Fetzer

If you are one of Hilary Duff's most ardent pre-teen fans, chances are you'll find something to enjoy in A Cinderella Story, but everyone else should proceed with caution. It's an updated fairy tale for the age of instant messaging, which is how Sam (Duff) develops a crush on Austin (Chad Michael Murray) before realizing that this Tennyson-quoting poet-at-heart is actually her San Fernando Valley high school's star quarterback and most desirable hunk. In a role that squanders her proven comedic gifts, Jennifer Coolidge is Sam's Botox-injected evil stepmother, and lame attempts at comedy turn her dimwitted stepsisters into buffoons, like many of the other cast members who struggle to find anything funny in the screenplay. So we're left with the bland, blonde charms of Hilary Duff, who fared better in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but manages to salvage her mainstream appeal in a comedy for which "cute" is not necessarily a compliment. -- Jeff Shannon

Meet high school student Sam (Hilary Duff), who scrubs floors at a diner, copes with her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, and all the while dreams of Princeton (the perfect spot for a would-be princess to find a prince). But maybe she has a Prince Charming already: her anonymous e-mail buddy (Chad Michael Murray), who arranges to meet her at the Halloween dance. Sam panics when Mr. Anonymous turns out to be the coolest guy on campus. Can he love a girl who isn't part of the in crowd? Can fairy tales come true? Sure - but only if Sam stands up for herself and turns her dreams into reality.

Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) has graduated from middle school and takes a trip to Rome, Italy.

Teen queen Lizzie McGuire grows up a bit and hits the big screen in this comedy drama, based on the popular Disney Network series. Lizzie McGuire and her best friends Kate, Gordo, and Ethan have just graduated from middle school, and to celebrate, they're taking part in a class trip to Rome, Italy. Eager to celebrate their new maturity as high school students, Lizzie and her pals hope to live it up in one of Europe's most fabled cities, but fate has something more spectacular in store for Lizzie. Lizzie discovers that she bears a striking resemblance to Isabella, an Italian teen-pop idol famous for her duets with heart-throb Paolo -- so much so that when Paolo and Isabella have a falling out, he asks Lizzie to take Isabella's place for an upcoming concert. Lizzie, however, isn't sure she feels comfortable stepping into the spotlight, and is even less sure about the way she feels about Paolo, who makes no secret of his infatuation with her. Things don't get any simpler for Lizzie when her family gets wind of her newfound fame, and catch the next flight to Italy.


The Lizzie McGuire Movie spins around the axis of Disney Channel starlet Hilary Duff, whose glossy good looks and rather mature figure are balanced by a sweetly bashful persona and an endearing klutziness. On a school trip to Rome, Lizzie is discovered to be the virtual twin of an Italian pop star named Isabella--and her dreamy former partner wants Lizzie to take Isabella's place at an award show to avoid a lawsuit. Only Lizzie's loyal best friend Gordo (Adam Lamberg) suspects that Paolo may not be all that he seems. The Lizzie McGuire Movie is competent fluff, but the most fun to be had actually comes from Lizzie's pesky little brother (Jake Thomas) and his Machiavellian friend Melina (Carly Schroeder), who plot to humiliate Lizzie for fun and personal gain. Also featuring Alex Borstein (Mad TV) as Lizzie's tyrannical principal and chaperone. -- Bret Fetzer

Join America's sweetheart, Lizzie McGuire, on the trip of a lifetime in the theatrical hit THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE, starring teen sensation Hilary Duff (AGENT CODY BANKS). Goodbye, home! Hello, Rome! Lizzie, along with classmates Gordo, Kate, and Ethan, is celebrating with a graduation trip to Italy to experience la dolce vita -- and some awesome pizza! In a whirlwind of comic events, Lizzie is mistaken for Italy's biggest pop diva, Isabella, and falls for Paolo, Isabella's handsome singing partner. Transformed from awkward teen into international pop star, Lizzie now has the choice of a lifetime. Will becoming Italy's next singing sensation also mean leaving her family and close friends behind? It's up to Lizzie to embrace newfound courage and do things she never thought possible. Find out what dreams are made of in THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE.

Hilary Duff stares off the cover of Most Wanted with the look of a doe-eyed, feathered-haired criminal. Or maybe she's just exhausted, which would explain why she revisits so much already-released material. Three of the teen queen's biggest, brightest hits ("Come Clean," "Rock This World," and "Why Not") get the remix treatment. Impossible though it seems, each remix is still zippier than the original. Perennial fave "So Yesterday" is squished between the hard-rockin', deeply satisfying "Mr. James Dean" from 2004's Hilary Duff and the too-girlie-for-its-own-good "Metamorphosis" from the same-named 2003 disc. There are three originals including opener "Wake Up", a slightly self-pitying look inside the celebrity glass bubble, but to a great beat, the danceable "Beat of my Heart," and emo-esque "Break My Heart." The burning question of whether it's worth it to buy this record based on the inarguably good remixes and three original tracks will be dictated by how severe her fan base's withdrawal symptoms are. If magazine covers bear any relation to the old practice of plastering a town with "wanted" posters, odds are Duff's zillions of fans will not only find this disc but help her deliver on its smart title's promise. -- Tammy La Gorce

Even when Hilary Duff is at her most un-Lizzie McGuire-like, it's impossible not to like her, as she proves on this reinvention-themed, girl-grows-up album. Free her from the constraints of the teen-queen slumber party scene and she'll crank up the guitars and "Fly," as she does on the feel-good first single; give her a minute to reflect on life as a multi-hyphenate (in her case TV princess-movie star-pop goddess) and she'll come clean with "Underneath This Smile," an introspective winner not lacking--and yet not reaching--for sunshine, or "Who's That Girl," an unapologetic embrace of self-contradiction. Songwriters Diane Warren ("I Am") and Charlie Midnight, whose contributions to Duff's last album don't seem so yesterday as yet, pitch in, as does Hilary's star-in-her-own-right sister Haylie (the boyfriend-blasting "Mr. James Dean"). If there's evidence of the mixed-up lovable kook millions of teens once modeled themselves after here, it is only in the title: Hilary Duff may be the follow-up to the 5 million-selling Metamorphosis, but the real metamorphosis for Miss Duff takes place here. -- Tammy La Gorce

She may have played a teenaged girl mistaken for a pop star in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but after releasing a Christmas album in 2002, and crooning two songs on the movie's soundtrack, Hilary Duff looks like she means business. The only trouble is, she doesn't sound like it. Although dubbing her first album Metamorphosis, the disc is anything but. Her singing is as coy and kittenish as her on-screen persona and she mugs her way through most of the 13 songs with charm and aplomb, but little natural singing talent. But to her credit, the actress has managed to cover a multitude of vocal sins by hiring a team of crack producers, who double her voice whenever possible, giving many of the tracks the rather anthemic feel of a cheerleading squad. The best songs on the disc are the three masterminded by the Matrix, the same production team that oversaw Avril Lavigne's hit disc and they give the lissome actress's singing some attitude and grit, like on the infectious and spectacularly bratty "So Yesterday," and the cleverly conceived "Math," complete with heavy metal guitar riffs. But Duff is not inhabiting that saucy jailbait territory staked by Britney Spears. At the ripe old age sixteen, she's much more Barbies than bustiers. -- Jaan Uhelszki