Cameron Diaz

CAMERON DIAZ is the most luminescent newcomer to silver screen in the 1990's. At age 21 and only with her modeling experience under the hood, Diaz landed a potentially sky-rocketing role opposite rising superstar comedian Jim Carrey in The Mask. With her foot well in the door of Hollywood films, she was next afforded the chance to kick Hollywood ass in the feature film version of Mortal Kombat. For this role, Diaz would require martial arts training. But luck would send Diaz down a different road after she injured her wrist karate-chopping her trainer's head. Diaz instead returned to some high-paying modeling jobs and found smaller, low-paying roles in independent films. Cameron states, "I think that definitely your chances of coming across material in independent films--material that is more interesting and more challenging--is more likely than in big-studio films. You always have to leave your doors open to independent films so you have that opportunity."

At age 17, she began her career as a fashion model. Diaz signed with top modeling agency, Elite Model Management. After graduating from high school, she went to work in Japan and met video director Carlo de la Torre. On her return to America, she moved in with him. For the next few years, her modeling took her around the world, working for contracts with major companies. She modeled for designers such as Calvin Klein and Levi's. She also graced the cover of the July 1990 issue of Seventeen magazines.

At the age of 22, Diaz auditioned for the Jim Carrey film The Mask. Even though she had no previous acting experience,[6] she was cast as the female lead. She signed up for acting lessons right after getting the part. Over the next three years, she won roles in low-budget, independent films, such as The Last Supper, Feeling Minnesota, and She's The One.

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