Alicia Silverstone pictures

A series of “swimsuit shots” led Alicia Silverstone to modeling. She was a mere six years old; the photographer was her dad. Nine years and many commercials later, the teenager had come into her own. Her natural charisma combined with sultry innocence to create a potent on-screen presence, and the model turned to acting. A role in the movie McBain (1991) was followed by a guest appearance on TV’s The Wonder Years (1992). Male viewers were entranced. This was a blonde bombshell on her way up.

Silverstone dropped out of Beverly Hills High (she did attend acting classes, and later earned a general equivalency diploma) for her budding career, and became an emancipated minor so that her working hours would not be restricted by child labor laws. A role in The Crush (1993), effectively her “breakthrough,” led to parts in the television movies Judith Krantz’s Torch Song (1993), Scattered Dreams (1993) and The Cool and the Crazy (1994). An appearance in the successful Aerosmith videos Cryin, Amazing and Crazy (an MTV All-Time Favourite) bridged Silverstone’s transfer back to the big screen, and 1995 became a big year for the 19-year-old with Hideaway, Le Nouveau Monde, True Crime, The Babysitter, and the smash hit Clueless. Not only did the latter net the young actor a National Board of Review Outstanding Newcomer award, an American Comedy Award and two MTV movie awards, but a $7 million (or $10 million, depending upon your source) three-movie production deal. The hefty perk didn’t turn out particularly well, for what followed first was the unfortunate film Excess Baggage with Silverstone as star, and produced by her First Kiss Productions. Cost overruns and poor box office returns on this film resulted in a trimming down by studios of future “vanity deals.”

Frustrations continued for the Clueless starlet. Hollywood media was not on her side, snidely reporting the Baggage gory details, speculating about a scandalous love life, and announcing a weight gain. All trace, though, of real or imagined poundage was gone by the time she zipped into her Batgirl suit for Batman and Robin (1997), but the actor found the role less challenging than she would have liked, and critics agreed. Silverstone received a “worst actress” Razzie for her efforts.

Attempting artistic redemption with Blast from the Past (1999), and a singing and dancing debut in Love’s Labors Lost (2000), the performer was again in the headlines for an off-camera affair with her director (an affair both parties strongly deny).

Coming up are roles in Stand By Your Man (which Silverstone will co-produce), and Breakers.

Although alternately adored and loathed by the press for her sexiness (she’s described as “nubile” in every article), Silverstone, at 23, has built a show business reputation by capitalizing, but never exploiting, her image. (For example she does not do nude scenes herself, but does agree to using a body double.) Her troubles may now be behind her -- there aren’t many performers ready to handle a multi-million dollar production deal at 19, but the learning experience will go a long way towards a solid Hollywood career.