Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate (born November 25, 1971) is an American actress and dancer who gained fame as a child actress, playing the role of Kelly Bundy on the Fox sitcom Married... with Children (1987–97). In her adult years, Applegate established a film and television career, winning an Emmy and earning Tony and Golden Globe nominations. She has had major roles in several films, including Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991), The Big Hit (1998), The Sweetest Thing (2002), Grand Theft Parsons (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and its sequel, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Farce of the Penguins (2007), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) and Hall Pass (2011). She has also starred in numerous Broadway theatre productions such as the 2005 revival of the musical Sweet Charity. She played the lead role in the television sitcoms Jesse (1998–2000) and Samantha Who? (2007–09) and starred in the NBC comedy Up All Night (2011–12) before leaving over the creative direction of the series, which was canceled shortly afterward. Early life Applegate was born in Hollywood, California. Her father, Robert W. Applegate, was a record producer and record company executive, and her mother, Nancy Lee Priddy, a singer and actress. Her parents split up shortly after her birth. She has two half-siblings (Alisa and Kyle) from her father's remarriage. Following her parents' divorce, her mother had a relationship with musician Stephen Stills. It was through Stills' friendship with fellow musicians Paul Kantner and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane that Applegate became friends with their daughter, China Kantner. Career Applegate made her TV debut with her mother in the soap opera Days of Our Lives and a commercial for Playtex baby bottles at three and five months respectively. Her first big screen appearance followed at age 7 when she was seen in the 1979 film, Jaws of Satan (a.k.a. King Cobra), followed by 1981's Beatlemania. She debuted in a television movie as young Grace Kelly in the biopic, Grace Kelly (1983, opposite Cheryl Ladd) and appeared on her first TV series in Showtime's political comedy, Washingtoon (1985), in which she played a Congressman's daughter. Applegate eventually scored her most memorable role as the ditzy, sexually promiscuous daughter, Kelly Bundy, on the FOX sitcom, Married... with Children. She portrayed her character for 11 years (1987–97). The character of Sue Ellen Crandell in the comedy feature Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) was Applegate's first starring role in a mainstream film. Applegate was one of the founding members of the Pussycat Dolls, which debuted at Johnny Depp's Viper Room on the Sunset Strip in 1995. Applegate emceed for the group when they moved to The Roxy in 2002. Applegate topped the list of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People in 2009. Personal life On October 20, 2001, Applegate married actor Johnathon Schaech in Palm Springs, California. Schaech filed for divorce in December 2005, citing irreconcilable differences, and the divorce was finalized in August 2007. In 2009, she began dating musician Martyn LeNoble. They became engaged on Valentine's Day 2010, and wed on February 23, 2013, at their Los Angeles home. It is the second marriage for both. They have one daughter, Sadie Grace, born in January 2011. Applegate is a vegetarian, and in 2007, appeared in an anti-fur ad for PETA. Breast cancer On August 3, 2008, People magazine reported that Applegate had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This was confirmed by her representative who said in a statement, "Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor-ordered MRI, the cancer is not life-threatening. Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery. No further statement will be issued at this time." On August 19, 2008, it was announced that Applegate was cancer free after a double mastectomy, even though cancer was found in only one breast. She has an inherited genetic trait, a BRCA1 mutation, which often triggers breast cancer. Her mother, Nancy Priddy, is a breast cancer survivor. Applegate said when she first was diagnosed, "I was just shaking and then also immediately, I had to go into 'take-care-of-business-mode' which included a change to a more healthy diet."