Milla Jovovich
Born: Kyiv, Ukraine, 1975
Photo Credit: [ Constantin Film Prod / The Kobal Collection ]
Milla went to modelling auditions from the age of nine but her remarkable modelling career began when photographer Gene Lemual reccomended that Herb Ritts, another high profile fashion photographer, shoot Milla for the cover of Lei magazine. This exposure propelled the model to great success and recognition in the fashion industry.
Continuing her collaborations with great photographers Milla was then shot by Richard Avedon for Revlon’s series of ‘Most Unforgettable Women in the World’ advertisements. Throughout her career Milla went on to feature in campaigns for other high profile brands such as L’Oreal, Banana Republic, Christian Dior, Donna Karan and Versace.
Milla’s next high profile appearance was on the cover of ‘The Face’ magazine, which prompted contracts with many more prestigious fashion magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Harpers Bazaar.
It wasn’t long after reaching great success as a model that Milla began to show an interest in acting. In 1988 she debuted in film ‘The Night Train to Kathmandu’ and this led to her starring in many more films across her career. In 1991 Milla’s fame as an actress grew with the film ‘Return to the Blue Lagoon’ and the next year she appeared as Christian Slater’s love interest in ‘Kuffs’. In 1997 Milla appeared with Bruce Willis in the sci-fi film, ‘The Fifth Element’, her debut in this genre went on to her starring in the film franchise ‘Resident Evil’ which was a series of five films. Her success as a sci-fi star led to music channel VH1 dubbing her the ‘Reigning queen of kick-butt’.
Alongside her modelling and acting careers Milla also worked prolifically as a musician, releasing an album ‘The Divine Comedy’ in 1994. Milla continued to release songs and also contribute to film soundtracks.
To add another string to her already well-strung bow, in 2003 along with fellow model Carmen Hawk, Milla created the clothing line ‘Jovovich-Hawk’ which released three collections and sold in Fred Segal and Harvey Nichols before it ceased operations in 2008. Not satisfied with acting, modelling, singing and working as a fashion designer Milla also owns her own production company ‘Creature Entertainment’. Perhaps explaining Milla’s varied interests and entrepreneurial efforts she said: “Modelling was never a priority, it enables me to be selective about the creative decisions I make.”
Milla is a still a familiar face in the fashion industry and sought after by high end fashion houses, in 2002 she was announced as Miuccia Prada’s muse and in 2003 Harpers & Queen magazine claimed that Milla was Gianni Versace’s favourite supermodel. In 2006 Milla became the face of Mango and also appeared in advertisements for Etro.
Milla is married to film writer and director Paul W.S. Anderson, the two met while working together on film ‘Resident Evil’. In 2007 Milla gave birth to her and Andersons first child, daughter Ever Gabo Anderson. Milla was married twice previously, initially when she was 16 to on-screen boyfriend Shawn Andrews, while filming ‘Dazed & Confused’. Milla’s mother annulled the marriage two months later. In 1997 Milla then married ‘Fifth Element’ director Luc Bresson, they divorced two years later.
In 2011, she reprised her role as Alice in “Resident Evil: Retribution,” the fifth instalment of the successful film franchise based on the popular video game series. She continued to portray the character in subsequent films, solidifying her association with the iconic action-horror series. Jovovich also took on other diverse roles during this period. In 2014, she starred in the fantasy adventure film “Cymbeline,” based on the play by William Shakespeare. She showcased her versatility by appearing in independent films such as “Survivor” (2015) and “Shock and Awe” (2017).
In addition to acting, Milla Jovovich pursued her passion for music. In 2012, she released her studio album “The Divine Comedy” as a collaboration with musician Chris Brenner. The album showcased her vocal abilities and revealed another facet of her artistic talents. Jovovich’s enduring presence in the entertainment industry led to numerous accolades and recognitions. She received the Jean Reno Award for International Actress at the 2013 CineVegas International Film Festival and was honoured with the Spotlight Award at the 2019 Hollywood Critics Association Awards.
Outside of her professional achievements, Milla Jovovich is an advocate for various causes. She has been involved in organisations such as amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) and has used her platform to raise awareness about issues such as human rights and environmental conservation.
Milla Jovovich Biography
