Lauded for her down-to-earth nature and fun-loving personality both on-screen and off, this Houston native got her start doing community theater in her hometown. Prior to attaching her name to the Gilmore Girls project in 2000, the actress attended NYU to study directing and writing. Her feature film debut came with Tuck Everlasting, in which Bledel was acted alongside Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek and fellow WB-network alum Joshua Jackson. In recent years, Bledel has completed the high-budget blockbuster films Sin City and the critically acclaimed girl-bonding flick The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, with current Ugly Betty breakout star America Ferrera. For her portrayal of Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, Bledel has been awarded both a 2003 Family Television Award and a 2005 Teen Choice Award. She was also named one of the “Hottest Stars Under 25” by Teen People magazine in 2002.