Born on November 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Ga., Murphy's eccentricity often lands her roles that reflect her personality. She got her start on TV in the series Blossom but it was a starring role in 1995's Clueless that earned the actress her first big break, leading to subsequent roles in films like 8 Mile and Uptown Girls as well as her lauded comedic turn as the voice of Luanne on TV's King of the Hill.

Murphy is also a musician, having released her debut album, A Lively Mind, in 2006. She has had fleeting engagements to manager Jeff Kwatinetz and production assistant Joe Macaluso, who she met on the set of her movie Little Black Book. Murphy surprised many by marrying Factory Girl executive producer and writer Simon Monjack in May of 2007 after only four months of dating.