Born an Air Force brat in Pomona, Calif., in 1981, Jessica Alba began acting classes at the age of 12.

Her breakthrough role was as the star of James Cameron's sci-fi TV series Dark Angel. Although the show was cancelled after two seasons, Alba was eventually able to secure starring roles in movies like Honey, Fantastic Four, Sin City, and Into the Blue.

Despite her appearance, Alba is very modest, saying she will never be nude in any movie and even suing Playboy magazine in 2006 when it ran a (clothed) photo of her on the cover—implying, she felt, that she appeared naked inside (she dropped her suit after a personal apology from Hugh Hefner and a large donation was made in her name to one of her favorite charities).

Alba was engaged to her Dark Angel costar Michael Weatherly, but the two split up in 2003.

In August 2007, Alba ended her two-and-a-half-year relationship to Cash Warren, whom she met while filming Fantastic Four. But then in late 2007, Alba reconciled with Warren, who presented her with an engagement ring after the couple announced they were expecting their first child.

The two wed in May 2008 and their first child named Honor Marie Warren was born in June 2008.