Hillary Duffy

  

Source: Speak Up

Standard: American accent

The perfect Girl

Hilary Duff is a rich, young star with the world at her feet. She became famous at the clumsy teenager in Disney’s TV comedy Lizzie McGuire. She seems to be perfect with her long blonde hair and good looks, but Hillary maintains she really is just an average girl, like Lizzie McGuire.

Can we believe her? This girl who has starred in films like Steve Martin’s Cheaper by the Dozen, the Madonna-inspired Material Girl with sister Haylie, and The Perfect Man and Heather Locklear’s daughter. She’s also a successful pop singer: in the last five years she’s had four hit album, including her latest release, Dignity. But that’s not all: she’s even a fashion designer with her own range of clothes and cosmetics, “Stuff by Hilary Duff,” that shell around the world. All this makes her one of the richest young ladies on the planet.

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Hilary’s fan base consists of teenagers, many of whom have grown up with her. She has maintained the image of a nice girl, unlike Disney’s other more rebellious star, Lindsay Lohan. Critics accuse Hilary of being a manufactured star and of being talentless, but John Cusack, her co-star in this year’s War Inc., doesn’t agree: “People don’t know how talented she is. She’s a great actress, a revelation every day.”

PROBLEMS…

Hilary likes to help out: she’s worked for the charity Kids with a Cause since 1999, gave generously to Tsunami and Katrina funds, and is involved with many other charities. She has a very strong relationship with her mother, Susan, and older sister, Haylie – they help her keep her feet on the ground. Yet life isn’t always easy for Hilary: a stalker, Maksim Miakovsky, threatened to kill her last year. He was arrested and sent to prison.

Hilary on Hilary (no audio)

ON HER LIFE:

“I sometimes wish I wasn’t being watched all the time, but I can’t complain: I’ve experienced thing other girls haven’t. I’ve travelled. I’m financially independent. I own a beautiful home and I’m happy with my job.”

ON HER PASSIONS:

“I just love shoes, clothes and make-up and I don’t like to war the same thing too often!”

ON HER CAREER:

“it’s crazy, I think I’m just a normal 20 years old girl from Texas, but everybody around knows my music, my films and my face!”

Where’s Your Dignity?

Dignity, Duff’s latest album reflects the latest events in her life and the difficult end of a recent relationship. The title song “Dignity” is an attack on the values of society girls like Paris Hilton. She think “Where’s your dignity?” I think you lost in the Hollywood Hills.” In another song, “Happy,” she sings to an ex-boyfriend: “After all the things you put me through. I’m finally getting over you. I’m happy.”

A large part of Hilary’s appeal is her fragility – the fact she is experiencing life just like any other young girl. She says, “Girls don’t feel happy with themselves unless they have a boyfriend. But we must be independent. We must show the power!”