Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel
Georges Biard · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Jessica Biel
Caption	Biel in 2013
Birth name	Jessica Claire Biel
Birth date	3 March 1982
Birth place	Ely, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1991–present
Spouse	Justin Timberlake, 2012

Jessica Biel is an American actress and producer who first gained recognition for her role as Mary Camden on the television series 7th Heaven. Her career transitioned to film with roles in projects ranging from horror in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to science fiction in The A-Team and dramatic thrillers like The Sinner. Biel has also been recognized for her entrepreneurial ventures and advocacy work in areas such as environmentalism and reproductive rights.

Early life and education

Jessica Claire Biel was born in Ely, Minnesota, to Kimberly (née Conroe) and Jonathan Biel, a business consultant and former General Motors worker. Her family relocated several times during her childhood, living in Texas, Woodstock, Connecticut, and eventually Boulder, Colorado. She demonstrated an early interest in performing, training as a vocalist with the Colorado Children's Chorale and studying ballet. Biel attended Fairview High School in Boulder before leaving to pursue her acting career in Los Angeles, later completing her high school education through a correspondence program.

Career

Biel's professional career began with minor roles in films like Ulee's Gold before she was cast as the devout Mary Camden on the long-running The WB family drama 7th Heaven in 1996. Seeking to break away from her wholesome television image, she posed for a controversial cover of Gear magazine in 2000 and starred in the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which was a commercial success. Subsequent film roles included the sports drama The Rules of Attraction, the romantic comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, and the action film The A-Team. She earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as a troubled mother in the USA Network anthology series The Sinner, on which she also served as an executive producer. Biel has expanded her work into production through her company, Iron Ocean Productions.

Personal life

Biel began a relationship with singer and actor Justin Timberlake in 2007, and the couple became engaged in 2011. They married in a ceremony at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Apulia, Italy, in October 2012. They have two sons, Silas, born in 2015, and Phineas, born in 2020. The family resides primarily in Los Angeles. Biel has been open about her struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and has discussed the challenges of balancing her career in Hollywood with motherhood.

Filmography

A selected list of her acting credits includes the television series 7th Heaven (1996–2006), and films such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Blade: Trinity (2004), The Illusionist (2006), Hitchcock (2012), and The Book of Love (2016). Her television work also includes the limited series The Sinner (2017–2021) and the Apple TV+ sci-fi drama Limetown (2019).

Awards and nominations

For her role in The Sinner, Biel received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She has also been nominated for Saturn Awards for her work in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Blade: Trinity, and has won awards from the Hollywood Critics Association and the Gracie Awards.

Public image and activism

Often featured in media lists for her style and fitness, Biel has been a brand ambassador for companies like Victoria's Secret and has launched her own children's entertainment brand. She is an active philanthropist and advocate, serving on the board of the environmental organization Make It Right Foundation and co-founding the kid-friendly restaurant Au Fudge in West Hollywood. Biel has been a vocal supporter of Vote Pro-Choice and has testified before the California State Senate in support of legislation to limit medical exemptions for vaccinations, following controversy over her meeting with California State Senator Richard Pan.

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:1982 births Category:Living people