Elizabeth Hurley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Hurley
Hurley in 2017
Born	Elizabeth Jane Hurley (1965-06-10) 10 June 1965 (age 60) Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
Alma mater	London Studio Centre
Occupation	Actress model
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Arun Nayar ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2011)​
Partner(s)	Hugh Grant (1987–2000) Shane Warne (2011–2013)
Children	Damian Hurley
Signature

Elizabeth Jane Hurley (born 10 June 1965) is an English actress and model. She is famous for her roles as the spy Vanessa Kensington in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and as the Devil in the movie Bedazzled (2000).

On television, Hurley starred as Queen Helena in the series The Royals from 2015 to 2018. She also played the comic book character Morgan le Fay in the superhero show Runaways in 2019.

Hurley became famous in 1994 when she wore a black Versace dress to the movie premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral with her then-boyfriend, Hugh Grant. The dress, held together with large gold safety pins, got a lot of attention from the media.

Besides acting, Hurley has been a model for the makeup company Estée Lauder since 1995. She has also started her own line of beach clothing.

Early life and education

Elizabeth Hurley was born on 10 June 1965, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. Her father, Roy, was a major in the British Army, and her mother, Angela, was a school teacher. She has an older sister named Kate and a younger brother named Michael.

Hurley went to Harriet Costello School in Basingstoke. As a teenager, she was interested in punk fashion. This style was popular in the early 1980s and included things like brightly colored hair and nose piercings. Hurley dyed her hair pink and got her nose pierced.

When she was young, she wanted to be a dancer and took ballet classes. After finishing her main school studies in 1983, she went to the London Studio Centre to study dance and theatre.

Acting career

Movies

Hurley's first movie role was in Aria in 1987. She later appeared in movies like Passenger 57, EDtv, and Serving Sara. Her breakout role came in 1997 when she starred with Mike Myers in the comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

In the 1990s, she also worked as a producer. When her friend Hugh Grant started a film company called Simian Films, Hurley helped produce two of his movies: Extreme Measures (1996) and Mickey Blue Eyes (1999).

In 2000, she was criticized for filming a commercial during an actors' strike. The Screen Actors Guild, a group that protects actors, fined her $100,000.

More recently, in 2024, Hurley acted in and produced the movie Strictly Confidential. The film was written and directed by her son, Damian.

Television

Hurley at a launch event for an Estee Lauder fragrance in 2008

In 1988, Hurley had a small part in an episode of the detective show Inspector Morse. That same year, she starred in a TV drama called Christabel.

In 2011, she had a recurring role in the popular show Gossip Girl as a powerful media owner named Diana Payne.

From 2015 to 2018, she starred in the E! television series The Royals. The show was about a fictional British Royal Family, and Hurley played the role of Queen Helena.

In 2019, she joined the cast of the Hulu series Runaways, which is based on a Marvel Comics series. She played the powerful sorceress Morgan le Fay.

Fashion and modeling

Hurley with fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival

In 1995, at the age of 29, Hurley became a spokesmodel for the cosmetics company Estée Lauder. She has appeared in many advertisements for their products, especially their perfumes like 'Pleasures' and 'Sensuous'. She still works with the company today.

Over the years, she has also modeled for many other famous brands, including Jordache jeans, Monsoon, and Blackglama mink. She has appeared on the cover of the British edition of Vogue magazine three times.

In April 2005, Hurley launched her own beachwear line called Elizabeth Hurley Beach. She models the swimsuits herself and sells them in major department stores around the world.

Charity work

Hurley is very involved in charity work. She has been a longtime supporter of Estée Lauder's breast cancer awareness campaign. The company even created a lipstick called "Elizabeth Pink," and the money from its sales goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Hurley's own grandmother died from breast cancer, making this cause very personal for her.

She is also a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She has helped raise money for many other charities, including The Prince's Trust, the End Hunger Network, and a charity that helps military veterans find jobs.

Personal life

Hurley with her then-husband Arun Nayar in 2008

Hurley was in a long-term relationship with actor Hugh Grant from 1987 to 2000. They met on the set of a movie, and she became well-known as his girlfriend, especially after the success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral. They remained good friends after they broke up.

On 4 April 2002, Hurley had a son, Damian Charles Hurley. His father is American businessman Steve Bing. Hugh Grant is one of Damian's godfathers.

In 2007, Hurley married Indian businessman Arun Nayar. They lived on a large organic farm in Gloucestershire, England. The couple announced their separation in 2010 and their divorce was finalized in 2011.

Hurley with her then-fiancé Shane Warne in 2012

In late 2011, Hurley became engaged to former Australian cricket player Shane Warne. They were together until 2013. After Warne passed away in 2022, Hurley posted a tribute to him online.

In April 2025, Hurley announced on social media that she was dating American musician Billy Ray Cyrus.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

• The Cherry Orchard – A Jubilee (Russian & Soviet Arts Festival)
• The Man Most Likely To (Middle East tour)

See also

In Spanish: Elizabeth Hurley para niños