Hilary Duff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hilary Duff
Duff in 2019
Born	Hilary Erhard Duff (1987-09-28) September 28, 1987 (age 37) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer author businesswoman
Years active	1993–present
Works	discography songs recorded concerts
Spouse(s)	Mike Comrie ​ ​ (m. 2010; div. 2016)​ Matthew Koma ​ ​ (m. 2019)​
Partner(s)	Aaron Carter (2001–2004) Joel Madden (2004–2006) Jason Walsh (2015–2016)
Children	4
Relatives	Haylie Duff (sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop dance rock
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Buena Vista Hollywood RCA Walt Disney

Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress, singer, author, and businesswoman. She has won many awards, including seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards, and two Young Artist Awards. She was also nominated for two People's Choice Awards.

Hilary started acting when she was very young. She became a teen idol playing the main character in the Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004). She also starred in The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), which was based on the show. After that, she appeared in popular movies like Cadet Kelly (2002), Agent Cody Banks (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), and A Cinderella Story (2004). Later, she took on different kinds of roles in independent films. From 2015 to 2021, Hilary starred as Kelsey Peters in the TV show Younger. She also produced and starred as Sophie Tompkins in the Hulu sitcom How I Met Your Father (2022–2023).

Hilary also became famous for her music. Her first album was the Christmas-themed Santa Claus Lane (2002). She then signed with Hollywood Records and released Metamorphosis (2003). This album was a huge success, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart. It sold over 4 million copies in the U.S. Her next albums, Hilary Duff (2004), Most Wanted (2005), and Dignity (2007), also sold very well. After a break from music, she released her fifth album, Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015). Hilary has sold about 15 million records worldwide. Many later Disney stars, like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, have said she inspired them.

Besides acting and music, Hilary has written a series of three novels. The first, Elixir (2010), became a New York Times best-seller. The sequels were Devoted (2011) and True (2013). Hilary has also started her own fashion lines, like Stuff by Hilary Duff and "Muse x Hilary Duff" with GlassesUSA. She has also invested in different businesses, from makeup to products for children.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Hilary Erhard Duff was born on September 28, 1987, in Houston, Texas. Her father, Robert, was a partner in convenience stores. Her mother, Susan, was a homemaker who later became a film and music producer. Hilary has an older sister named Haylie. The family lived between Houston and San Antonio.

Their mother encouraged Hilary and Haylie to take acting, singing, and ballet classes. They performed in local theater shows. In 1993, the sisters and their mother moved to California to pursue show business. Their father stayed in Houston for his business. The sisters auditioned for many years and appeared in several television commercials. Hilary was home-schooled from age eight because of her acting career. She and Haylie also modeled for clothing brands.

First Acting Roles (1993–1999)

In her early acting years, Hilary had small roles. She was an uncredited extra in the miniseries True Women (1997) and the film Playing by Heart (1998). In 1998, Hilary got her first big role as Wendy in Casper Meets Wendy. This movie was based on the Harvey Comics characters.

In 1999, she played Ellie in the TV film The Soul Collector. For this role, she won a Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actress in a TV Movie. In March 2000, Hilary appeared in the medical drama Chicago Hope. She was also cast in the pilot episode of the comedy series Daddio. Her co-star, Michael Chiklis, thought she would be a movie star. However, Hilary was later removed from the show's cast.

Rise to Stardom

Duff with Texas Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn in 2004

A week after leaving Daddio, Hilary got the main role in a new Disney Channel series, Lizzie McGuire. The show first aired on January 12, 2001. It quickly became very popular, with millions of viewers. Hilary became a well-known teen idol, especially among young teens. Disney started selling many products based on her character, like dolls, toys, and video games. The company reportedly made about $100 million from Lizzie McGuire merchandise.

Hilary also made her first movie appearance in Human Nature (2002). She played the younger version of Patricia Arquette's character. In 2002, Hilary starred in the Disney Channel TV movie Cadet Kelly. This movie became the most-watched program in the network's history at that time.

Music Career Begins (2002–2003)

Hilary started recording songs for Disney Channel soundtracks. She covered "I Can't Wait" for the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack. She also recorded "The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room" for DisneyMania. Because she wanted to sing more, Hilary started working on her first Christmas album.

Santa Claus Lane was released in October 2002. It sold well and later earned a Gold certification for selling over 500,000 copies. Hilary then signed a record deal with Hollywood Records.

In 2003, Hilary co-starred in the action-comedy film Agent Cody Banks with Frankie Muniz. She also played Lizzie McGuire again in The Lizzie McGuire Movie. In the movie, she also played Isabella Parigi, an Italian pop star. Hilary recorded "What Dreams Are Made Of" for the film. She also released the single "Why Not", which was her first song to chart worldwide. The movie's soundtrack sold very well, earning Platinum status in Canada and 2x Platinum in the U.S.

Hilary released her second album, Metamorphosis, in August 2003. It became a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold over five million copies worldwide. This album included the popular singles "So Yesterday" and "Come Clean". "Come Clean" was also used as the theme song for the MTV series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. Hilary promoted the album with her Metamorphosis Tour. Later that year, she starred in Cheaper by the Dozen, which is still her highest-grossing film.

Continued Success and New Ventures

Duff in 2005

Lizzie McGuire ended on February 14, 2004. In 2004, Hilary starred with Chad Michael Murray in the romantic comedy A Cinderella Story. The film did well at the box office. At the 2004 World Music Awards, Hilary won the Best New Female Artist award.

Her self-titled third album was released in September 2004. Hilary was more involved in making this album. It had a rock sound and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. It sold over 1.8 million copies in the U.S. The album included the single "Fly". Later that year, Hilary starred in the musical drama Raise Your Voice. In 2004, Hilary launched her first clothing line, "Stuff by Hilary Duff". It was sold in major stores until 2007.

Duff in 2006

In 2005, Hilary starred with Heather Locklear in The Perfect Man, which was a box office success. In August, she released her first compilation album, Most Wanted. This album had songs from her previous albums, plus new ones. It included the hit single "Wake Up". The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Hilary also appeared in Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

In 2006, Hilary co-starred with her sister Haylie in the comedy Material Girls. They also recorded a cover of Madonna's "Material Girl" for the film's soundtrack. In September 2006, Hilary released her first perfume, "With Love... Hilary Duff", which was very popular.

Dignity and Independent Films (2007–2009)

In 2007, Hilary worked on her fourth album, Dignity. She co-wrote most of the songs. The album had a dance and electropop sound. It received good reviews for its lyrics and new musical style. The album talked about personal topics like her parents' divorce and a past relationship. A TV special, Hilary Duff: This Is Now, showed her return to music. Dignity debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and earned a Gold certification. The single "With Love" became her highest-charting single in the U.S. Both "With Love" and "Stranger" topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

The Duff sisters at the premiere of War, Inc. at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2008

Hilary started to show a more mature image. This was seen in her role in the film War, Inc. (2008), where she played a pop star. Her greatest hits album, Best of Hilary Duff (2008), included the single "Reach Out". This song also topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

In 2009, Hilary had a main role in According to Greta, playing a rebellious teen. She also co-starred in What Goes Up. Hilary appeared as a recurring character, Olivia Burke, in the third season of Gossip Girl. For this role, she won a Teen Choice Award in 2010. In 2009, Hilary also helped design a clothing line called Femme for DKNY Jeans.

Other Projects (2010–2013)

Duff at a signing for Elixir in 2010

Hilary continued acting in films. She starred in the ABC Family TV film Beauty & the Briefcase (2010), and was also an executive producer. She made a guest appearance in the sitcom Community. She also co-starred in the drama Bloodworth.

In 2010, Hilary signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster. She wrote a young adult novel, Elixir, which became a New York Times best-seller. The sequel, Devoted, was released in 2011.

In 2011, Hilary co-starred in the comedy Stay Cool. In 2012, she started working on new music again, but these songs were not released. She also co-starred in the comedy She Wants Me. Hilary was a guest judge on Project Runway in September 2012.

In 2013, Hilary guest starred in the sitcoms Raising Hope and Two and a Half Men. She also did voice work for the animated film Wings and its sequel. In July 2013, Hilary finished filming the independent film Flock of Dudes. She also released the third and final novel in her Elixir series, True (2013).

Return to Music and Younger (2014–2017)

Duff in 2017

On January 15, 2014, Hilary joined the cast of the comedy-drama pilot Younger. She played Kelsey Peters, an "ambitious 20-something" who works in a publishing firm. The show premiered on March 31, 2015. Younger received good reviews, and Hilary's performance was praised. She was nominated for Favorite Cable TV Actress at the People's Choice Awards and two Teen Choice Awards.

On July 23, 2014, Hilary signed with RCA Records. She released the single "Chasing the Sun" on July 29, 2014. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its music video had millions of views in its first week. "All About You" was released as a single on August 12. In November 2014, Hilary voiced Jessica the Ice Witch in a special Dora the Explorer episode.

On April 6, 2015, Hilary released the single "Sparks" from her fifth album, Breathe In. Breathe Out.. The album was released on June 12, 2015. It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200, making it her fifth album to reach the top five.

In June 2016, Hilary shared that she was working on a new album with a "darker and heavier tone." Her cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies" was released for the second season of Younger. In January 2017, Hilary became an investor in the cosmetic line Kopari Beauty.

Entrepreneurship and Lizzie McGuire Revival (2018–2020)

Duff in 2019

In January 2018, Hilary returned to fashion design. She launched an eyewear line with GlassesUSA called "Muse x Hilary Duff." This collection became a best-seller for the brand. Later that month, she announced she was filming an independent movie, The Haunting of Sharon Tate. Hilary also served as an executive producer. The film was released in April 2019. Hilary won the Best Actress award at the 2019 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival for her role. However, the film received negative reviews from many critics. Hilary also won the Worst Actress award for her performance.

In September 2018, it was confirmed that Hilary would voice the main character in the animated film Meet Your Tooth Fairy. In November, Hilary and other celebrities invested in "Cubcoat," a children's product. She also launched a clothing collection under her sister Haylie's children's line, "Little Moon Society."

In January 2019, Hilary invested in the cosmetics line "Nudestix." She launched her own makeup kit called "Daydreamer" in September 2019. In July, Younger was renewed for its seventh and final season. This made it the network's longest-running original series. Hilary's role as Kelsey Peters became her longest TV role since Lizzie McGuire.

At the D23 Expo in August 2019, Hilary announced she would play Lizzie McGuire again in a new series for Disney+. The show would follow Lizzie as a 30-year-old in New York City. However, production stopped in January 2020 due to "creative differences." Hilary later said that Disney+ wanted the show to be rated PG, which she felt would not be right for fans. She suggested moving it to Hulu. In December 2020, Hilary confirmed that the revival was canceled by Disney+.

In November 2019, Hilary became a co-owner and Chief Brand Officer for "Happy Little Camper" (baby products) and "Veeda" (feminine care products). In February 2020, Hilary and her husband Matthew Koma were featured on the song "Never Let You Go" by RAC.

Recent Projects (2021–Present)

In April 2021, Hilary announced she would star in a spinoff of How I Met Your Mother called How I Met Your Father. She plays the main character, Sophie, and is also a producer. The show premiered on January 18, 2022. Hulu renewed the series for a second season, but it was canceled in September 2023.

Hilary released a children's picture book called My Little Brave Girl in March 2021. She was inspired to write it by her daughter. The book is for mothers and daughters aged 3 to 7. It became a New York Times best-seller. Its sequel, My Little Sweet Boy, was released in November 2023.

Hilary has also continued her business ventures. In February 2021, she designed a collection of rompers for mothers and children with Smash + Tess. In May 2022, Hilary became the first-ever Chief Mom Officer for the children's clothing company Carter's. She designed a clothing collection for them. In November 2023, she became Chief Brand Director for Below 60°, a line of home fragrance products.

Music Style and Influence

Hilary's music style changed over time. Her album Metamorphosis (2003) had strong pop and pop rock sounds. She was influenced by rock music she listened to as a child. Critics compared her music to artists like Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson. These rock elements were even stronger on her third album, Hilary Duff (2004).

Her compilation album Most Wanted (2005) started to show a more pop and dance sound. This was further developed on her fourth album, Dignity (2007). Dignity was influenced by Europop, hip hop, and rock 'n roll. Hilary described the music as "dance," "rock," and "electro." She co-wrote almost all the songs, which talked about her personal experiences.

Hilary's music releases in 2014 had a more folk-influenced, "earthy" indie pop sound. Her album Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015) mixed EDM with the folk pop sound. This album helped establish Hilary as a dance-pop singer.

Public Image and Legacy

When Lizzie McGuire became popular, Hilary gained a lot of fame. The show was a big hit and led to many products like dolls and video games. The success of The Lizzie McGuire Movie showed that her TV fans would also watch her movies.

Hilary was seen as a role model for young teens. She was described as someone young girls could relate to. She is also credited with helping Hollywood Records become successful again after her album Metamorphosis (2003). Her journey from a Disney star to a successful singer became a path that Hollywood Records tried to follow with other young stars like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato. These artists have all said Hilary influenced their careers.

Her song "Come Clean" (2003) was used as the theme song for the MTV reality series Laguna Beach, which helped make the song popular. Her song "Sweet Sixteen" (2003) was also used as a theme for an MTV reality series. Many of her concert tours sold out quickly. By 2014, she had sold over fifteen million albums.

Speaking Out Against Paparazzi

Hilary has often spoken out against paparazzi taking pictures of children. In 2014, she shared her frustration on Twitter about photographers taking pictures of her son without her permission. She supported the "No Kids Policy," a bill that stops paparazzi from photographing celebrities' children.

In February 2020, Hilary posted a video on Instagram showing her confronting a photographer who was taking pictures of her children at a football game. She asked him to stop, explaining that she was a mother. She later said that the police could not help because the incident happened in a public park. Hilary has called for laws to be changed to protect children from paparazzi.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family

In 2001, Hilary was in a relationship with fellow teen star Aaron Carter. He appeared in an episode of Lizzie McGuire. Their relationship received media attention. Hilary and Aaron dated on and off for three years before breaking up.

In July 2004, Hilary began dating Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden. They broke up in November 2006.

Hilary started dating Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) player Mike Comrie in 2007. They got engaged in February 2010 and married on August 14, 2010. Hilary announced her pregnancy in 2011, and their son was born on March 20, 2012. In January 2014, Hilary and Mike announced they had separated. They continued to co-parent their son. Hilary filed for divorce in February 2015, and it was finalized in February 2016.

Hilary met singer-songwriter Matthew Koma while working on her 2015 album. They started dating publicly in January 2017. Hilary and Matthew got engaged in May 2019 and married on December 21, 2019. They have three daughters.

Education

In January 2005, Hilary began taking classes at Harvard University through its Harvard Extension School.

Ancestry

Hilary is a descendant of British Army officer Alexander Spotswood. She is also related to Catherine Carey, who is believed to be the daughter of Henry VIII.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Duff at the launch of the annual National Military Families Week (2005)

Hilary has been involved in many charity activities. She donated $250,000 to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She also donated over 2.5 million meals to those affected by the hurricane. In August 2006, Hilary visited a school in New Orleans to help distribute meals.

She supports various youth charities and is a member of Kids with a Cause. Hilary has also served on the advisory board of the Audrey Hepburn Child Benefit Fund. In October 2008, Hilary appeared in a public service announcement for the Think Before You Speak Campaign. This campaign by Ad Council and GLSEN aims to stop young people from using hurtful language. In July 2009, Hilary was named a youth ambassador for children in Colombia. She spent five days there, giving food to children in need.

In 2012, Hilary supported the Johnson's Baby Cares campaign. This campaign sent care kits to new mothers and raised money for children and families in need with Save The Children.

In November 2013, Hilary worked with Duracell in Canada for a campaign for kids in hospitals. The campaign, called Powering Holiday Smiles, donated 20,000 batteries to hospitals across Canada. Hilary visited The Hospital for Sick Children to promote it.

She has also participated in online charity campaigns. She helped raise money for the 2018 Hanalei floods. In 2020, Hilary and her husband donated to help with the Australian bushfires relief efforts. She also donated baby products through her "Happy Little Camper" brand during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, she launched the "Veeda in Action" donation campaign to provide period products to those in need.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Web Series Appearances

Discography

• Santa Claus Lane (2002)
• Metamorphosis (2003)
• Hilary Duff (2004)
• Dignity (2007)
• Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015)

Concert Tours

• Metamorphosis Tour (2003–2004)
• Most Wanted Tour (2004–2005)
• Still Most Wanted Tour (2005–2006)
• Dignity Tour (2007–2008)

Awards and Recognition

Hilary Duff has received many awards. These include seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards, and two Young Artist Awards. She has also been nominated for two People's Choice Awards and an MTV Video Music Award.

See also

In Spanish: Hilary Duff para niños