Kirsten Dunst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirsten Dunst
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Dunst in 2016
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| Born |
Kirsten Caroline Dunst
April 30, 1982 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1987–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
Kirsten Caroline Dunst (born April 30, 1982) is an American actress. She started acting when she was very young. Her first movie was New York Stories in 1989. Since then, she has been in many popular movies and TV shows.
Kirsten Dunst became well-known for playing the child vampire Claudia in the movie Interview with the Vampire (1994). This role earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. She also starred in other famous films as a child, like Little Women (1994) and Jumanji (1995).
As she grew up, Dunst took on lead roles in teen movies. These included Dick and Drop Dead Gorgeous in 1999, and the drama The Virgin .... She became even more famous for playing Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man movies (2002–2007). Her career continued with roles in films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and as Marie Antoinette in the 2006 film of the same name.
In 2011, Dunst won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Melancholia. She also earned an Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in the TV series Fargo in 2015. More recently, she received nominations for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her acting in The Power of the Dog (2021). In 2024, she starred in the movie Civil War.
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Early Life and Growing Up
Kirsten Dunst was born on April 30, 1982, in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Her father worked in medical services, and her mother was a flight attendant and artist. Kirsten's father is German, and her mother has German and Swedish family roots.
Until she was about 11 years old, Kirsten lived in Brick Township, New Jersey. In 1993, her parents separated, and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother and brother. Growing up with fame was sometimes hard for her. She later said that her mother always had her best interests at heart. Kirsten shared that while her childhood was different, she wouldn't change it. She believes everyone has their own challenges to deal with.
Kirsten Dunst's Acting Journey
Starting Young: 1988–1993
Kirsten Dunst began her career at just three years old. She was a child model in TV commercials. She also appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1988. Her first movie role was a small part in Oedipus Wrecks, which was part of the film New York Stories (1989). Soon after, she was in the movie The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990). In 1993, she made a guest appearance in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Becoming a Star: 1994–2001
Kirsten's big break came in 1994 with the horror film Interview with the Vampire. She played Claudia, a child vampire. In one scene, she had her first on-screen kiss with actor Brad Pitt. She later said it felt "gross" because she was only 10 years old. Critics praised her performance, noting how well she showed an old soul in a young body. For this role, she won an MTV Movie Award and a Saturn Award. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Later in 1994, Dunst co-starred in Little Women. This movie was very popular with critics. One critic said Kirsten was a "little vamp with a big future." In 1995, she starred in the fantasy adventure film Jumanji with Robin Williams. The movie was a big success, earning $262 million worldwide. People magazine named her one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 1995 and 2002.
From 1996 to 1997, Dunst had a role in the TV show ER. She also voiced Young Anastasia in the animated movie Anastasia (1997). The next year, she voiced Kiki in the anime film Kiki's Delivery Service. She also starred in the comedy All I Wanna Do (1998).
In 1999, Dunst starred in the comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous and Dick, a funny movie about the Watergate scandal. Her next film was The Virgin ... (1999), where she played Lux Lisbon. Critics liked her performance, saying she balanced innocence and mischief. She also appeared in the music video for Savage Garden's song "I Knew I Loved You".
In 2000, Dunst starred in the comedy Bring It On as Torrance Shipman, a cheerleading captain. Many critics praised her acting in this film. One reviewer called her a "terrific comic actress." The next year, she was in the comedy Get Over It, where she got to show her singing skills. She also starred in the historical drama The Cat's Meow (2001), playing actress Marion Davies.
Spider-Man and Beyond: 2002–2009
In 2002, Kirsten Dunst starred as Mary Jane Watson in the superhero film Spider-Man, opposite Tobey Maguire. This became her most successful movie at the time. Critics loved the connection between Dunst and Maguire. The film was a huge hit, earning $822 million worldwide.
Dunst then appeared in the drama Levity (2003) and Mona Lisa Smile (2003). In 2004, she co-starred with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in the science fiction romantic comedy-drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This movie was highly praised by critics.
She returned as Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man 2 (2004), which was also a big success, earning $783 million worldwide. That same year, she starred in the romantic comedy Wimbledon, playing a rising tennis player. Critics enjoyed her performance and the chemistry with her co-star.
In 2005, Dunst starred in Elizabethtown as a flight attendant. She then worked with director Sofia Coppola again, starring as Marie Antoinette in the 2006 historical drama Marie Antoinette. The film was well-received.
In 2007, Dunst played Mary Jane Watson for the third time in Spider-Man 3. This film earned $891 million worldwide, making it her highest-grossing movie. She had signed on for three Spider-Man films and said she would do a fourth if the director and main actor returned. However, the fourth film was canceled, and the series was restarted with new actors.
Dunst's next role was in the 2008 comedy How to Lose Friends & Alienate People.
Independent Films and TV: 2010–2016
In 2010, Kirsten Dunst made her debut as a screenwriter and director with the short film Bastard. She also co-starred in the mystery drama All Good Things (2010). Critics praised her acting in this film.
In 2011, Dunst starred in Lars von Trier's drama Melancholia. She played a character dealing with sadness as the world faces a disaster. Her performance earned her the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival and other honors.
The next year, she starred in the science fiction romance Upside Down (2012). She also appeared in the romantic comedy Bachelorette (2012) and the drama On the Road (2012), based on a famous novel.
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In 2014, Dunst starred in the thriller The Two Faces of January. Critics liked her performance, calling it "teasing yet sympathetic." She also voiced a character in Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and appeared in Portlandia. In 2015, Dunst focused on TV, starring as Peggy Blumquist in the second season of the crime drama Fargo. This role earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
In 2016, Dunst co-starred in the science fiction drama Midnight Special. She also had a supporting role in the biographical drama Hidden Figures (2016). This film was about African-American mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race. It was a big success and was nominated for three Academy Awards. The cast also won a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2016, Dunst was a member of the jury at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Recent Work: 2017–Present
In 2017, Dunst starred in The Beguiled, her third movie with director Sofia Coppola. She also starred in the psychological thriller Woodshock, directed by her friends.
In 2019, Dunst starred in the TV series On Becoming a God in Central Florida. For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award. The show was planned for a second season but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dunst co-starred with her husband, Jesse Plemons, in Jane Campion's film The Power of the Dog (2021). She received nominations for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance. In 2024, Dunst led the dystopian thriller film Civil War, and her acting was highly praised by critics.
Music and Other Talents
Kirsten Dunst has also shown her singing talent. In 2001, she sang two songs in the movie Get Over It. She also recorded a jazz song for the end credits of The Cat's Meow. In Spider-Man 3, she sang two songs as Mary Jane Watson.
She has appeared in several music videos, including for Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You" and Beastie Boys' "Make Some Noise". In 2007, she sang two songs on Jason Schwartzman's album Nighttiming. However, Dunst has said she doesn't plan to release her own albums, believing it's "a little cheesy" for actors to become singers today.
In 2009, she starred in a short film called Akihabara Majokko Princess, where she sang a cover of "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors. This film showed her dancing in a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan.
Personal Life
In early 2008, Kirsten Dunst received treatment for depression.
She was in a relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal from 2002 to 2004. From 2012 to 2016, she was with her On the Road co-star Garrett Hedlund.
Dunst began a relationship with her Fargo co-star Jesse Plemons in 2016. They got engaged in 2017. Their first son was born in May 2018, and their second son was born in May 2021. Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons were married in July 2022 in Jamaica.
Supporting Good Causes
Kirsten Dunst supports the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She helped design a necklace to raise money for the foundation. She also supports breast cancer awareness. In September 2008, she took part in the Stand Up to Cancer telethon to raise funds for cancer research. In December 2009, she participated in the Teletón in Mexico to raise awareness for cancer treatment and help children.
Dunst has also been involved in politics. She supported John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election and Barack Obama in the 2008 election. She directed and narrated a documentary called Why Tuesday, which explored why Americans vote on Tuesdays and why voter turnout can be low. She supported Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential election. In 2011, she became a German citizen, which allows her to work in Europe more easily. She now has dual American and German citizenship.
Filmography and Awards
Some of Kirsten Dunst's most highly-rated films include Little Women (1994), Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Melancholia (2011), The Two Faces of January (2014), Hidden Figures (2017), and The Power of the Dog (2021).
She has been nominated for four Golden Globe awards for her roles in Interview with the Vampire, The Power of the Dog, Fargo, and On Becoming a God in Central Florida. In August 2019, Kirsten Dunst received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Academy Awards for The Power of the Dog.
Images for kids
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Dunst in 2016
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Dunst signing autographs at the Toronto International Film Festival, 2005
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Dunst at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival premiere of Marie Antoinette.
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Dunst at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
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Dunst at the Australian premiere of Anchorman 2, 2013
See also
In Spanish: Kirsten Dunst para niños
