One minute rundown: Spotted at a party, a 16 year old Cameron was thrust into modeling work for clients such as Nivea and Coca Cola. In 1994 she had to audition 12 times for her part in The Mask, alongside funnyman Jim Carrey, and eventually won the role. Having ditched her video producer boyfriend, Carlos de la Torre, she then hooked up with hot-stuff Matt Dillon and the couple dated for two years after meeting whilst filming separate movies in Minnesota.

In 1997, the perky blonde scored big time when she played Julia Roberts’ love rival in hit movie My Best Friend’s Wedding, but it was the “hair-gel” scene in There’s Something About Mary which really thrust her into the spotlight. In 1999 she toned it down to play a mousy brunette in indie cult smash Being John Malkovich, and started a pretty low profile romance with Jared Leto, which lasted four years. Charlie’s Angels and the Shrek movies followed, as did of course her four year relationship with Justin Timberlake, making us all cry a river for a long time.

Gangs of New York followed, and then Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, for which she was paid USD20 million, making Diaz one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. She split with Justin and has recently been seen out and about with John Mayer.

All this for a girl who’d only ever acted once in her high school play, before hitting the big time. Jammy cow!