Grew up on family's farm in Benoni, South Africa

Began studying ballet at age six

Danced professionally in Johannesberg

At age 16, won an Italian modeling agency contest

Moved to Milan and for the next year and traveled all over Europe modeling

Relocated to NYC, taking modeling jobs to pay the rent; studied with the Joffrey Ballet for eight months before a knee injury curtailed dance career

Moved to Miami

Settled in Los Angeles; talent manager John Crosby volunteered to represent her after witnessing a colorful tantrum aimed at a bank teller who would not cash her out-of-state check

Had a non-speaking role in the direct-to-video film, "Children of the Corn III"

Narrowly beaten out by Elizabeth Berkley for the lead in the disastrous "Showgirls"

Made film debut in John Herzfeld's "2 Days in the Valley"

Had a featured role in Tom Hanks' directorial debut, "That Thing You Do!"

Won praise for her performance as Keanu Reeves' neglected wife in "The Devil's Advocate"

Had featured role as an oversexed supermodel in Woody Allen's "Celebrity"

Played the title role in the thriller "The Astronaut's Wife"

Offered a strong turn as a woman torn between two loves in "The Cider House Rules"

Co-starred with Ben Affleck in "Reindeer Games"

Played Robert De Niro's alcoholic wife in "Men of Honor"

Starred with Matt Damon and Will Smith in Robert Redford's "The Legend of Bagger Vance"

Reteamed with Keanu Reeves for the remake of "Sweet November"

Reunited with Woody Allen for a role in "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion"

Starred in drama "Trapped" with Kevin Bacon as parents whose daughter is kidnapped

Starred in comedy "Waking Up in Reno" with Billy Bob Thorton

Starred alongside Mark Wahlberg as the female lead in "The Italian Job"

Won an Oscar portraying real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster"

Cast as blonde bombshell and former Bond girl Britt Ekland in the HBO bio-pic "The Life and Times of Peter Sellers"; received Golden Globe, SAG and Emmy nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Signed on to be the new face of Christian Dior's fragrance J'adore; appeared in print ads and TV commercials

Cast in "North Country" a fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States; earned Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Actress

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (September)

Guest-starred in five episodes of the Fox comedy "Arrested Development," playing the love interest of Jason Bateman

Starred in the title role in the feature adaptation of the MTV cartoon "Aeon Flux"

Played a police detective opposite Tommy Lee Jones in Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah"

Co-starred with Will Smith in the superhero comedy, "Hancock"

Directed by boyfriend Stuart Townsend in "The Battle in Seattle," a film about the 1999 World Trade Organization protests