On November 25, 1971, Christina Applegate was born in Los Angeles, CA. She would grow up to become a celebrated actress thanks to her hilarious television and film roles. After surviving breast cancer, Applegate continues to use her celebrity platform as an inspirational activist for breast cancer awareness and research.
At three months old, Applegate made her first TV debut on the popular daytime soap opera, “Days of Our Lives,” with her actress mother, Nancy Priddy. When Applegate was a teenager, she had her first breakout TV role as Kelly Bundy on Fox’s first ever prime-time series, “Married… With Children.” At 15 years old, she played the rebellious, airhead daughter to Al (Ed O’Neill) and Peggy (Katey Sagal) and big sister to Bud (David Faustino). The immensely popular show ran for 11 seasons and was groundbreaking in its portrayal of a flawed yet lovable working class family.
After “Married… With Children” ended in 1997, Applegate returned to TV a year later as the title character in “Jesse,” where she played a single working mom. Her role, inspired by her own mother, earned her a People’s Choice Award and TV Guide Award as well as a Golden Globe nomination. After two seasons of the show, Applegate took a break from television. She made her return in 2007 in “Samantha Who?” and then, in 2011, starring with Will Arnett as a party animal couple turned parents in the sitcom, “Up All Night.”
Applegate also took to the silver screen. Her notable films include playing Sue Ellen Crandell in the 1991 black comedy, “Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead,” “The Sweetest Thing” (2002) with Cameron Diaz, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004) and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” 2013 with Will Ferrell. In 2015, she starred opposite another comedy heavyweight, Ed Helm, in the National Lampoon sequel “Vacation.”
Aside from her acting career, Applegate emerged as a champion for breast cancer awareness and research after undergoing a double mastectomy in August of 2008. She shared in an interview, “I am a 36-year-old person with breast cancer, and not many people know that that happens to women my age or women in their 20s. This is my opportunity now to go out and fight as hard as I can for early detection.”
She inspired many women with her upbeat spirit after the surgery and her tireless work with fellow famous survivors Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Summers to raise awareness and money to help others. A testament to her ongoing work, Applegate in 2015 received the Saint Vintage Cures All Award for her charitable foundation dedicated to breast-cancer screening, Right Action To Women.