Cameron Diaz

Lore & Background

Cameron Diaz was born in San Diego, California, to Billie Diaz, an import and export agent, and Emilio Diaz, a foreman for Unocal. Her father's family is Cuban, with Spanish ancestors from Cádiz; her mother has English and German ancestry. Raised in Long Beach, she attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where she was a schoolmate of Snoop Dogg. At age 16, while still in high school, she signed a modeling contract with Elite Model Management and appeared in advertisements for Calvin Klein and Levi's, later gracing the cover of Seventeen magazine in July 1990.

Diaz made her film debut at age 21 in the comedy The Mask (1994), after an agent from Elite recommended her to the producers. She had no previous acting experience and began lessons after being cast. The film was a top-ten grosser of 1994 and launched her as a sex symbol. Her fame grew with the titular role in There's Something About Mary (1998), the highest-grossing comedy of 1998 in North America, earning her a Golden Globe nomination. She also gained dramatic recognition for Being John Malkovich (1999) and Any Given Sunday (1999).

Diaz later starred in the Charlie's Angels films (2000, 2003) and voiced Princess Fiona in the Shrek franchise from 2001. She received praise for supporting roles in Vanilla Sky (2001) and Gangs of New York (2002). After a series of comedies in the 2000s and 2010s, including The Holiday (2006) and Bad Teacher (2011), Diaz retired from acting in 2014 to focus on family, but returned with Back in Action (2025). She has written two health books: The Body Book (2013) and The Longevity Book (2016). In 2015, she married Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden; they have three children via surrogacy.

Reader's Guide

Cameron Diaz's significance lies in her transformation from a model with no acting experience into one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, particularly in romantic comedies and action comedies. Her films grossed over $3 billion at the U.S. box office, and her role in There's Something About Mary (1998) cemented her as a leading comedic actress. Diaz also demonstrated dramatic range in Being John Malkovich (1999) and Vanilla Sky (2001), earning nominations for a BAFTA and four Golden Globe Awards. Her voice work as Princess Fiona in the Shrek franchise became iconic. In 2013, she was named the highest-paid actress over 40, reflecting her sustained commercial appeal. After a decade-long retirement, her return to acting in 2025 underscores her enduring presence in popular culture. Diaz also contributed to health literature with two bestselling books.

Did You Know?

• Diaz signed a modeling contract with Elite Model Management at age 16 while still in high school.
• She made her film debut at age 21 in The Mask (1994) with no prior acting experience.
• Diaz was named the highest-paid actress over 40 in 2013.
• She married Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden in 2015, and they have three children via surrogacy.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American film actress." — Cameron Diaz "I'm like every other woman: a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear: So I wear jeans." — Cameron Diaz "I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended...The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China." — Cameron Diaz