The 1993 thriller The Crush marked the film debut of Alicia Silverstone, earning her the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and Best Villain. Following this, she rose to prominence as a teen idol through a series of Aerosmith music videos, ultimately securing a career-defining role in the 1995 comedy Clueless.
Early Development and Television Beginnings
Born in San Francisco in 1976, Silverstone is the daughter of Deirdre and Monty Silverstone. Raised in a Jewish household, she attended Crocker Middle School and later San Mateo High School and Beverly Hills High School. She began her career in commercial modeling at age eight and secured her first television credit on a 1992 episode of The Wonder Years.
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Her performance in The Crush, filmed after she gained legal emancipation at age 15, led director Marty Callner to cast her in three Aerosmith videos: Cryin', Amazing, and Crazy. This exposure prompted filmmaker Amy Heckerling to cast her as Cher Horowitz in Clueless. The film's success resulted in a multi-million-dollar deal with Columbia Pictures and the establishment of her production company, First Kiss Productions.
Film and Stage Work
Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in various films including Batman & Robin, where she played Batgirl, and Excess Baggage. Later, she moved toward theater and independent cinema, including a 2002 Broadway run in The Graduate and roles in Love's Labour's Lost and Global Heresy. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her lead role in the 2003 NBC series Miss Match.
Advocacy and Writing
A practicing vegan, Silverstone has directed her public presence toward animal advocacy through PETA. She has also authored two books focused on nutrition and parenting, titled The Kind Diet, published in 2009, and The Kind Mama, published in 2014.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, San Francisco
- Citizenship: United States
- Religion: Judaism
- Education: San Mateo High School, Beverly Hills High School
- Film Debut: The Crush (1993)
- MTV Movie Award for Best Villain: 1994
- Notable TV Series: Miss Match (2003)
- Authored Books: The Kind Diet (2009), The Kind Mama (2014)
Questions readers ask
What was Alicia Silverstone's breakthrough role?
Her breakthrough was the role of Cher Horowitz in the 1995 film Clueless.
Has Alicia Silverstone written any books?
Yes, she published The Kind Diet in 2009 and The Kind Mama in 2014.
Achievements
- Educated at Beverly Hills High School
- Worked as voice actor, film actor and stage actor
