Rate These 2000s Actresses And We'll Guess Your Type
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Movies and TV
With the new year upon us, it’s hard to believe that the turn of the century happened almost 20 years ago. Of course, a lot has happened in that amount of time — largely thanks to the advancement and usage of technology in our day-to-day lives. As a result, the entertainment industry has experienced its fair share of change as well.
While there may be more content (and more ways to watch it) now than ever before, it also means that people are watching a lot of different things. In other words, it can be a lot harder today to find someone who watches the exact same movies and TV shows that we’re currently enjoying. This may be why a lot of people still talk about entertainment from decades past. Shows like Lost, The Office, and Friends all came around before streaming services were a thing, and as a result, a lot more people ended up tuning in.
Therefore, not only do these shows and movies hold a fond place in many people’s hearts, but so do the actors who starred in them. So for this quiz, let's take a look back at some of the biggest female stars from 2000 to 2009 and see if we can figure out everyone's type!
Sarah Michelle Gellar
From 1997 to 2003, Sarah Michelle Gellar played the lead character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a supernatural teen series which followed a group of friends trying to navigate high school while also facing off against demonic forces. Gellar would go on to enjoy successful film work in the following years, popping up in the horror films I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Grudge as well as the live-action Scooby-Doo series (Wikipedia).
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku’s first big role came when she landed the part of Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She would go on to star in a number of other Joss Whedon projects thereafter, including the Buffy spin-off series Angel as well as Dollhouse. Dushku starred in a number of hit movies in the early 2000s, including the comedies Bring It On, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and The New Guy, as well as the film Wrong Turn. More recently, you may have caught her on the CBS drama series Bull (Wikipedia).
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz starred in a string of critical and commercial hits throughout the late ‘90s and early 2000s, which resulted in her becoming one of the highest-grossing actresses of all time. She made her big screen debut in 1994’s The Mask before going on to star in a number of other comedies, including There’s Something About Mary and Being John Malkovich. From 2000 to 2003 she played one of the leads in the Charlie’s Angels film series. In 2014, Diaz announced her retirement from acting (Wikipedia).
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson is best known for playing FBI Agent Dana Scully on the hit Fox series The X-Files. The show debuted back in 1995 and originally ran until 2002. There have also been two X-Files feature films made to date, as well as a revival series which aired from 2016 to last year. But outside of the X-Files, Anderson has enjoyed an impressive career on both the big and small screen. Earlier this year, she starred in the big-budget action-comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me (Wikipedia).
Alyson Hannigan
Of course, many people know Alyson Hannigan thanks to her role as Lily Aldrin on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which ran for nine seasons between 2005 and 2014. But the actress first broke onto the scene thanks to her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Here, Hannigan played the part of Willow Rosenberg, a best friend to the series protagonist who goes on to become a witch in later seasons. She’s also enjoyed successful work on the big screen as a comedic actress (Wikipedia).
Jennifer Love Hewitt
From 1995 to 1999, Jennifer Love Hewitt played Sarah Reeves Merrin on the teen drama series party of five. At the same time, she appeared in the I Know What You Did Last Summer film series. Her success in both music and acting continued into the 2000s, where she had a chart-topping release with her fourth studio album. She also appeared opposite Jacki Chain in The Tuxedo. Then from 2005 to 2010, she enjoyed work as the lead character on the CBS series Ghost Whisperer (Wikipedia).
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore has been acting since she was a child all the way until today. But some of her most popular projects came out in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. These films included The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates, both of which she starred opposite Adam Sander as the film’s lead. She also appeared in the action comedy series with Charlie’s Angels, as well as the 2001 cult film Donnie Darko. More recently, she plays the lead in the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet (Wikipedia).
Kristen Bell
Though the show only ran for three seasons, Kristen Bell continues to be known for playing Veronica Mars, the title character on the teen mystery and comedy series which ran from 2004 to 2007. After being canceled, fans would eventually fund a Veronica Mars movie — which came out in 2014 — and a revival series is said to currently be in the works. Some of her film work includes Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the Bad Moms film series. She currently stars in The Good Place (Wikipedia).
Jessica Biel
For many people, Jessica Biel will forever be known as Mary Camden, one of the lead characters on the family series 7th Heaven, which ran an impressive 11 seasons and 243 episodes on The WB/ CW from 1996 to 2007. Of course, the actress has continued to enjoy much success since. She’s popped up in the films Blade: Trinity, The Illusionist, and Total Recall. Biel has been married to fellow actor and singer Justin Timberlake since 2012. They have one child together (Wikipedia).
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles got to stardom when she landed the leading role of Katrina “Kat” Stratford in the teen rom com film 10 Things I Hate About You. The movie is considered one of the best in the genre for the 1990s, and the actress has continued to enjoy leading work ever since. In the 2000s, she starred in Save the Last Dance, The Omen, and the Bourne Identity film series. In 2017, she played the lead role of Georgina Clios in the TV series Riviera (Wikipedia).
Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams acting really took off in 2004 when she appeared in both Mean Girls and The Notebook. Not only did these films establish McAdams as a standout of her generation, they also proved that she had a lot of range as an actress. Since then, McAdams has continued to float between genres and mediums, popping up in everything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her performance in Doctor Strange to the gritty cop anthology series True Detective (Wikipedia).
Katee Sackhoff
A favorite amongst science fiction and action aficionados, Katee Sackhoff first rose to prominence thanks to her role as Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace on Battlestar Galactica. She appeared in the series from 2004 to 2009, where Sackhoff was nominated for multiple awards for her performance. The actress has also appeared in the TV serie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, 24, Longmire, and The Flash. Some of her film work includes Halloween: Resurrection, Riddick, Oculus, and Don’t Knock Twice. (Wikipedia). So is she your type?
Melissa Joan Hart
Throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, Melissa Joan Hart played the lead on two popular TV series with Clarissa Explains It All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Both shows were critical and commercial hits, which earned Hart numerous awards and nominations for her performances. More recently, she played one of the lead characters on the ABC Family comedy series Melissa and Joey. In 2018, she appeared in the Lifetime Original movie with A Very Nutty Christmas, where she played Kate Holliday (Wikipedia).
Neve Campbell
Neve Campbell rose to prominence in the 1990s thanks to her role as Julia Salinger in the series Party of Five where she starred opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt and Matthew Fox, among others. At the same time, she went on to land a leading role in the Scream film series, where she played Sidney Prescott from 1996 to 2011. Last year, she appeared in the films Skyscraper and Hot Air. Campbell also enjoyed a 26-episode character arc on the Netflix series House of Cards (Wikipedia).
Alicia Silverstone
In 1995, Alicia Silverstone really broke big thanks to her leading role in the 1995 comedy Clueless. The film has continued to be popular amongst teens today, thanks in part to many of the film’s stars going on to bigger things — including Silverstone and Paul Rudd. In 1997, she played the role of Barbara/ Batgirl in Batman and Robin. Her success continued into the 2000s thanks to movies including Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and shows such as Braceface and Miss Match (Wikipedia).
Gabrielle Union
In the late ’90s, Gabrielle Union enjoyed supporting roles in a number of teen comedies, including She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. Then, in 2000, she landed a more substantial role in Bring It On, where she starred opposite Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku. Some of her other films from the ‘00s include Baby Boys II, Cradle 2 the Grave, and Cadillac Records. More recently, you may have spotted her as the title character in the BET series Being Mary Jane (Wikipedia).
Jessica Alba
Of course, Jessica Alba is still working steadily in Hollywood today, but some of her biggest movies first came out in the ’00s. These include the comic book movies Sin City and the Fantastic Four film series, as well as the comedies The Love Guru and Good Luck Chuck. She is a frequent collaborator with director Robert Rodriguez — showing up in his Spy Kids, Sin City, and Machete film series. She is set to play a leading role in the upcoming cop series L.A's Finest (Wikipedia).
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano is probably best known for her role of Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed. The supernatural series ran on The WB for eight seasons between 1998 and 2006, and the show followed three sisters who happen to be witches working for the powers of good. But before she had ever landed the role on this hit series, she had already popped up in Who’s the Boss? and Melrose Place. Milano’s success has also continued on past the ‘00s thanks to work on films like Hall Pass and New Year’s Eve (Wikipedia).
Jennifer Aniston
Though she may be best known for her film work today thanks to movies like Bruce Almighty and We Are the Millers, Jennifer Aniston first sky-rocketed to fame thanks to the popular sitcom Friends. The show ran for 10 seasons between 1994 and 2004, and it was one of the most watched sitcoms of all time. Aniston enjoyed the role of Rachel Green, and she won numerous awards and nominations for her performance. More recently, she appeared in the 2016 comedy Office Christmas Party (Wikipedia).
Danielle Fischel
Many fondly remember watching Danielle Fischel on the family comedy series Boy Meets World, which ran for seven seasons and 158 episodes between 1993 and 2000. Here, Fischel played Topanga Lawrence, the best friend and love interest of the series protagonist. The show has remained so popular over the years that a spin-off, titled Girl Meets World, was released on the Disney Channel back in 2014. The series once again found Fischel playing the role that made her famous (Wikipedia).
Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore began working in entertainment thanks to her musical abilities, which were on full display to the public with the release of her 1999 album So Real. Moore quickly pivoted into acting, showing up in the ‘00s movies Dr. Dolittle 2 and The Princess Diaries. In 2002, she enjoyed a starring role opposite Shane West in A Walk to Remember — a romantic film based off the novel by Nicholas Sparks. The actress currently plays Rebecca Pearson on the NBC drama series This Is Us (Wikipedia).
Kirsten Dunst
When she was only 12-years-old, Kirsten Dunst landed a role in the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire, where she got to star opposite both Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. She followed this up with a string of other hit films, including Little Women, Jumanji, and Small Soldiers — all of which she enjoyed significant roles in. But in 2000, she landed the leading part in the teen comedy Bring It On, which she quickly followed up by playing the character of Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man films, which is how many people known her best (Wikipedia).
Hilary Duff
From 2001 to 2004, Hilary Duff enjoyed playing the title character on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire. The popularity of this kids sitcom led to a feature film being released in theaters in 2003. From there, Duff continued to star in a number of family-friendly comedies, including Cheaper by the Dozen and its sequel, along with Agent Cody Banks, and A Cinderella Story. At the same time, Duff has enjoyed much success in the music industry, turning out five studio albums to date (Wikipedia).
Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan is another ‘00s star who really rose to prominence thanks to her leading role on the supernatural series Charmed, where she played one of the three sister witches with her character of Paige Matthews. But before the series debuted in 2001, McGowan has already enjoyed her fair share of success on the big screen. She appeared in such popular ‘90s films as Scream and Jawbreaker. In 2017, she starred in the film The Sound (Wikipedia). So is she your type?
Reese Witherspoon
In the late ‘90s, Reese Witherspoon began to enjoy mainstream success thanks to her performances in the dark comedy films Pleasantville and Election. But her big break really came in 2001, where she played the lead character of Elle Woods in the comedy Legally Blonde. After that, she enjoyed one leading role after the next in films like Sweet Home Alabama and Walk the Line — the latter of which won her an Oscar for Best Actress. In 2017, she starred in the critically-acclaimed HBO series Big Little Lies (Wikipedia).
Grace Park
On Battlestar Galactica, Grace Park enjoyed playing the part of Cylon Number Eight, which allowed her to portray multiple incarnations of the same character. The popular space opera series ran for four seasons on the Sci Fi Channel between 2004 to 2009, at which time it racked up its fair share of critical acclaim and accolades. More recently, Park enjoyed a leading role on the CBS police procedural Hawaii Five-O, which has run for nine seasons to date (Wikipedia). But what do you think about this actress?
Heather Graham
Heather Graham first received widespread recognition in the late ‘90s thanks to her appearance in the film Boogie Nights, along with the cult TV series Twin Peaks. In 1999, she appeared in two big-budget comedies with Bowfinger and the sequel to Austin Powers. Graham’s success continued into the 2000s, where she appeared in the Hangover film series as well as the popular sitcom Scrubs. In 2018, she starred in the comedy Half Magic, which Graham also served on as a writer and director (Wikipedia).
Naomi Watts
For years, English actress Naomi Watts struggled to make it into the mainstream. But then, in 2001, she landed the leading role in David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive — which is often ranked as one of the best movies of its respective decade. From then on out, Watts has had no problem landing leading roles, and many may better know her from The Ring or King Kong. In 2018, she appeared in the feature films Ophelia and Vice, and she has a number of movies currently in the works for 2019 and beyond (Wikipedia).
Vanessa Hudgens
From 2006 to 2008, Vanessa Hudgens enjoyed a leading role in the Disney Channel High School Musical film series, which seemingly made her a star overnight. However, Hudgens has successfully managed to break out of the Disney Channel mold — as she quickly popped up in a number of darker films, including Sucker Punch and Spring Breakers. On top of her success on the big and small screen, Hudgens continues to enjoy work as a stage actor and musical performer. In 2018, she appeared in the musical In the Heights (Wikipedia).
Milla Jovovich
One of the biggest female action stars working today, Milla Jovovich is best known for playing the leading character in the Resident Evil film series. She has appeared in six Resident Evil films to date, with the last one — titled The Final Chapter — being released in 2016. But despite her time with the popular video game inspired series coming to an end, Jovovich has already starred in a number of other feature films, and she is set to play the primary antagonist in the upcoming Hellboy reboot, which is set for 2019 release (Wikipedia).
Sarah Gilbert
Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, Sarah Gilbert enjoyed work on the popular ABC sitcom Roseanne, where she played Darlene Conner — the daughter of the titular character. She has more recently gotten to reprise the part in the Roseanne reboot series along with the spin-off the Conners. In the 2000s, Gilbert also enjoyed her fair share of film work, appearing in the movies The Big Tease, High Fidelity, and Riding in Cars with Boys. You may have also caught her in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (Wikipedia).
Halle Berry
Halle Berry was one of the highest-grossing and most critically-acclaimed actress of the ‘00s. In 2001, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress thanks to her performance in Monster’s Ball. Since 2000, Berry has also enjoyed a recurring role in the X-Men film series, where she plays the mutant known as Storm — a part which she most recently reprised in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. In 2017, she played the character of Ginger in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Wikipedia).
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan enjoyed massive notoriety early in her life thanks to her leading roles in movies like The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday. In 2004, she starred in the teen comedy Mean Girls, which has since become a cult classic. Some of her other films throughout this decade include Herbie: Fully Loaded, A Prairie Home Companion, and Bobby. She has also enjoyed work as a singer and has more recently opened up a number of clubs and resorts around the world (Wikipedia).
Mena Suvari
In 1999, Mena Suvari starred in the Best Picture of the Year Winner, where she enjoyed a supporting role as Angela Hayes, for which Suvari was nominated for a BAFTA Award. Throughout the 2000s, the actress appeared in the films Loser, Sugar and Spice, and Rumor Has It, amongst others. She has also enjoyed work on the small screen, popping up in such shows as Boy Meets World, Six Feet Under, and Chicago Fire (Wikipedia). So what do you think of her?
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Norwood began working in the entertainment industry as a background singer before she released her first studio album in 1994. Brandy has continued to enjoy much success as a singer since then, though she has been known to pop up in her fair share of movies and TV shows as well. She played the lead character on both Thea and Moesha — two television sitcoms. She also appeared in the film I Know What You Did Last Summer, along with the big screen comedy Osmosis Jones (Wikipedia).
Elisha Cuthbert
Best known for being a comedic actress, Elisha Cuthbert popped up in a number of hit comedies throughout the ’00s. These included Love Actually, Old School, and The Girl Next Door, where she played the romantic lead of Danielle. Cuthbert also enjoyed a leading role in the 2005 remake House of Wax, where she starred alongside Chad Michael Murray and Paris Hilton. From 2001 to 2010, the actress also enjoyed a recurring role on the hit Fox action series 24, where she played Kim Bauer (Wikipedia).
Jessica Simpson
Though she is best known for being a singer, Jessica Simpson also popped up in her fair share of feature films throughout the ‘00s. These include The Dukes of Hazzard, where she enjoyed the part of Daisy Duke, along with Employee of the Month, where she played the female lead opposite Dane Cook and Dax Shepherd. Simpson also appeared as a fictionalized version of herself in The Master of Disguise and The Love Guru. She hasn’t appeared in a film since 2008 (Wikipedia).
Alexis Bledel
From 2000 to 2007, Alexis Bledel enjoyed the part of Rory Gilmore on the popular mother daughter series The Gilmore Girls, which aired on The WB and The CW. In 2016, the series enjoyed a revival thanks to Netflix, which found Bledel reprising her role. Throughout the 2000s, the actress also enjoyed work on the big screen in movies such as Sin City and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. More recently, you may have seen her in the critically-acclaimed Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale (Wikipedia).
Isla Fisher
In the ‘90s, Isla Fisher enjoyed some time on the small screen thanks to her part as Shannon Reed on the soap opera Home and Away. Then, in the 2000s, she enjoyed widespread recognition on the big screen thanks to her part in a number of comedies, including the Scooby-Doo live-action film series, along with Wedding Crashers. While she’s continued to work in comedy, Fisher has also branched out into more dramatic work, as seen in features like The Great Gatsby and Nocturnal Animals (Wikipedia).
Liv Tyler
The daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, Liv Tyler began working in the entertainment industry as a model when she was a teenager. She quickly pivoted into film work, showing up in the ‘90s movies That Thing You Do!, Empire Records, and Armageddon, among others. But many best know her from her work in The Lord of the Rings trilogy where she plays the elf, Arwen Undomiel. Some of her other films include the comedy Jersey Girl, the suspense film The Strangers, and the superhero movie The Incredible Hulk (Wikipedia).
