Hilary Duff biography

In 2003, Duff and Disney entered negotiations for an extension to the Lizzie McGuire franchise, but talks broke down over pay disputes.

Continued Success

Nevertheless, 2003 proved to be a banner year for Hilary Duff, as the 16-year-old starred in three movies—Agent Cody Banks, The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Cheaper by the Dozen—and released her first non-Disney studio album, Metamorphosis. Featuring songs written by both Hilary and Haylie Duff, the album eventually went triple-platinum in the United States. By now, Duff had developed a reputation as a teen idol and drew comparisons to the late Annette Funicello, who had risen to prominence as the star of The Mickey Mouse Club half a century before.

In 2004, Duff starred in two films: A Cinderella Story, which was moderately successful at the box office, and Raise Your Voice, which bombed. That same year, the starlet released her second album, the eponymous Hilary Duff, which earned platinum certification, and launched her own fashion line, Stuff by Hilary Duff, which saw mass distribution through Target and K-Mart. (She would later launch the fashion line Femme for DKNY Jeans.) Also in 2004, Duff began dating Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden; their relationship would end in November 2006.

By 2005, Duff, desperately wanting to move away from 'tween fare so that she could be taken seriously as an adult actress, was attempting to reshape her public image. She starred in The Perfect Man with Heather Locklear in 2005, and in Material Girls with sister Haylie in 2006, but both films bombed with movie audiences.

Duff's fourth studio album, Dignity, was released in 2007 to both critical and commercial acclaim, praised for offering a more mature, adult sound than that of its predecessors. Working with American singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi, Duff co-wrote all but one song on the album.

Duff was then offered the lead role in the 2008 reboot of the 90210 TV franchise, but passed on the part, preferring to make a definitive move from her high school image. She went on to appear in the political satire War, Inc. (2008) alongside John Cusack.

Recent Roles

Continuing her efforts to bolster her image as a serious actress, Duff has appeared in several independent films in recent years. In 2009, she starred in the indie drama According to Greta with Melissa Leo and Ellen Burstyn, and in the comedic drama Stay Cool with Winona Ryder, Jon Cryer and Chevy Chase. Duff was then cast alongside Val Kilmer and Kris Kristofferson in 2010's Bloodworth, and was later featured in the 2012 comedy She Wants Me, along with Josh Gad and Charlie Sheen.

Duff has also continued to appear on the small screen, playing Lane Danels in the 2010 TV movie Beauty & the Briefcase and guest-starring on a number of series, including Gossip Girl, Community, Raising Hope and Two and a Half Men.

Outside of her performance career, Duff is heavily involved with charities, especially those focusing on the rights of animals and children.