This strikingly beautiful brunette actor and model’s first brush with fame in the USA sprang from her relationship with actor Hugh Grant. Hurley first gained the limelight in a revealing dress at the premiere of Grant’s star-making vehicle “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (1994). The following year, he was embroiled in a public sex scandal and the tabloid press stalked the couple mercilessly. But Hurley managed to emerge somewhat from Grant’s shadow when she was chosen as Estee Lauder’s spokesmodel and with the release of her first venture as a producer, Grant’s starring thriller “Extreme Measures” (1996).
Born and raised in London, Hurley began her acting career with a touring company that took her to Asia and the Middle East. She went through an everything-pierced punk period, formed a dance troupe, Vile Bodies, and appeared on British TV. Several of her British performances made it to US screens, including her starring role in “Christabel” (PBS, 1989) and a spot in “Rumpole and the Barrow Boy” (PBS, 1989). More recently, she has starred alongside Edward Woodward in the UPN crime movies “The Shamrock Conspiracy” (1995) and “Harrison: Cry of the City” (1996), and as the Biblical barber in “Samson and Delilah” (TNT, 1996).
Hurley entered feature films in 1987 with a role in Bruce Beresford’s segment of the operatic anthology “Aria”. The part required her to lip sync and appear nude. She next appeared with Grant (who played Lord Byron) in the Spanish film “Rowing With the Wind” (1988). Her next few assignments were far-flung: England (the period drama “The Orchid House,” 1991, and the thriller “Beyond Bedlam, 1993), Germany (the thriller “Skipper–Bloody Atlantic,” 1991) and Spain (the Civil War drama “El Largo Invierno,” 1992). Hurley’s US debut came with a supporting role as a terrorist in the Wesley Snipes starrer “Passenger 57″ (1992). Hurley next starred with Mike Myers in the spy spoof “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” and with Ice Cube in the action flick “Dangerous Grou nd” (both 1997).
When Hurley announced her pregnancy in 2001, her then boyfriend Stephen Bing immediately released a statement saying he was not in an exclusive relationship with Hurley and was not sure he was the father. Hurley was devestated and outraged but remained composured as Bing was pummelled in the press. Her ex-beau of 13 years, Hugh Grant, comforted Hurley through this difficult time and was said to be present at the child’s birth. A month after the birth, a DNA test proved Bing was in fact the father. Bing stated that he was “pleased” with the results and would be involved in the child’s upbringing. Hurley next appeared in a romantic comedy starring opposite Matthew Perry titled “Serving Sara,” released in August 2002.
- Born:
on 06/10/1965 in London, England
- Job Titles:
Actor, Producer, Model
Family
- Brother: Michael Hurley. younger
- Sister: Katie Hurley. older
- Son: Damian Charles Hurley. born on April 4. 2002
Significant Others
- Companion: Arun Nair. reportedly dating as of January 2003
- Companion: Charles Dean. Dean is also the son of soft drinks magnate; rumored to be dating
- Companion: Hugh Grant. born on September 9, 1960; together from 1986; formed Simian Films together; mutually decided to separated in April 2000; announced separation in May
- Companion: Stephen Bing. born c. 1964; dated for about a year and a half in 2000 and 2001; father of her son
- Companion: Ted Forstmann. reportedly dated in 2000
Education
- London Studio Centre, London, England
Milestones
- 1986 Played the leading role in the TV drama “Christabel” by Dennis Potter (shown in USA in 1989 on PBS)
- 1987 Feature film debut, “Aria”
- 1988 First feature lead, opposite Hugh Grant, in “Rowing with the Wind”
- 1992 First US feature “Passenger 57″
- 1995 Chosen as model for Estee Lauder cosmetics and perfumes
- 1996 Cast in female lead in TNT miniseries “Samson and Delilah”
- 1996 Feature debut as producer, “Extreme Measures”
- 1997 Had breakthrough comic screen role as Mike Myers’ leading lady in “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”
- 1998 Played the wife of a drug addicted writer (Ben Stiller) in “Permanent Midnight”
- 1999 Briefly reprised role in the comedy sequel “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”
- 1999 Co-starred in “EDtv”
- 1999 Second producing venture, “Mickey Blue Eyes”, a fish out of water comedy starring Hugh Grant
- 2000 Fined $100,000 by the Screen Actors Guild for making a commercial while the union was striking against advertisers
- 2000 Had supporting role in “The Weight of Water”; released in USA in 2001
- 2000 Played a sexy temptress in the remake of “Bedazzled”
- 2002 Co-starred in the comedy “Servicing Sara”
- Expelled from drama school
- Formed Simian Productions with Hugh Grant
- Formed dance troupe, Vile Bodies
- Moved with her family every eighteen months when she was growing up due to father’s army career
- Toured in theater productions in Asia and the Middle East
