Duff, Hilary

Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress and singer. more...

After gaining fame in the television show Lizzie McGuire, she has gone on to have a somewhat successful film career, with roles in high profile releases such as Cheaper by the Dozen, A Cinderella Story and The Lizzie McGuire Movie. She is set to star alongside her sister, Haylie Duff, in her next film, Material Girls, which is due out in August. Duff has also been expanding her repertoire into pop music with four successful albums: two Disneymania albums and two number 1 albums of more mainstream pop, 2003's Metamorphosis, and an ostensibly greatest hits compilation, Most Wanted released in 2005 containing her singles "Wake Up" and "Beat of My Heart".

Biography

Early life and career

Hilary Duff was born in Houston, Texas as the second child of Robert (Bob) Erhard Duff, owner of a chain of convenience stores, and his wife Susan Colleen Cobb, a homemaker. Duff's middle name of "Erhard" was the maiden name of her part German American paternal grandmother, Mary Erhard; Duff also has German ancestry on the part of her maternal grandmother, Amy Beulah Schlemmer. After Duff's mother encouraged her to take an acting class alongside her older sister, Haylie Duff, both girls won parts in various local theatre productions. At the age of six, the Duffs participated in the ballet The Nutcracker Suite with Columbus Ballet Met in San Antonio. The siblings became more and more enthusiastic about the idea of acting professionally, and they eventually relocated to California with their mother. Bob Duff stayed at the family home in Houston to maintain their business. Through years of auditions and meetings, Hilary and Haylie managed to clinch appearances in several television commercials.

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