Biography
Early life
Murphy was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Sharon Murphy, who is of Irish and Eastern European descent, and Angelo Bertolotti, an Italian American.[2][3][4][5] Murphy's parents divorced shortly after her birth, and she was raised in Edison, New Jersey,[6] and Burbank, California, by her single, working-class mother; she has had little contact with her father since the divorce. Murphy was raised a Baptist and attended a Lutheran school, but is now a non-denominational practicing Christian.[7][8]
When she was nine years old, Murphy landed a singing role in a musical version of Les Misérables, and had signed on with a manager by the time she turned thirteen. Her mother, Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer when Brittany was 15. She survived after having a double mastectomy.[9]
Acting
Murphy landed her first job in Hollywood when she was fourteen, starring as Brenda Drexell in the television series Drexell's Class. She then went on to play Molly Morgan in the short lived The Torkelsons spinoff Almost Home. In the Frasier episode "Give Him The Chair", she played a school child in a play of "10 Little Indians" who cannot remember her lines. She also had a small role in Season 3 of Boy Meets World as Topanga's best friend Trini. She was also the lead singer of the band Blessed With Soul in the early 1990s, and was at one time signed on to play late singer Janis Joplin in a biography, but the film was not made because of legal disputes over music rights. Murphy has since starred in many successful films, including Clueless (1995), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Don't Say a Word (2001), 8 Mile (2002) and Uptown Girls (2003) as well as many lesser known films, such as Spun (2003). She has also appeared on several television series including Sister, Sister and as the voice of Luanne Platter (as well as the younger version of Joseph Gribble) on the long-running animated series King of the Hill.
In 2001, Murphy cameoed in the music video for Wheatus' single "A Little Respect"[10]
She most recently appeared in the films Little Black Book (2004), which was considered a critical and commercial failure, and the critically acclaimed Sin City (2005). Also in 2005, she appeared in the promo video for Tears for Fears' comeback single Closest Thing To Heaven, and in August 2005, Brittany co-presented UK music show CD:UK alongside Holly Willoughby.
Murphy is also filming five other films. She will star in The Ramen Girl. The Other Side, and The White Hotel. She is reprising her role as Shellie in Sin City 2.
Music
In the Spring of 2006, Paul Oakenfold along with Brittany Murphy released the single "Faster Kill Pussycat", with the album A Lively Mind which was released on June 6 in the United States. The song has become a club hit, and hit number one on Billboard magazine's Hot Dance Club Play chart. It also hit number seven in the UK singles chart in June 2006. She dabbled in music again with the release of her movie Happy Feet, in which she covered Queen's classic "Somebody to Love" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland".
Brittany is currently working on her debut album, which is inspired by synth-pop sound. The album will be released in 2008. She is working with various producers and DJs including with Paul Oakenfold, Chris Cox, Max Martin and Timbaland.The album will be released in 2009.
Filmography
1995 Clueless Tai Fraiser Victim of the Night Julia Newland
1996 Freeway Rhonda
1997 Drive Deliverance Bodine Bongwater Mary
1998 Phoenix Veronica David and Lisa Lisa Brandt The Prophecy II Izzy Falling Sky Emily Nicholson
1999 Girl, Interrupted Daisy Randone Drop Dead Gorgeous Lisa Swensen
The Devil's Arithmetic Rivka
2000 Cherry Falls Jody Marken
Common Ground Dorothy Nelson
Trixie Ruby Pearli
2001 Sidewalks of New York Ashley
Don't Say a Word Elisabeth Burrows
Riding in Cars with Boys Fay Forrester
Summer Catch Dede Mulligan
2002 8 Mile Alex Latourno
2003 Uptown Girls Molly Gunn Spun Nikki Just Married Sarah McNerney
2004 Little Black Book Stacy Holt
2005 Sin City Shellie
2006 Love and Other Disasters Emily 'Jacks' Jackson Happy Feet Gloria (voice)
The Groomsmen Sue The Dead Girl Krista Kutcher
2007 The Ramen Girl Abby
2008 Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs Colleen (voice-over)
2009 The White Hotel Sin City 2 Shellie
