First winning the attention of casting agents at the age of ten, Eliza has been in the spotlight ever since. She emancipated herself from her parents as a teenager to allow her to work more hours on the film set. Known for a multitude of roles, including a regular one on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eliza’s career is noteworthy because the work she takes on is so diverse. Unlike many child actors, Eliza’s career hasn’t waned just because she grew up. On the contrary, Dushku has an amazing seven upcoming or recently-released projects, and will hopefully have steady work for years to come.
Eliza Dushku was born on December 30, 1980, in Watertown, Massachusetts. At the age of ten, Eliza attended a television commercial audition with her brother Nathan. Although he was the one who was supposed to be auditioning, Eliza stole the show when she tripped and fell down. Dushku’s over the top reaction to her minor injuries displayed her incredible dramatic skills.
In 1992, Eliza made her first movie appearance in That Night, in which she starred alongside Juliette Lewis. Her impressive and mature work in her debut performance soon led to other roles for the young actress. Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio shared the screen with Eliza in This Boy’s Life, and in 1994 she took on the role of Arnold Schwarzenegger and scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis’s daughter in True Lies. Bye, Bye Love and Race the Sun, two other projects completed during her teen years, saw her working with Paul Reiser, Halle Berry, and Jim Belushi.
After taking some time off to finish high school, Eliza decided not to attend university right away after winning what many consider to be her best-known role. Her portrayal as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a hit with audiences, leading to a recurring role on the long-running series, which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy. Eliza’s convincing portrayal as a sociopath was also popular with the less stable segment of the population, and Eliza reported receiving fan mail from many incarcerated criminals.
Since the end of Buffy, Eliza has continued to rack up scores of television and film appearances. She starred in the thriller Soul Survivors, alongside Casey Affleck, and teamed up with Kirsten Dunst for the cheerleading film Bring it On. She worked with Kevin Smith in the hilarious Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, which also featured Shannon Elizabeth, Ali Larter, and Ben Affleck.
Eliza’s other projects include starring in the television series Tru Calling, which was cancelled after two seasons, appearing on That 70s Show, and starring in the horror flick Wrong Turn.
Despite having been in the spotlight for several years, Eliza shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Her staggering list of upcoming or recently released movies includes roles in Sex and Breakfast, which will star Macaulay Culkin; The Alphabet Killer, with Cary Elwes and Timothy Hutton; and Zoe, with Thom Bishops. Eliza is set to star in the upcoming television series Nurses, which will begin airing sometime in 2007.
It’s not clear whether or not there is a special man in Dushku’s life. With her busy work schedule, it wouldn’t be surprising if the actress just doesn’t have time for a boyfriend right now. We’re sure when her schedule opens up, however, that there will be no shortage of men auditioning for the role.
YUDDY
