Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and author. Born and raised in Texas, she appeared in local theater productions and television commercials in her early childhood. In the early 2000's, Duff rose to prominence portraying the titular character in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire and it's numerous merchandise, which included the motion picture The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003). Establishing herself as a teen idol she appeared in various featured films including Agent Cody Banks (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), A Cinderella Story (2004) and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005), which are among the biggest commercial successes of her career. Duff has additionally appeared in numerous guest roles and appearances in television dramas and comedies, including the documentary Hilary Duff: This Is Now, an award-winning role on the third season of Gossip Girl, and the television film Beauty & the Briefcase (2010). In 2014, she landed a starring role in the upcoming TV Land sitcom titled Younger. Other than that, she has acted in several independent films with praised roles in War, Inc. (2008), According to Greta (2009) and Bloodworth (2010). Duff has also served as a voice actress for a number of direct-to-video animated features.
In 2002, Duff ventured into the music industry with numerous soundtrack appearances and with the release of her debut studio album, Santa Claus Lane, which featured only christmas music. After signing a recording contract with Hollywood Records, Duff released her second album Metamorphosis (2003), joining a select few in successfully converting from film to a music career. It spawned the singles "So Yesterday" and "Come Clean" and sold four million copies in the USA. Duff's following record, the self-titled album Hilary Duff (2004), was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), despite only having one U.S. single released; "Fly". Her 2005 compilation album, Most Wanted was her first album to debut at number one, and her second album to top the Billboard 200. The album was a worldwide success and included the singles "Wake Up" and "Beat of My Heart", both were released that same year. Her fourth studio album, the dance-infused, gold certified record Dignity (2007). The record featured a more mature image and sound, It spawned her highest-charting single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, "With Love" and was the first of three consecutive number ones on the Hot Dance Club Play charts. Duff's transition continued with the release of "Stranger" and "Reach Out", the latter being the lead single from her first greatest hits album, Best of Hilary Duff (2008) which subsequently ended her recording contract with Hollywood Records. After taking a five-year musical hiatus to focus on her acting and writing careers and motherhood, she began working on her fifth studio album in late 2013, which is tentatively expected to be released in the fall of 2014, under RCA Records. Its lead single, "Chasing the Sun", was released on July 29, 2014, taking on a new folk-pop sound. To date, Duff has sold more than fifteen million albums worldwide.
