Milla Jovovich ( /ˈjoʊvəvɪtʃ/ YOH-və-vich; born Milica Jovović (Serbian Cyrillic: Милица Јововић; Russian: Милица Йовович) on December 17, 1975) is an American model, actress, musician and fashion designer. During her career, she has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, earning her the sobriquet "reigning queen of kick-butt" from the music channel VH1 in 2006.
Jovovich began modeling when Herb Ritts photographed her for the cover of the Italian magazine Lei ("She") in 1987. Richard Avedon then featured her in Revlon's "Most Unforgettable Women in the World" advertisements and she also appeared in campaigns for L'Oréal cosmetics, Banana Republic, Christian Dior, Donna Karan and Versace. In 1988, she made her first professional acting appearance in the television film The Night Train to Kathmandu and, later that year, she appeared in her first feature film, Two Moon Junction. After a few more lower-profile film and television appearances, such as in the Married... with Children episode "Fair Exchange" (1989) as a French girl, Jovovich gained notoriety following her appearance in the 1991 romance film Return to the Blue Lagoon. In 1992 and 1993, she appeared as Christian Slater's character's love interest in Kuffs and as one of the teenagers in the comedy coming-of-age film Dazed and Confused, before her breakthrough alongside Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman in the 1997 Luc Besson science-fiction film The Fifth Element. She then appeared as the central character Joan of Arc in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999), also directed by Besson, who was now her husband.
In 2002, Jovovich starred in the film adaptation of the video game Resident Evil, which, although disliked by critics, proved very successful. To date, four sequels have followed in which she has reprised her role of "Alice": Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) and Resident Evil: Retribution (2012).
In addition to her modeling and acting career, Jovovich has released a music album, The Divine Comedy, in 1994. She continues to release demos for other songs on her official website and contributes to film soundtracks. She has yet, however, to release another album. In 2003, she and model Carmen Hawk created the clothing line Jovovich-Hawk. It ceased operations in early 2008. Prior to its demise, its items could be found at Fred Segal in Los Angeles, Harvey Nichols and over fifty other stores around the world.
Jovovich now has her own production company, Creature Entertainment.
Read more about Milla Jovovich: Early Life and Family, Modeling Career, Awards and Nominations, Music Career, Fashion Design, Media Personality, Personal Life, Discography