Murphy, Brittany (1977– )

US actor. Known for her versatility in both comedy and drama, she appeared in her first television commercials before adolescence, and became a prolific film performer before the age of 25. Her first major film role was Tai, the transfer student taken under US actor Alicia Silverstone's wing in the acclaimed teen comedy Clueless (1995). She gained a wide audience with her performance alongside US rap star Eminem in 8 Mile (2002).

Other film roles include a suicidal teen in Girl, Interrupted (1998), a beauty pageant contestant in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), and an emotionally disturbed girl in Don't Say A Word (2001). She starred with her then partner Ashton Kutcher in the romantic comedy Just Married in 2003. She was also the voice of Luanne on the popular animated comedy series King of the Hill (1997).

She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but grew up in Edison, New Jersey. After moving to Burbank, California, with her single mother, she landed her first television role on the series Murphy Brown (1988). She achieved the starring role in the short-lived series Drexell's Class in 1991. She was critically acclaimed for her leading role in the television film David and Lisa (1998) and for her performance in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge on Broadway (1997). Other films include Freeway (1996), Phoenix (1998), The Devil's Arithmetic (1999), Summer Catch (2001), Riding in Cars with Boys (2001), Spun (2003), Uptown Girls (2003), and Little Black Book (2004).