Born Jessica Marie Alba, on Apr 28, 1981, in Pomona, California, USA. Reportedly 5' 7", 34-25-34.

Some people were born for lives of adventure in the untamed jungles of the world. Some were born to endure a grey existence as cheerless office peons. Jessica Alba was born to play hot chick roles for film and TV.

“I got a woman's figure when I was 12, and it was intense,” she remarked to Us Weekly. “All of a sudden, you're viewed as a sex object.” Combine that with her Navy family's nomadic lifestyle, it was just a matter of time before this attention-seeking, sexually precocious kid found herself in front of a camera.

Of course, many actresses attract a lot more notice when they turn 18, and Jessica was no exception: she'd been acting since 1994, but it wasn't until 1999's Never Been Kissed and Idle Hands that she became widely visible. Now, at 19, it's pretty hard not to notice her, what with the endless hype for James Cameron's critically acclaimed but very lame and (and surprisingly boring) Dark Angel. And she isn't likely to disappear any time soon, either: even when Dark Angel gets yanked off the airwaves (which, given the high cost of the show and the low ratings after its pilot episode, will probably happen within a season or two), the stench of failure will stick to Cameron, not Alba (since it's the show itself that sucks, not its actors), she isn't so particular about what movies she's in that she winds up not making any like Laura Prepon, doesn't currently have to worry about the ten extra pounds the camera always adds like Michelle Williams, and has a sensuality that's a lot more obvious and accessible than Leelee Sobieski, Katie Holmes, and many of the other new crop of TV and film nymphets.

The only downside as far as her fans are concerned is that with all this going for her already, there's little reason for her to do any nude work (at least, not until after Dark Angel gets cancelled and people start to forget about her), so chances are she won't unless it's something she personally aspires to do.

Also sprach Golem.
(More recent commentary below)

The Talented Ms. Alba
Monday, September 24, 2007
So Good Luck Chuck had a so-so opening weekend, and some people are starting to wonder why Jessica Alba gets paid so much. But the beauty of being beautiful is that, from Marilyn Monroe onward, you’re always a success whether you succeed or not.... Read more

Seriously, When Has There Not Been Something About Jessica?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Not that I’m complaining, but ever since Jessica Alba so solemnly declared that she was done with sexy roles and photoshoots a couple years ago, her roles and photoshoots have not only continued to capitalize on her sex appeal, but have gotten even more sexually suggestive.... Read more

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Coachella 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Coachella is having its regular three-day music festival right now, and I coudn’t be more frustrated.... Read more

When the Girl Next Door Has a Lawyer
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
When I heard that Jessica Alba was going to be in the next issue of Playboy, I was skeptical — an Australian article I read last December reported that she won’t even do Maxim anymore, let alone Playboy, as she has become disenchanted with her status as a sex icon. And despite her appearance on the cover, it looks like the skeptics were right.... Read more

The Jessica Alba Reality Show
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Let’s be honest: As beautiful as Jessica Alba on film might be, she doesn’t really have the curves to capture the public’s libidinous attentions the way, say, Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson have. But as paparazzi have been demonstrating over the last year, she can be a lot hotter than one might have thought possible when she thinks no one’s watching:... Read more

Fantastic Two, Revisited
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Now that the DVD is out, Jessica Alba pervs everywhere want to know: Is that scene where Jessica steps out of the shower in the background and quickly becomes invisible really her naked?... Read more

Fantastic Four
Friday, July 8, 2005
The hype for this movie has been so intense and pervasive that even I was beginning to accept that Fantastic Four was already an established pop-cultural landmark before the film was even released, despite the glaringly iffy look and vibe of the trailer. Predictably enough, the general consensus among critics and user comments on the web is that this film is pretty damn awful, especially if you’ve read the comics. So when I finally got around to seeing the movie myself, I was expecting just that.... Read more

Fantastic Two
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Jessica Alba may be determined never to work nude in movies, but plugging for movies is apparently another matter: The former Dark Angel finally shed some light on two of her hitherto unseen assets yesterday at the MTV Movie Awards in an Emperor’s-New-Clothes type dress reminiscent of Rose McGowan’s fishnet ensemble at the same event seven years earlier. You can see what all the fuss is about here in the Sacred Pics gallery.... Read more

Sin City
Thursday, April 21, 2005
It’s Don Quixote meets Pulp Fiction: Three (or so) interweaving and ultra-violent tales of a directionless, burnt-out thug on parole, a directionless, burnt-out cop on the verge of retirement, and a directionless, burnt-out death row escapee who independently seek redemption and meaning by avenging or protecting the fallen women who for a fleeting moment made their lives worthwhile. Stylishly adapted with gory exuberance by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino from the stylishly bloody graphic novels of Frank Miller.... Read more

The Road to Sin City Is Paved with Golden Locks
Monday, April 18, 2005
Well, while most TV stars never fully escape the “small time” stigma of the small screen — which is to say their careers already peaked with whatever TV show made them famous — Jessica Alba appears to be a much bigger deal now than she ever was before.... Read more

Honey
Sunday, December 7, 2003
Plugging her movie on every talkshow and quasi-talkshow seems to have paid off, as Jessica Alba’s latest effort to crawl out of her post-Dark Angel slump seems to be doing well its opening weekend.... Read more

The Sleeping Dictionary Awakes ... Sort Of
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
We’ve all waited a long time to see Jessica Alba on the big screen again — if only for the possibility that she’ll appear in the buff to help sever any lingering ties to Dark Angel — but it looks like we’ll have to wait even longer.... Read more

Dark Angel’s Wings Finally Clipped
Thursday, May 16, 2002
Well, it’s official — like so many other TV shows before it built on the pseudo-feminist “(beautiful) girls kick ass” formula, Dark Angel will be going to crappy show heaven after just a couple seasons of no one watching it.... Read more

Film

• Sin City 2 (2010) .... Nancy Callahan
• The Eye (2008) .... Allison
• The Love Guru (2008) .... Jane Bullard
• Awake (2007) .... Sam
• Bill (2007) .... Lucy
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) .... Susan Storm/Invisible Woman
• Good Luck Chuck (2007) .... Cam Wexler
• Fantastic Four (2005) .... Susan Storm/The Invisible Girl
• Into the Blue (2005) .... Sam
• Sin City (2005) .... Nancy Callahan
• Honey (2003) .... Honey
• The Sleeping Dictionary (2002) .... Selima [nudity by body-double]
• Paranoid (2000) .... Chloe
• Idle Hands (1999) .... Molly
• Never Been Kissed (1999) .... Kirsten Liosis
• P.U.N.K.S. (1998) .... Samantha Swaboda
• Venus Rising (1995) .... Young Eve
• Camp Nowhere (1994) .... Gail

• Entourage: “The Review” (2004) .... Herself

• 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (2006) .... Herself
• 2006 MTV Movie Awards (2006; MTV) .... Herself/Host
• Joan & Melissa: Live at the Academy Awards (2006) .... Herself
• Live from the Red Carpet: The 2006 Golden Globe Awards (2006) .... Herself
• Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '06 (2006) .... Herself
• The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2006) .... Presenter
• The 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006) .... Herself/Co-presenter: Best Sound
• 2005 MTV Movie Awards (2005; MTV) .... Herself/Presenter
• Death of Celebrity (2005) .... Herself/Contributor
• Hot Popcorn: Movie Awards Greatest Moments (2005) .... Herself
• MTV Movie Awards 2005 Pre-Show (2005; MTV) .... Herself
• MTV Video Music Awards 2005 (2005; MTV) .... Herself
• Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '05 (2005) .... Herself
• Sin City: The Premiere (2005) .... Herself
• The Teen Choice Awards 2005 (2005) .... Herself/Attendee
• The Teen Choice Awards 2004 (2004) .... Herself
• Diary (2003; MTV) .... Herself
• MTV Video Music Awards 2003 (2003; MTV) .... Herself
• Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '03 (2003) .... Herself
• The Teen Choice Awards 2003 (2003) .... Herself
• Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '02 (2002) .... Herself/Presenter
• The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002) .... Herself
• The Teen Choice Awards 2002 (2002) .... Herself/Presenter
• The Teen Choice Awards 2001 (2001) .... Herself
• Too Soon for Jeff (1996)

• Extra (Mar 2006) .... Herself
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (Feb 3, 2006) .... Herself
• Showbiz Tonight (Nov 11, 2005) .... Herself
• Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Oct 4, 2005) .... Herself
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Sep 29, 2005) .... Herself
• Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (Sep 28, 2005) .... Herself
• Today (Sep 28, 2005) .... Herself
• Total Request Live (Sep 28, 2005; MTV) .... Herself
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Sep 26, 2005) .... Herself
• Corazón de... (Aug 17, 2005) .... Herself
• Corazón de... (Jul 14, 2005) .... Herself
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Jul 7, 2005) .... Herself
• Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (Jun 29, 2005) .... Herself
• Today (Jun 28, 2005) .... Herself
• Last Call with Carson Daly (Apr 1, 2005) .... Herself
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Mar 25, 2005) .... Herself
• Late Show with David Letterman (Mar 22, 2005) .... Herself
• Trippin: “Costa Rica” (2005; MTV) .... Herself
• Trippin: “Honduras” (2005; MTV) .... Herself
• The View (Jul 7, 2004) .... Herself
• Last Call with Carson Daly (Feb 23, 2004) .... Herself
• The Sharon Osbourne Show (Dec 5, 2003) .... Herself
• Tinseltown TV (Sep 27, 2003) .... Herself
• Punk'd (2003; MTV) .... Herself [uncredited]
• Rock Me Baby: “The Difference Between Men and Women” (2003) .... Herself
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show (Apr 25, 2002) .... Herself
• E! Rank: 25 Toughest Stars (2002) .... Herself/#17
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show (Nov 12, 2001) .... Herself
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Oct 5, 2001) .... Herself
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show (Feb 12, 2001) .... Herself
• Dark Angel (2000-2002) .... Max Guevera/X5-452 & Sam/X5-453
• The Love Boat: The Next Wave: “Remember?” (Apr 20, 1998) .... Layla
• Beverly Hills, 90210: “The Nature of Nurture” (Mar 18, 1998) .... Leanne
• Beverly Hills, 90210: “Making Amends” (Mar 11, 1998) .... Leanne
• Brooklyn South: “Exposing Johnson” (Jan 18, 1998) .... Melissa Hauer
• Chicago Hope: “Sexual Perversity in Chicago Hope” (Mar 11, 1996) .... Maria
• Flipper (1995-1996) .... Maya Graham
• The Secret World of Alex Mack: “The Accident” (Oct 8, 1994) .... Jessica
• The Secret World of Alex Mack: “Hoop War” (1994) .... Jessica
• The Secret World of Alex Mack: “School Dance” (1994) .... Jessica

• Alba wows geeks at Oscars’ tech fest
  Associated Press (Feb 10, 2008)
  At the first Academy Award presentations of the year, Jessica Alba showed up to present the awards — and be gawked at — and nerddom was held up as something to celebrate.
• Jessica Alba ‘Paranoid’ About Breastfeeding
  ExtraTV.com (Jan 23, 2008)
  Jessica Alba is opening up about her pregnancy, talking for the first time since she announced she was engaged and expecting her first child with boyfriend Cash Warren.
• Jessica Alba Is Pregnant
  People Magazine (Dec 12, 2007)
  Jessica Alba is pregnant with boyfriend Cash Warren’s child, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.
• Jessica Alba, Funnywoman?
  Entertainment Weekly (Aug 16, 2007)
  The 26-year-old actress talks about fall’s Good Luck Chuck, The Love Guru (a Mike Myers comedy she just signed on for), and...menudo?
• Jessica Alba says she hates to hear ‘no’
  Associated Press (May 22, 2007)
  Jessica Alba — ranked No. 2 on this year’s “Hot 100” list by Maxim magazine — has a rebellious side.
• Jessica Alba Forgives Playboy Over Dispute
  Associated Press (Apr 4, 2006)
• Playboy says won’t pull Jessica Alba issue
  Associated Press (Mar 3, 2006)
• Alba Threatens Playboy Over Cover Pic
  The Smoking Gun (Feb 28, 2006)
  Actress: Magazine wants readers to think she’s in a nude pictorial.
• Alba’s new maxim: lose the lads
  The Sydney Morning Herald (Dec 8, 2005)
  Jessica Alba, Hollywood’s reluctant sex symbol, wants to get serious.
• Alba Won't Bare All As Stripper in Film
  MSN (Apr 4, 2005)
  Jessica Alba didn't bare all in Sin City for a good reason — she didn't want to answer to her father.
• Dark Victory
  TV Guide (Nov 25, 2000)
  TV's Dark Angel, Jessica Alba, is a beauty who kicks booty.
• Faces & Places Spotlight: Heaven Sent
  Us Weekly (Oct 16, 2000)
  Jessica Alba is a superhero sex symbol in her new series, Dark Angel, but while growing up, her body was her own worst enemy.
• Hell's Angel
  Maxim (Oct 2000)
  Jessica Alba, the sultry star of James Cameron's new action series, Dark Angel, could single-handedly make prime time worth watching again.
• Faces of the Future: Jessica Alba
  Cinescape (Sep/Oct 2000)
  Jessica Alba brings Dark Angel down to earth.
• Fall TV Preview: Dark Angel
  Cinescape (Sep/Oct 2000)
  Cinescape takes an in-depth look at James Cameron's hot new sci-fi/action series.

Cyber Temples

• Jessica Alba
  All Movie Guide
• MissAlba.com
• Jessica Alba Celebrity Movie Reviews
  Mr. Skin
  Bio, filmography, and stills from her films
• The Alba Area
• Jessica Alba
  Wikipedia
  Jessica Alba in wikireality

Miscellaneous

• Jessica Alba for The Sims 2
  An attempt at making Jessica into a Sim
• Fox's Dark Angel Site
  Trailers, different sized-wallpaper, and more
• Jessica Alba
  Internet Movie Database
  Always up-to-date filmography