Editing Brittany Murphy (section)

== Acting career ==

===1990s: Child acting and first roles===
In 1982, she attended the Verne Fowler School of Dance and Theater Arts in [[Colonia, New Jersey]].{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=11}}{{Sfn|What Happened, Brittany Murphy?|Episode 1|loc=09:46-10:24}} From the age of four, she trained in singing, dancing and acting until she moved to California at thirteen.{{Sfn|Gone Before Her Time: Brittany Murphy|2023|loc=01:46-08:03}}<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|last=Piazza |first=Jo |title=Mentor remembers Brittany Murphy as 'talented child' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/21/brittany.murphy.remembered/index.html |date=21 December 2009 |website=CNN |access-date=27 April 2010}}</ref> In 1987, at the age of ten, she made her theatrical debut called ''Really Rosie'',{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=11}} whose performance was praised by her teachers;{{Sfn|Gone Before Her Time: Brittany Murphy|2023|loc=01:46-08:03}} and she also sang in a production of ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]''.{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=11}} She stood out for being energetic when acting. She went so far as to say that "my first memories were wanting... to entertain people."{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=9}} She debuted in 1991 playing the role of Frank's sister on the television show ''[[Murphy Brown]]'', however, she appeared in only one episode.{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=11}} She later got her first job in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] at the age of thirteen, playing the role of Brenda Drexell in the series ''[[Drexell's Class]]''.{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=11}}{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=14}} She then went on to play Molly Morgan in the TV series ''[[The Torkelsons|Almost Home]]''.{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=14}} She appeared as a guest star on several television series, including ''[[Parker Lewis Can't Lose]]'', ''[[Blossom (American TV series)|Blossom]]'', ''[[seaQuest 2032]]'', ''[[Murder One (TV series)|Murder One]]'' and ''[[Frasier]]''.{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=14}} She had recurring roles on ''[[Party of Five]]'', ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' and ''[[Sister, Sister (TV series)|Sister, Sister]]''.{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=14}}

Her breakthrough role was in her second feature film, the teen comedy ''[[Clueless]]'' (1995), directed by [[Amy Heckerling]], which developed a cult following.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|title=''Clueless'' At 20: What Hollywood Should Learn From The Pop Culture Classic|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/07/21/clueless-at-20-what-hollywood-should-learn-from-the-pop-culture-classic/#75265a6a336c|date=21 July 2015|archive-date=19 April 2017|last=Mendelson|first=Scott|work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=2017-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419003819/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/07/21/clueless-at-20-what-hollywood-should-learn-from-the-pop-culture-classic/#75265a6a336c}}</ref> Filming began in November 1994, at which time she was barely seventeen years old, making her the youngest member of the cast.{{Sfn|What Happened, Brittany Murphy?|Episode 1|loc=19:27-19:40}} Her performance in the film was praised by both the media and critics:{{Sfn|What Happened, Brittany Murphy?|Episode 1|loc=20:23-21:45}} John Menter, an acting teacher during Murphy's childhood, said: "It wasn't until I saw her, sitting in the theater, who I felt she would be a huge star."{{Sfn|What Happened, Brittany Murphy?|Episode 1|loc=20:23-21:45}} During filming, as she could not attend high school, she had educational tutors.{{Sfn|What Happened, Brittany Murphy?|Episode 1|loc=21:45-22:15}} The film was a sleeper hit, grossing {{USD|56 million}} against its budget of {{USD|12 million}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/clueless|title=''Clueless''|access-date=18 July 2015|date=17 July 2015|website=[[TheWrap]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721192318/http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/clueless|archive-date=21 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="BOMClueless">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clueless.htm|title=''Clueless'' (1995)|access-date=26 March 2022|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721145251/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=clueless.htm|archive-date=21 July 2015}}</ref> ''Clueless'' is a loose adaptation of the novel ''[[Emma (novel)|Emma]]'' (1815) by [[Jane Austen]], and many of its characters have counterparts in the novel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2493624/a-clueless-fans-guide-to-2020s-emma|title=A ''Clueless'' Fan's Guide To 2020's Emma|access-date=26 March 2022|last=El-Mahmoud|first=Sarah|date=3 April 2020|website=[[CinemaBlend]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407000318/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2493624/a-clueless-fans-guide-to-2020s-emma|archive-date=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/98099-exactly-how-clueless-overlaps-with-jane-austens-emma-because-josh-is-totally-mr-knightley|title=''Clueless'' Vs. ''Emma'': Matching Up The Plot Points|date=21 July 2015|access-date=26 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412052123/https://www.bustle.com/articles/98099-exactly-how-clueless-overlaps-with-jane-austens-emma-because-josh-is-totally-mr-knightley|archive-date=12 April 2020|last=Donelan|first=Loretta|magazine=Bustle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/caseyrackham/clueless-characters-vs-emma-characters|title=The ''Clueless'' Characters Side-By-Side With Their Jane Austen Characters|access-date=26 March 2022|last=Rackham|first=Casey|date=4 April 2020|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505094734/https://www.buzzfeed.com/caseyrackham/clueless-characters-vs-emma-characters|archive-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> Soon after, her mother Sharon was diagnosed with [[breast cancer]], whom she was forced to take care of after the release of ''Clueless''.{{Sfn|Gone Before Her Time: Brittany Murphy|2023|loc=15:15-16:11}}{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|pp=5-7}}

She made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in 1997 playing the role of Catherine, in a new version of [[Arthur Miller]]'s ''[[A View from the Bridge]]'' along with actors [[Anthony LaPaglia]] and [[Allison Janney]].{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|pp=14-15}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=70024 |title=The official source for Broadway Information |access-date=7 April 2011 |author=The Broadway League |date=10 November 1977 |website=IBDB}}</ref> She continued with roles in ''[[Freeway (1996 film)|Freeway]]'' (1996), with [[Reese Witherspoon]] and [[Kiefer Sutherland]],<ref name=":6" /> and the independent comedy ''[[Bongwater (film)|Bongwater]]'' (1998).{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=38}} In 1999, she appeared as Rivkah in the television film ''[[The Devil's Arithmetic (film)|The Devil's Arithmetic]]'', based on the novel of the same name by [[Jane Yolen]] and directed by Donna Deitch; filming took place in Lithuania and Canada in October 1998.{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=41}} Her performance was praised by ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reviewer David Kronke, stating that she "brought a strange but intriguing ethereal quality to her performance."{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=41}} That same year she had a supporting role in [[James Mangold]]'s ''[[Girl, Interrupted (film)|Girl, Interrupted]]'', as a troubled psychiatric patient alongside [[Winona Ryder]] and [[Angelina Jolie]].<ref name=":6" /> She was nominated at the [[Young Artist Award|Young Artists Awards]] for Best Young Lead Actress in a Feature Film for ''Girl, Interrupted'', on March 19, 2000.<ref name=":0" /> She later starred as an aspiring beauty queen in ''[[Drop Dead Gorgeous (film)|Drop Dead Gorgeous]]''.<ref name=":6" /> She voiced the character of Luanne Platter in the Fox animated sitcom ''[[King of the Hill]]'' for the entirety of the show from 1997 to 2009, and Joseph Gribble until the fifth season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118375/ |title=''King of the Hill'' - Full Cast |access-date=7 October 2022 |website=IMDb}}</ref> She later said that she enjoyed doing voice-overs because they could be done at home, jokingly saying: "You can do it even in your pajamas."{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=14}} She was nominated for an [[Annie Award]] for voice acting for the ''King of the Hill'' episode "Movin' On Up" in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118375/awards |title=''King of the Hill'' - Awards |access-date=2022-01-13 |website=IMDb}}</ref>

===2000s: Acting success, decline and final works===
[[File:Brittany Murphy at Happy Feet premiere.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Murphy at the [[Australia|Australian]] premiere of ''[[Happy Feet]]'' in December 2006]]
She began the 2000s playing certain roles, with Jody Marken in the thriller ''Cherry Falls'' (2000),<ref name="oblivion">{{cite news|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|title=Direct to oblivion|author=Caro, Mike|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/169521825/?clipping_id=28050075&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjE2OTUyMTgyNSwiaWF0IjoxNjgzODQ0MDM5LCJleHAiOjE2ODM5MzA0Mzl9.Gc0H8m1UHzTNTaoYDb1Ock9vJSxCTkKyXL_q9amkxXY|date=8 October 2000|via=Newspapers.com|page=16}}</ref> and the lead role in ''Don't Say a Word'' (2001) alongside [[Michael Douglas]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dont-say-a-word-2001|title=''Don't Say a Word''|access-date=2023-05-11|last=Ebert|first=Roger|website=RogerEbert.com}}</ref> whose critical reception was negative, but his performance was praised.{{Sfn|Gone Before Her Time: Brittany Murphy|2023|loc=20:16-20:35}} In 2002, she played the role of Alex Latourno in the film based on the life of American rapper [[Eminem]], ''[[8 Mile (film)|8 Mile]]'', which received critical acclaim,<ref name="8miletravers2">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/8-mile-20021108|title=''8 Mile'': Movie Reviews|access-date=18 November 2013|last=Travers|first=Peter|date=8 November 2002|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622112704/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/8-mile-20021108|archive-date=22 June 2011}}</ref> and was a success at the box office.<ref name="boxofficemojo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3326182913/ |title=''8 Mile'' - Box Office Mojo |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>

She appeared alongside [[Dakota Fanning]] in ''[[Uptown Girls]]'' (2003), playing Molly Gunn, a twenty-two-year-old girl whose deceased father was a musician.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uptown_girls |title=''Uptown Girls'' (2003) |access-date=19 February 2021 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>{{Refn|1=After filming, she bought all the jewelry she used in the film.<ref name="imdb" />|group=upper-alpha}} Filming lasted from July to September 2002, and was filmed at [[Silvercup Studios]] located in New York.{{Sfn|Shelley|2022|p=73}} That same year she starred in the romantic comedy ''[[Just Married]]''. The film did well at the box office, grossing more than 100 million dollars, against a budget of 18 million,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0305711/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |title=''Just Married'' - Box Office Mojo |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=IMDb}}</ref> but it received negative reviews from both the press and film critics, which led to them appearing as nominees in the Razzie Awards for worst actor, worst supporting actress and worst on-screen couple for both.<ref name=":28">{{Cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/j-lo-heads-list-of-razzie-nominees/ |title=J.Lo Heads List of Razzie Nominees |date=26 January 2004 |access-date=19 June 2020 |last=Silverman |first=Stephen M. |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622083934/https://people.com/celebrity/j-lo-heads-list-of-razzie-nominees/ }}</ref> At that time her mother contracted breast cancer again, so she had to take care of her again.{{Sfn|Kjelle|2007|pp=5-7}} A year later she gave the Stacy Holt's role in ''[[Little Black Book (film)|Little Black Book]]'' (2004), which was another critical failure, where reviewers focused on Murphy's poor performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/little_black_book/ |title=''Little Black Book'' (2004) |access-date=5 April 2023 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> The film opened at number five at the North American box office, grossing {{USD|7,075,217}} in its opening weekend behind ''Collateral'', ''The Village'', ''The Bourne Supremacy'' and ''The Manchurian Candidate''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2004&wknd=32&p=.htm|title=Domestic 2004 Weekend 32|access-date=26 October 2023|website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> The film finished its run with a domestic total of {{USD|20,698,668}} and an international addition of {{USD|1,336,164}}, totaling {{USD|22,034,832}} worldwide.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=littleblackbook.htm|title=''Little Black Book'' (2004)|access-date=26 October 2023|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> In 2005 she appeared in ''[[Sin City (2005 film)|Sin City]]'', directed by Robert Rodriguez, [[Frank Miller]] and [[Quentin Tarantino]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sin_city |title=''Sin City'' (2005) |access-date=5 April 2023 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] frequently praised Murphy's acting talent and comic timing, giving good reviews to several of her films and comparing her to [[Lucille Ball]]:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=''Little Black Book'' |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040719/REVIEWS/40719006/1023 |date=6 August 2004 |archive-date=9 October 2012 |website=RogerEbert.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009110038/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20040719%2FREVIEWS%2F40719006%2F1023 |access-date=5 March 2010}}</ref>

{{blockquote|As for Brittany Murphy, for me, it goes back to the [[2003 Independent Spirit Awards]] [where] Murphy was assigned to present one of the awards. Her task was to read the names of the five nominees, open an envelope, and reveal the name of the winner. This she turned into an opportunity for [[screwball comedy|screwball]] improvisational comedy, by pretending she could not follow this sequence, not even after the audience shouted instructions and the stage manager came to whisper in her ear not once but twice. There were those in the audience who were dumbfounded by her stupidity. I was dumbfounded by her brilliance.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbAEim_dVQkC&pg=PA410|access-date=February 16, 2014|date=February 5, 2013|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=978-0-7407-9219-9|page=410}}</ref>}}

Murphy followed with several independent films, including as ''[[Spun]]'' (2002), ''[[Neverwas]]'' (2005), and [[Karen Moncrieff]]'s ''[[The Dead Girl]]'' (2006), as well as two [[Edward Burns]] films: ''[[Sidewalks of New York (2001 film)|Sidewalks of New York]]'' (2001) and ''[[The Groomsmen]]'' (2006). She returned to voice acting with the critically acclaimed 2006 animated feature ''[[Happy Feet]]'', as Gloria Penguin. In 2009, she was cast in the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] TV movie ''[[Tribute (2009 film)|Tribute]]'', as the main character, Cilla. Murphy completed the thriller/drama ''[[Abandoned (2010 film)|Abandoned]]'' in June 2009 and it was released in 2010, after her death.<ref name="e!">{{Cite web|title=Preview Brittany Murphy's Final Film, Abandoned|publisher=[[E!]]|date=December 23, 2009|first=Jennifer|last=Cady|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b159407_preview_brittany_murphys_final_film.html|access-date=December 24, 2009|archive-date=December 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226162617/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b159407_preview_brittany_murphys_final_film.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2009, Murphy left the production of ''[[The Caller (2011 film)|The Caller]]'', which was being filmed in Puerto Rico, and was replaced by [[Rachelle Lefevre]]. Murphy denied media reports that she had been fired from the project after being difficult on set, and cited "creative differences".<ref>Angus, Kat (December 1, 2009). "[https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/Twilight+Moon+actress+replaces+Brittany+Murphy+fired+from+movie/2291085/story.html Twilight New Moon actress replaces Brittany Murphy, who 'was not' fired from movie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507082646/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Twilight+Moon+actress+replaces+Brittany+Murphy+fired+from+movie/2291085/story.html |date=May 7, 2010 }}". ''The Vancouver Sun''. Retrieved December 6, 2009.</ref> ''[[Something Wicked (2014 film)|Something Wicked]]'', her final film, was released in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/18/brittany-murphys-last-movie_n_4983414.html|work=Huffington Post|title=Brittany Murphy's Last Movie, 'Something Wicked,' To Be Released In April|date=2014-03-18|access-date=2014-04-15|archive-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322202149/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/18/brittany-murphys-last-movie_n_4983414.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Music career ===
[[File:Brittanymurphynavy.jpg|thumb|upright|Murphy performing for the crew during a [[United Service Organizations|USO]] show aboard {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6}} on June 19, 2003]]

Murphy's career also included work as a singer. She was able to learn to play an instrument in just twenty minutes of practice, and learned to play the piano and trumpet at an early age.<ref name="infobae2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.infobae.com/historias/2022/11/10/la-misteriosa-muerte-de-brittany-murphy-un-padre-mafioso-y-una-madre-que-dormia-con-el-viudo-de-la-actriz/ |title=La misteriosa muerte de Brittany Murphy: un padre mafioso y una madre que dormía con el viudo de la actriz |access-date=1 March 2023 |last=Serebrinsky |first=Cynthia |date=10 November 2022 |website=Infobae |language=spanish |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301204157/https://www.infobae.com/historias/2022/11/10/la-misteriosa-muerte-de-brittany-murphy-un-padre-mafioso-y-una-madre-que-dormia-con-el-viudo-de-la-actriz/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Regarding her voice, she commented: "My singing voice isn't like my speaking voice...I've just always kept it a secret and never taken credit because I wanted to learn how to work behind the microphone in a recording studio, and some of the singers don't even know it was me recording on their albums."<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Larry |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628620/brittany-murphy-music-career-that-might-have-been.jhtml |title=Brittany Murphy: The Music Career That Might Have Been – MTV Movie News |publisher=MTV |date=December 21, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2011 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107002805/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628620/brittany-murphy-music-career-that-might-have-been.jhtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> In an interview she stated that her main musical influence was the American singer [[Madonna]]: "My dreams and aspirations when I was a child for as long as I can remember was to be an entertainer. I started out in dance classes and I've always sang for as long as I can remember. When I was nine I started doing musical theater in the New Jersey area, where I'm from. The quickest way to entertain more people was to audition for commercials and that was the first thing available since it was right over the Hudson River. Madonna had a quote, 'I'm going to change the world'–that was a huge inspiration to me so I decided I was going to be my own version of Madonna when I grew up".<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://popdirt.com/brittany-murphy-inspired-by-madonna-as-a-child/37959/|title=Brittany Murphy Inspired By Madonna As A Child|date=4 April 2005|access-date=30 October 2015|website=Popdirt.com|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107003254/http://popdirt.com/brittany-murphy-inspired-by-madonna-as-a-child/37959/|url-status=live}}</ref> Plans to release a studio album were not carried out.{{sfn|Kjelle|2007|p=21}} She recorded unreleased demos that were never officially released, the song "Boomlay" was leaked on the Internet, it never completed and part of the recording was lost.{{sfn|Shelley|2022|p=130}}

She was in a band called Blessed Soul with fellow actor [[Eric Balfour]] in the early 1990s. On June 6, 2006, Murphy and [[Paul Oakenfold]] released the single "[[Faster Kill Pussycat]]", from the album ''[[A Lively Mind]]''. The song became a club hit and hit number one on ''Billboard''{{'s}} [[Hot Dance Club Play]] chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Paul Oakenfold Album & Song Chart History |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=paul oakenfold|chart=Dance/Club Play Songs}}|magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 1, 2009}}</ref> It also hit number seven in Oakenfold's native [[UK Singles Chart|United Kingdom]] in June 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Man_slash_Woman|title="Faster Kill Pussycat" The Official Charts Company page|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=September 12, 2019|archive-date=July 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708073542/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/man_slash_woman/|url-status=live}}</ref>

She dabbled in music again with the release of the film ''Happy Feet'', in which she covered [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "[[Somebody to Love (Queen song)|Somebody to Love]]" and [[Earth, Wind & Fire]]'s "[[Boogie Wonderland]]". Murphy said about her character, Gloria, "Oddly enough, of all the characters I've played, Gloria is the most like me. And she's a penguin! [[George Miller (filmmaker)|George Miller]] always wanted one person to do both [the speaking and the singing]. I said, 'I can sing,' and I asked him to give me a shot. I don't think he took me very seriously, because most actors say they can do most things."<ref name="autogenerated1"/>