Editing Cameron Diaz (section)

===1994–1998: Early films and rise to fame===
At the age of 21, Diaz auditioned for ''[[The Mask (1994 film)|The Mask]]'', playing a jazz singer named Tina Carlyle,<ref>[http://uk.askmen.com/women/actress/11c_cameron_diaz.html "Actress of the week – Cameron Diaz"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427154053/http://uk.askmen.com/women/actress/11c_cameron_diaz.html |date=April 27, 2007 }} askmen.com. Retrieved November 20, 2006.</ref> based on the recommendation of an agent for Elite, who met the film's producers while they were searching for the lead actress. Having no previous acting experience, she started acting lessons after being cast. ''The Mask'' became one of the top ten highest-grossing films of 1994<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1994&p=.htm |title=1994 DOMESTIC GROSSES, #1–50 |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=November 16, 2012 |archive-date=September 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922081228/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1994&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and launched Diaz as a [[sex symbol]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://topcelebrityheadlines.com/cameron-diaz-being-a-sex-symbol-is-limiting/ |title=Cameron Diaz: being a sex symbol is limiting |publisher=Topcelebrityheadlines.com |date=May 18, 2009 |access-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328083908/http://topcelebrityheadlines.com/cameron-diaz-being-a-sex-symbol-is-limiting/ |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-100-greatest-sex-symbols/articles/the-results |title=The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols |publisher=Channel 4 |date=February 13, 2009 |access-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-date=May 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519034239/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-100-greatest-sex-symbols/articles/the-results |url-status=dead }}</ref> During this period, Diaz dated video producer Carlos de la Torre.<ref name=love>{{cite web|work=[[Us Weekly]]|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/cameron-diazs-love-life-2015281/43755/|title=Cameron Diaz's Love Life|author=''Us Weekly'' Staff|date=January 28, 2015|access-date=October 20, 2018|publisher=[[American Media, Inc.]]|archive-date=October 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020223829/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/cameron-diazs-love-life-2015281/43755/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Diaz subsequently starred in the independent black comedy ''[[The Last Supper (1995 film)|The Last Supper]]'' (1995), playing one of several [[Liberalism|liberal]] graduate students who invite a group of [[Far-right politics|extremist conservatives]] to a dinner in an attempt to murder them.<ref name=last>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/05/movies/film-review-if-a-guest-is-too-right-wing-he-soon-becomes-fertilizer.html|title=FILM REVIEW;If a Guest Is Too Right Wing, He Soon Becomes Fertilizer|last=Maslin|first=Janet|author-link=Janet Maslin|date=April 5, 1996|access-date=October 20, 2018|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219022723/https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E01EEDE1339F936A35757C0A960958260|url-status=live}} {{closed access}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] deemed the film "a brave effort in a timid time, a [[Jonathan Swift|Swiftian]] attempt to slap us all in the face and get us to admit that our own freedoms depend precisely on those of our neighbors, our opponents and, yes, our enemies."<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|last=Ebert | first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert|title=The Last Supper|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-supper-1996|date=April 12, 1996|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130428033225/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-supper-1996|archive-date=April 28, 2013|access-date=October 20, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> She then had a lead role as an ex-stripper in the dramatic comedy ''[[Feeling Minnesota]]'' (1996), in which she co-starred opposite [[Keanu Reeves]], [[Vincent D'Onofrio]], and [[Courtney Love]].<ref name=varietyfm>{{cite web|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/feeling-minnesota-1200446860/|title=Feeling Minnesota|date=September 16, 1996|access-date=October 20, 2018|last=Levy|first=Emanuel|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|archive-date=October 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020223837/https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/feeling-minnesota-1200446860/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Emanuel Levy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted: "Sadly, with the notable exception of the attractive Diaz, who's well cast as the sexual aggressor and romantic manipulator, there are no exciting performances in the film."<ref name=varietyfm/> The same year, she was cast opposite [[Jennifer Aniston]] in the [[Edward Burns]]-directed comedy ''[[She's the One (1996 film)|She's the One]]'' (1996),<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940CE6D61130F930A1575BC0A960958260 | title= She's The One (1996) : A 2d Movie Is a Reprise Of a Debut, With Cash | first= Janet | last= Maslin | author-link= Janet Maslin | date= August 23, 1996 | work= [[The New York Times]] | access-date= October 20, 2018 | archive-date= February 22, 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180222225631/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940CE6D61130F930A1575BC0A960958260 | url-status= live }} {{closed access}}</ref> followed by a starring role in ''[[Head Above Water (film)|Head Above Water]]'' (1996), a crime-comedy in which she played an unfaithful wife implicated in her ex-lover's murder.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=Head Above Water|url=https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/head-above-water-2-1200447748/|date=November 10, 1996|access-date=October 20, 2018|last=Elley|first=Derek|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|archive-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223065704/https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/head-above-water-2-1200447748/|url-status=live}}</ref>

She was scheduled to perform in the film [[Mortal Kombat (1995 film)|''Mortal Kombat'']], but had to resign after breaking her hand while training for the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heavy.com/movies/2009/12/cameron-diaz-was-almost-in-mortal-kombat/ |title=Cameron Diaz Was Almost In Mortal Kombat? |publisher=HEAVY |date=December 23, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215100757/http://www.heavy.com/movies/2009/12/cameron-diaz-was-almost-in-mortal-kombat/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Besides a starring part in the little-seen ''[[A Life Less Ordinary]]'', Diaz returned to mainstream in 1997 with the romantic comedy ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding]]''. In it, she starred opposite [[Julia Roberts]], playing the wealthy fiancée of a sportswriter who is the long-time friend of Roberts' character. The film was a [[1997 in film|global box-office hit]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1997&p=.htm|title=1997 Worldwide Grosses|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711093937/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1997&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and is considered one of the best romantic comedy films of all time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vogue.com/13352768/15-best-romantic-comedies/|title=The 15 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time|work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|date=September 15, 2015|first=Jessie|last=Heyman|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=June 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612231916/http://www.vogue.com/13352768/15-best-romantic-comedies|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.livingly.com/Friendship/articles/yT8mSNk7a6-/My+Best+Friend+Wedding+Taught+Life|title=What 'My Best Friend's Wedding' Taught Us About Life|work=Livingly Media|date=August 12, 2015|first=Kimia|last=Madani|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506113526/http://www.livingly.com/Friendship/articles/yT8mSNk7a6-/My+Best+Friend+Wedding+Taught+Life|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1998, Diaz starred in ''[[There's Something About Mary]]'', as the titular role of a woman living in [[Miami]] having several men vying for her affections. It was remarked in ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'': "As the Mary at the center of it all, Diaz certainly exudes that irresistible 'something' expressed in the title. In films such as ''My Best Friend's Wedding'' and ''A Life Less Ordinary'', Diaz has shown herself to be a good comic sport who is game for just about anything. Here, it's no stretch to understand why, at the end of the movie, some half-dozen suitors have converged in her living room to throw themselves at her feet."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1998-07-17/theres-something-about-mary/|title=Film Review: There's Something About Mary|work=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|location=Austin, Texas|date=July 17, 1998|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181020112544/https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1998-07-17/theres-something-about-mary/|archive-date=October 20, 2018|last=Baumgarten | first=Marjorie |access-date=June 12, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[sleeper hit]] was the highest-grossing comedy of 1998 in North America as well as the fourth-highest-grossing film of the year; it made US$176{{nbsp}}million in the United States and US$369{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=somethingaboutmary.htm|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=There's Something About Mary|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102052319/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=somethingaboutmary.htm|archive-date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 20, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> She was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award]] in the category of Best Actress&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy.<ref name=gg>{{cite web|work=Golden Globes|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/cameron-diaz|title=Cameron Diaz|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181020112459/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/cameron-diaz|archive-date=October 20, 2018|access-date=October 20, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Diaz also starred in the critically panned comedy ''[[Very Bad Things]]'' (1998).