Editing Gwen Stefani (section)

===2004–2006: Solo debut and other ventures===
[[File:WhatYouWaitingFor1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Stefani performing "[[What You Waiting For?]]" during the [[Harajuku Lovers Tour]] in 2005]]
Stefani's debut solo album, ''[[Love. Angel. Music. Baby.]]'', was released on November 12, 2004. The album features several collaborations with producers and other artists, including [[Tony Kanal]], [[Tom Rothrock]], [[Linda Perry]], [[André 3000]], [[Nellee Hooper]], [[the Neptunes]] and [[New Order (band)|New Order]]. Stefani created the album to modernize the music she had listened to in high school, and ''L.A.M.B.'' takes influence from a variety of music styles of the 1980s and early 1990s such as new wave, synthpop, and [[electro (music)|electro]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512165900/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |archive-date=May 12, 2007 |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=MTV |access-date=April 23, 2007}}</ref> Stefani's decision to use her solo career as an opportunity to delve further into pop music instead of trying "to convince the world of [her] talent, depth and artistic worth" was considered unusual.<ref name="nme"/> The album was described as "fun as hell but{{nbsp}}... not exactly rife with [[Subversion|subversive]] social commentary".<ref>{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=https://slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby/519 |title=Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=Slant Magazine |date=November 20, 2004 |access-date=June 4, 2007 |archive-date=May 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510225431/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby/519 |url-status=live }}</ref> The album debuted on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart at number seven, selling 309,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65450/u2s-bomb-explodes-at-no-1 |title=U2's 'Bomb' Explodes at No.&nbsp;1 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 1, 2004 |access-date=March 13, 2007 |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702112442/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65450/u2s-bomb-explodes-at-no-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''L.A.M.B.'' reached multi-platinum status in the United States,<ref name="parents"/> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=Certified Awards Search |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |date=June 16, 2005 |access-date=November 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704041118/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |archive-date=July 4, 2011 }}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{cite certification|region=Australia|certyear=2005|access-date=2024-12-12}}</ref> and Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Love,+Angel,+Music,+Baby&sa=Gwen+Stefani |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916223414/http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Love%2C+Angel%2C+Music%2C+Baby&sa=Gwen+Stefani |archive-date=September 16, 2013 |title=Gold Platinum Database |publisher=[[Music Canada]] |date=April 24, 2006 |access-date=November 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first single from the album was "[[What You Waiting For?]]", which debuted atop the ARIA Singles Chart, charted at number 47 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="hot100">{{cite magazine |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=gwen stefani|chart=Hot 100}} |title=Gwen Stefani – Chart history: The Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> and reached the top ten on most other charts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=What+You+Waiting+For%3F&cat=s |title=Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For? |publisher=[[Ultratop]] |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025224119/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=What+You+Waiting+For%3F&cat=s}}</ref> The song served to explain why Stefani produced a solo album and discusses her fears in leaving No Doubt for a solo career<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1493633/gwen-stefanis-debut-solo-lp-inspired-by-insecurity-and-japan/ |title=Gwen Stefani's Debut Solo LP Inspired By Insecurity And Japan |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=November 10, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127035059/http://www.mtv.com/news/1493633/gwen-stefanis-debut-solo-lp-inspired-by-insecurity-and-japan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as her desire to have a baby.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |last=Salmon |first=Chris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/02/popandrock.gwenstefani |title=I just want to make music and babies |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 2, 2007 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927041738/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/02/popandrock.gwenstefani |url-status=live }}</ref> "[[Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani song)|Rich Girl]]" was released as the album's second single. A duet with rapper [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]], and produced by [[Dr. Dre]], it is an adaptation of a 1990s pop song by British musicians [[Louchie Lou & Michie One]], which itself is a very loose [[cover version|cover]] lyrically but closer melodically of "[[If I Were a Rich Man (song)|If I Were a Rich Man]]", from the musical ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]''. "Rich Girl" reached the US and UK top ten.<ref name="hot100"/><ref name="ukchart">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/gwen%20stefani/ |title=Gwen Stefani |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023050205/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/gwen%20stefani/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The album's third single "[[Hollaback Girl]]" became Stefani's first US and second Australian number-one single; it reached top ten elsewhere.<ref name="hot100"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=Hollaback+Girl&cat=s |title=Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl |publisher=Ultratop |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826063811/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=Hollaback+Girl&cat=s}}</ref> The song was the first US [[music download]] to sell more than one million copies, and its [[brass instrument|brass]]-driven composition remained popular throughout 2005.<ref name="RSMillion"/> The fourth single "[[Cool (Gwen Stefani song)|Cool]]" was released shortly following the popularity of its predecessor, reaching the top 20 in US and UK.<ref name="hot100"/><ref name="ukchart"/> The song's lyrics and its accompanying music video, filmed on [[Lake Como]], depict Stefani's former relationship with Kanal.<ref name="Cool">{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1504440/gwen-stefanis-song-about-tony-kanal-to-be-her-next-single/ |title=Gwen Stefani's Song About Tony Kanal To Be Her Next Single |publisher=MTV News |date=June 21, 2005 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231215611/http://www.mtv.com/news/1504440/gwen-stefanis-song-about-tony-kanal-to-be-her-next-single/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> "[[Luxurious]]" was released as the album's fifth single, but did not perform as well as its predecessors. "[[Crash (Gwen Stefani song)|Crash]]" was released in January 2006 as the album's sixth single in lieu of ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.''{{'}}s sequel, which Stefani postponed because of her pregnancy.<ref name="pregnant">{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |title=Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage in Florida |publisher=MTV News |date=December 24, 2005 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222063049/http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2004, Stefani showed interest in making film appearances and began auditioning for films such as ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.extratv.com/2007/01/30/gwen-stefani-bares-all-in-elle-tell-all/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110084714/http://www.extratv.com/2007/01/30/gwen-stefani-bares-all-in-elle-tell-all/ |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |title=Gwen Stefani Bares All in Elle Tell-All |work=[[Extra (U.S. TV program)|Extra]] |date=January 30, 2007 |access-date=March 21, 2007}}</ref> She made her film debut playing [[Jean Harlow]] in [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[The Aviator (2004 film)|The Aviator]]'' in 2004. Scorsese, whose daughter was a No Doubt fan, showed reciprocal interest in casting Stefani after seeing her picture from a [[Marilyn Monroe]]-inspired photo shoot for ''[[Teen Vogue]]'' in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1485069/gwen-stefani-feeling-hella-good-about-role-in-scorsese-flick/ |title=Gwen Stefani Feeling Hella Good About Role in Scorsese Flick |publisher=MTV News |date=February 13, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301215802/http://www.mtv.com/news/1485069/gwen-stefani-feeling-hella-good-about-role-in-scorsese-flick/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1494427/gwen-stefani-says-acting-is-a-lot-harder-than-singing/ |title=Gwen Stefani Says Acting Is A Lot Harder Than Singing |publisher=MTV News |date=December 2, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828052452/http://www.mtv.com/news/1494427/gwen-stefani-says-acting-is-a-lot-harder-than-singing/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> To prepare for the role, Stefani read two biographies and watched 18 of Harlow's films.<ref name="vogue"/> Shooting her part took four to five days, and Stefani had few lines.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-05-04-no-doubt_x.htm |title=Have no fear, No Doubt still here |work=USA Today |date=May 4, 2004 |access-date=April 17, 2007 |archive-date=August 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820013035/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-05-04-no-doubt_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Stefani lent her voice to the title character of the 2004 video game ''[[Malice (2004 video game)|Malice]]'', but the company opted not to use No Doubt band members' voices.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hwang |first=Kaiser |url=https://ign.com/articles/2004/01/23/remember-malice |title=Remember Malice? |website=[[IGN]] |date=January 23, 2004 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806231430/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/23/remember-malice |url-status=live }}</ref>