Cameron Diaz turns 54: from model to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars

A success story

Today, August 30, Cameron Diaz celebrates her birthday. The American actress turns 54.

Cameron Diaz was born in San Diego, California, in 1972. Her journey to Hollywood, however, did not begin in film. At the age of 16, Diaz became a model, working in different countries and travelling extensively. At the time, an acting career had not even crossed her mind.

Everything changed in 1994, when Cameron landed the female lead in «The Mask». It was her very first film — before auditioning, she had no acting experience whatsoever. Her co-star was Jim Carrey.

«The Mask» became a huge success. Almost immediately after its release, all of Hollywood was talking about the young actress. Cameron quickly emerged as one of the industry’s most exciting new stars.

More roles soon followed, including «My Best Friend’s Wedding» and «There’s Something About Mary». Another major triumph in Diaz’s career came with the action film «Charlie’s Angels». She played one of the three leading characters alongside Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu — and their spirited trio quickly won over audiences.

The success of «There’s Something About Mary» was particularly remarkable. Released in 1998, the film earned Diaz a Golden Globe nomination.

Cameron, however, had no intention of being typecast. Eager to showcase her dramatic talent, she took on a wide range of roles. In «Being John Malkovich», for instance, she transformed herself into Lotte Schwartz — a shy woman facing a deep crisis in her marriage. It was a genuine challenge for the actress, as the character bore little resemblance to the glamorous, self-assured beauties she had previously portrayed.

In «Gangs of New York», Diaz took on a role in a sweeping historical production. She played pickpocket Jenny Everdeane, who struggles to survive in the dangerous world of 19th-century New York. The performance proved that Diaz could be just as compelling outside romantic comedies.

By the 2000s, Diaz had firmly established herself as a major Hollywood star. She appeared in «Charlie’s Angels», «The Holiday», «Bad Teacher» and «The Other Woman».

«Shrek» holds a special place in her career. Cameron voiced Princess Fiona, lending her voice to the character in every main instalment of the franchise. For many viewers, Fiona became one of the most beloved characters in animated cinema.

Then Cameron did something few people expected.

She walked away from acting.

Diaz’s final film before her hiatus was «Annie», released in 2014. She then almost entirely disappeared from screens. In 2018, the actress effectively confirmed that she had stepped back from her career.

Cameron chose to focus on her private life. In 2015, she married musician Benji Madden, the guitarist for Good Charlotte. The couple have three children. Their daughter Raddix was born in 2019, and five years later they welcomed their son Cardinal. In May 2026, another son, Nauthas, joined the family.

Diaz was not simply taking time away from Hollywood. She devoted herself to projects of her own. Together with entrepreneur Katherine Power, she founded the Avaline brand. She also wrote two books about health and longevity.

The actress has repeatedly said that her years away from the big screen were deeply important to her. She wanted to spend more time with her family and live beyond the constant glare of the media.

After a while, however, Cameron felt the desire to act again.

Her comeback became a major event. In 2025, she starred alongside Jamie Foxx in the Netflix film «Back in Action». Interestingly, it was Foxx who helped persuade Diaz to return to a film set. The two had previously worked together on «Annie».

Following her comeback, Diaz continued to work actively. In 2026, «Outcome» was released, with Keanu Reeves and Matt Bomer appearing alongside her.

Another familiar project also lies ahead: Cameron Diaz will once again voice Princess Fiona in «Shrek 5».

Today, Diaz leads a very different life from the one she had at the beginning of her career. She was once one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. Then she chose to walk away from the film industry — and returned only when she felt ready.

Over the course of her career, Cameron Diaz has been a model, a Hollywood star, an author and an entrepreneur. Above all, however, she is known for the roles that have become favourites among millions of viewers.

And it seems that her story in cinema is far from over.

Photos: Instagram @camerondiaz, @cameron_diaz_p, @benjaminmadden