When Robert Redford offered a young Kate Bosworth a supporting role in his equestrian movie The Horse Whisperer the fledgling actress was flabbergasted. "Acting was so strangely accidental in my life at that point," she reflected later. "I was this 14-year-old horseback rider from Connecticut. A bunch of girls from the barn went to New York to audition, and I went along. Then I was called back."
It was a part that was to successfully launch the beautiful youngster onto the Hollywood scene and a flourishing onscreen career. When she auditioned, Kate - who at the time had only a community theatre production of Annie to her credit - did not expect to be offered the part. But as an award-winning rider, she was drawn to the casting which she thought would also offer valuable experience on how a casting works.
Childhood
Born on January 2, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, Catherine Ann Bosworth experienced a peripatetic childhood. Her family relocated regularly, spending stints living in San Francisco, Connecticut where she enjoyed what she describes as an "idyllic" childhood and Massachusetts. Along the way the star, who as a result of the condition Heterochromia iridium has different coloured eyes one hazel and the other blue developed an interest in both singing and sports. A keen horse lover, she was an equestrian champion by the age of 14, while also enjoying team sports such as football and lacrosse. Her education was equally important to her, however, and despite the fact that the doors of Hollywood were flung open following her Horse Whisperer appearance, she decided to go back to school. "I just wanted to be normal," she explained.
Early Career
A year and half were to pass before she accepted another acting role. After finishing high school she was accepted by the elite Ivy League school Princeton, but deferred her acceptance in order to concentrate on her career. Again it was athletic prowess which helped her land the next big role, in the 2002 movie Blue Crush. In preparation for her role as a competitive surfer in Kate underwent a rigorous training regimen of running, swimming, weight lifting, and surfing. By the time shooting started two months later she had been transformed into a buff boarder.
© Robert MoraHollywood
The actress is keen to emphasise that she's no great fan of the Tinseltown scene. "Whenever I hear the term 'Hollywood lifestyle' I always get a little wary," she said, "because, for me, it is all about the work. I'm not really a huge goer-outer. I prefer a quiet night in. When you are working it is so crazy and the hours are erratic and long. So when I have time off it is all about reconnecting with all that are close to me and my family, and taking time off to relax and enjoy myself." And despite a growing reputation as one of Hollywood's most glamorous women, she has little truck with the role, saying: "I\'m more of a jeans and T-shirt, bit of moisturiser, bit of chap-stick, ready-to-go kind of girl."
© John ShearerWith the media increasingly interested in her personal life, Kate focused on broadening her repertoire as an actress. Accepting a role in the real-life crime drama Wonderland, she put in a gritty performance as teenager Dawn Schiller opposite Val Kilmer. That was followed by her portrayal as the sweet girl next door in Win A Date With Tad Hamilton. Although rumours persist about Kate turning her back on acting to study psychology, that doesn't look like happening any time soon. "This is my third year of work, and I don't feel quite ready to leave it yet," she said at the time. In addition to starring opposite Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin's wife in the biopic Beyond The Sea, she completed the family drama Bee Season alongside Richard Gere and lensed the surgical thriller Awake, before taking her biggest role to date as Lois Lane in Superman Returns.
Personal Life
Kate's love life has garnered as much attention as her acting career - but that's what happens when you spend your time in the company of one of Hollywood's most sought-after men for four years. Kate and Orlando Bloom met on the set of a Gap advert in 2002 and called quits in September 2006.
© InstagramIn 2013, the starlet married film director Michael Polish. The former couple were married for ten years and initially announced their split in August 2021 but their divorce wasn't finalized until March this year. The couple had no children together, but she was a stepmother to his daughter from a past relationship. She has since gone on to get engaged to fellow actor Justin Long. The actress debuted her dazzling engagement ring at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars party.
