Cameron Michelle Diaz was born on August 30, 1972, in San Diego, California. This means that she was 22 years old when she starred in The Mask, which was released on July 29, 1994.
However, the filming of the movie began on August 30, 1993, and concluded in October 1993, so Diaz was actually 21 years old when she played the role of Tina Carlyle, the sultry singer and love interest of Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey), who transforms into a green-faced trickster when he wears a magical mask.
Diaz’s Breakthrough Role in The Mask
The Mask was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $351 million on an $18–23 million budget. It was also the most profitable film based on a comic book at that time. The film influenced the resurgence of swing music in the 1990s and cemented Carrey’s reputation as a significant actor of the decade.
Diaz’s performance in The Mask was also well-received by critics and audiences alike. She was praised for her beauty, charisma, and comedic timing. She held her own against Carrey’s manic antics and displayed a natural talent for acting. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for her role.
The Mask was Diaz’s first film role and she had no previous acting experience. She was working as a model when she auditioned for the part and beat out more than a dozen other actresses. She had to take acting lessons before filming began and learn how to sing and dance for her musical scenes.
The Mask was a breakthrough role for Diaz and it opened many doors for her in Hollywood. She became a sex symbol and a bankable star, and she was offered many roles in comedies and romances.
Career Trajectory After The Mask
After The Mask, Diaz continued to work in films and showed her versatility as an actress. She had supporting roles in the romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), opposite Julia Roberts, and the fantasy film Being John Malkovich (1999), opposite John Cusack. She received critical acclaim and award nominations for both films.
She also had leading roles in the action comedy Charlie’s Angels (2000) and its sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003), along with Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. She voiced Princess Fiona in the animated Shrek franchise (2001–2010), which became one of the highest-grossing animated series of all time.
Some of her other notable films include the comedies There’s Something About Mary (1998), The Holiday (2006), What Happens in Vegas (2008), Knight and Day (2010), Bad Teacher (2011), and The Other Woman (2014); the dramas Any Given Sunday (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001), Gangs of New York (2002), In Her Shoes (2005), and The Counselor (2013); and the musical Annie (2014).
Diaz has received various accolades throughout her career, including four Golden Globe nominations, a British Academy Film Award nomination, three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, three MTV Movie Awards, two New York Film Critics Circle Awards, two ALMA Awards, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, a Teen Choice Award, an American Comedy Award, a Blockbuster Entertainment Award, an Empire Award, a Hollywood Film Award, an Imagen Foundation Award, a Satellite Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Diaz has also written two health books: The Body Book (2013), a New York Times bestseller that focuses on nutrition and fitness; and The Longevity Book (2016), which explores aging and wellness.
Diaz retired from acting in 2014 to focus on her family. She married Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden in 2015; they had a daughter via surrogate in 2019. She made a return to acting in 2022 with a cameo appearance in the Netflix comedy Don’t Look Up.
Conclusion
Cameron Diaz was 21 years old when she starred in The Mask, her first film role that launched her career as one of the most successful and versatile actresses in Hollywood. She has starred in many films across different genres and has received numerous awards and recognition for her work. She has also written two books on health and wellness and has a happy family life. She is an inspiration to many aspiring actors and actresses and a role model for women everywhere.
