Rachel Hurd-Wood: Biography

Born: 1977 in Los Angeles, CA

Worked as: Actor

Lithe, blonde Monet Mazur toiled in bit-part obscurity for several years before capturing attention with a role in Ted Demme's cocaine biopic Blow (2001). Named for her dad's favorite painter, Mazur grew up in Malibu familiar with the entertainment world through her record industry father and model mother. While still in her teens, Mazur began acting professionally with a bit role in the popular movie sequel Addams Family Values (1993), and a part on the TV daytime drama Days of Our Lives. Mazur moved to nighttime TV drama with a guest appearance on Fox's orphan tearjerker Party of Five in 1995. Mazur also played her first movie lead that same year in the schlock horror movie Raging Angels (1995), tellingly directed by Alan Smithee. Returning to higher profile projects, Mazur had one line as a Mod Girl in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), appeared in the ill-fated film version of The Mod Squad (1999), and played a TV reporter in the superhero spoof Mystery Men (1999). Mazur also continued to guest star on TV, including episodes of the WB's Jack and Jill in 1999. Mazur finally earned a spate of actress on the verge of stardom articles when she was cast in a meatier role as one of Johnny Depp's stoner cohorts in Blow (2001). Though Blow was not a major hit, Mazur continued to register on the movie radar with a dramatic turn as Jennifer Lopez's abused sister-in-law in the mystical romance Angel Eyes (2001), and a starring role as a seductive con artist in the independent crime drama The Learning Curve (2001). Returning to lighter work, Mazur subsequently played a sexy dot-com employee intent on breaking Josh Hartnett's vow of abstinence in the romantic comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002). ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide