Jessica Alba achieved worldwide recognition as the lead character in James Cameron's Dark Angel, his first project since the history-making Titanic and his debut television venture. During the series' first season, she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a People's Choice Award. Fans voted to bestow upon her the TV Guide Award as Breakout Star of the Year, and she won Favorite TV Actress at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards. Dark Angel has replicated its success around the world, establishing Alba as an international star. It has been released on video and DVD and has spawned a line of action figures.

Alba fell in love with acting at a very early age, becoming active professionally at the age of 12. She began studying with acting coaches in Los Angeles and, shortly thereafter, landed at the Atlantic Theatre Company, where she studied with founders William H. Macy and David Mamet.

Alba's first feature-film credits include Honey; Twentieth Century Fox's Never Been Kissed, starring and produced by Drew Barrymore; and the thriller Idle Hands. She later appeared in Fine Line Features' period drama The Sleeping Dictionary. Her most recent feature credits include leading roles in The Fantastic Four (as Sue Storm) and Robert Rodriguez's acclaimed adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel Sin City (as Nancy Callahan), both roles that she will reprise in upcoming sequels.