Early life
Ferguson was born in Whittier, California to Terri Gore and Patrick Ferguson in nearby Hacienda Heights. She has one sister, Dana, who is an actress. Ferguson attended Glen A. Wilson High School.
Music career
Ferguson was a member of the female trio Wild Orchid, which she fronted with Stefanie Ridel and fellow Kids Incorporated star Renee Sandstrom. Wild Orchid released two albums, but after completing a third album, their record label declined to release it, and she left the group shortly thereafter. Her disappointment with Wild Orchid led to an addiction to crystal methamphetamine. She told a Glasgow paper, "I started doing ecstasy. Then I got addicted to crystal methamphetamine. My weight dropped to 90 lbs so I lied to my friends and said I was bulimic. Finally, I started going crazy." In September 2006, Ferguson talked with Time magazine about quitting her crystal meth addiction. "It was the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with," she says. "It's the drug that's addicting. But it's why you start doing it in the first place that's interesting. A lot of it was being a child actor; I learned to suppress feelings".
In 2003, Ferguson took over the lead female vocal duties for the Black Eyed Peas, replacing background singer Kim Hill, who had left the group in 2000. Ferguson recorded five songs with the group before she was invited to join them permanently. Ferguson's addition to the band, which had enjoyed underground success until then, helped them quickly grow into mainstream popularity.
After two hit Black Eyed Peas albums, Ferguson is pursuing a solo career. Her first album, released on September 19, 2006, was entitled The Dutchess. The album's name is a misspelled variant of the former title of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, with whom Ferguson shares a surname and popular nickname. The solo deal does not mean the demise of the Black Eyed Peas, as Ferguson is intending on staying with the group and alternating between the two duties.[citation needed] Music on The Dutchess is similar in style to the Black Eyed Peas, as fellow Peas member will.i.am is the album's executive producer. Ferguson has had four hit songs from The Dutchess including two number one singles: London Bridge and Glamorous. Her second single, Fergalicous, peaked at #2 and was well on its way to reaching #1 had it not been controversially removed from iTunes for several days, hurting its sales in a critical period. Also, London Bridge reached #2 on the UWC, while Fergalicous and Glamorous both made it to #4. "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)" has been confirmed as her fourth single.[citation needed]
Acting career
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As a child actress, Ferguson appeared on the television program Kids Incorporated for several years with Renee Sandstrom, who would become a fellow member of Wild Orchid. Ferguson's well-scrubbed image on that show presents quite a contrast with the "ghetto-funk" image she has more recently begun to cultivate. Ferguson was the voice of Sally Brown in two Charlie Brown specials: It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984), and Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985). She also voiced Sally in the 1985 version of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.
In March 2005, Ferguson was cast as Stevie Wayne (the role originated by sex symbol Adrienne Barbeau) in the update of John Carpenter's The Fog. She would later leave the role due to creative differences. While rumors surfaced that Charisma Carpenter was replacing her, Selma Blair would eventually get the part. Ferguson's departure proved to be a wise move, as the remake was a box office flop universally panned by critics and fans alike. In July 2005, Ferguson had a guest role on the Rocket Power special, Reggie's Big Beach Break, on Nickelodeon; she voiced a fictitious pop music star named Shaffika.
In 2006, Ferguson returned to acting, appearing in the film Poseidon, a remake of the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, but her role was minor. Ferguson is also due to appear in the feature film Grind House.
Personal life
Ferguson is dating actor Josh Duhamel, who stars in the television show Las Vegas. She appeared in the series in an episode titled "Montecito Lancers".
In April 2007, she gave an interview in which she admitted that she went on a sex and drugs spree when she got to 18. She said: "I have had lesbian experiences in the past. I won't say how many men I've had sex with - but I am a very sexual person."
Other activities
Ferguson is featured as No. 36 on Maxim's Hot 100 Women of 2006. Maxim also interviewed Ferguson about her role in Grind House.[6]
In 2005, Ferguson urinated on stage during a performance at San Diego's Street Scene festival. She later commented on the incident: "I had a few drinks before the show, but I didn't think to go to the bathroom before we went onstage. We were jumping around...and my bladder just started."[7][8]
