Early life
Applegate was born in Hollywood, California. Her father, Robert Applegate, was a record producer and born in Russia. Her mother, Nancy Priddy, was a singer and an actress and born in South Bend, Indiana.
Career
Applegate quit school at age 17 to pursue acting. From 1987 to 1997, she played Kelly Bundy on Married... with Children. From 1998 to 2000, she starred in her own sitcom, Jesse, on NBC.
In 2002 she co-starred with Cameron Diaz, on the comic movie The Sweetest Thing, playing the role of Courtney Rockcliffe, Diaz's best friend.
While playing the title role in a revival of Sweet Charity, she injured her foot, and it was announced that the musical would close during previews.[citation needed] She persuaded the producers to rescind their decision, and on May 4, 2005, she made her Broadway debut to moderately good reviews.[citation needed] Sweet Charity ended its Broadway run on December 31, 2005. She also guest-starred on two episodes of Friends (in 2002 and 2003) as Amy Green, Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) sister.
In 2006 she appeared in an advertising campaign for Hanes title "Look who we've got our Hanes on now". The campaign started in 2005 but she and Kevin Bacon were added to the ads in 2006.
In 2006, she appeared in Jessica Simpson's music video "A Public Affair", alongside Eva Longoria, Ryan Seacrest and Christina Milian.
Applegate is set to star in a 2007 comedy pilot for ABC titled, "Sam I Am". Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito, and Melissa McCarthy are set to co-star in the comedy about a 30-year-old psychiatrist who, after becoming the victim of a hit and run, develops amnesia and has to rediscover her life, her relationships and herself.
Personal life
On October 20, 2001, Applegate married longtime boyfriend Johnathon Schaech, in a small mixed-religion Palm Springs ceremony attended by family and close friends. On December 5, 2005, the publicists of Applegate and Schaech confirmed that they had filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Applegate was the 2003 spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser which raises millions of dollars for breast cancer education and research. Applegate's mother is a breast cancer survivor. Applegate is a supporter of animal rights and PETA. She appeared in a holiday advertisement for PETA to remind people to forget fur for the shopping season.
Applegate is friends with actresses Nicole Eggert (born two months after Christina), Gwyneth Paltrow (Applegate actually called Paltrow at the end of an E! television interview with Jules Asner with Paltrow referring to Applegate as "Tini" in 2001.) and actress/singer Jessica Simpson. She studies jazz and dance and donated money to John Kerry's presidential campaign.[citation needed] Applegate was neighbors with guitarist John Frusciante in the early 1990s.[citation needed]
Awards
Applegate won a prime-time Emmy Award for her guest-starring role as Amy Green on Friends.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, she was nominated four times in the annual Youth in Film Awards, two of which she won.[citation needed]
She was nominated for the Tony Award as Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Sweet Charity.
