Kate Hudson Magazine Leading Lady

Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress known for Oscar-nominated turn as the band groupie Penny Lane in "Almost Famous." Lately Hudson has starred in a string of moderately successful romantic comedies and garnered a lot of attention in celebrity magazines for dating a string of Hollywood hunks. Hudson is the daughter of Academy Award-winning actress Goldie Hawn, who is best known for her perky personality and bohemian fashion sense. Hudson's father is Bill Hudson, a lesser-known actor, comedian and musician. Hawn and Hudson divorced when Kate was a toddler. Hawn raised Hudson, along with son Oliver in Colorado with her long-time partner actor Kurt Russell, whom Hudson considers to be her father.

While she appeared in several modest movies in the late 1990s, her breakthrough role came in 2000 as the band groupie Penny Lane in director Cameron Crowe's fictional musical bio-pic "Almost Famous," for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

That same year, Hudson married Chris Robinson, front-man of the rock group The Black Crowes. People magazine reported the couple tied the knot in front of 70 guests in Hawn and Russell's Old Snowmass, Colo., backyard with a string quartet playing on New Year's Eve.

In the 2002 Hudson followed up her "Almost Famous" success with a starring role in the remake of the historical romance "The Four Feathers," with Wes Bentley. Unfortunately the film was panned by critics and audiences alike. However, her next movie, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," grossed more than $100 million at the box office. The romantic comedy solidified Hudson as box office gold. Hudson followed up this success with the mediocre movies "Alex and Emma" and "Raising Helen."

In 2005 Hudson starred in the thriller "The Skeleton Key," which grossed more than $91.9 million worldwide and was a considerable success. She followed "The Skeleton Key" up with the successful comedy "You, Me and Dupree" in 2007.

In July 2006, Hudson sued the British version of the National Enquirer after they had stated that she has an eating disorder and described her as "painfully thin." Hudson said that the tabloid's actions were "completely inappropriate" and a "blatant lie," and specified her concern relating the impressions about weight that she feels the tabloid could have on young girls.

On November 18, 2006, Robinson filed divorce papers, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized on October 22, 2007.

Celebrity magazines like People magazine, OK! magazine, Us Weekly and Star magazine reported rumors of Hudson having an on-set affair with her co-star Owen Wilson. The couple was photographed several times and appeared in People, Us Weekly and Star magazines. Hudson and Owen appeared to have a brief 4-month relationship. Afterward Hudson is dogged by celebrity magazines and seen dating Dax Shepherd and Lance Armstrong.

In 2007 Hudson directed the short film "Cutlass", one of Glamour magazine's "Reel Moments" based on readers' personal essays. "Cutlass" co-starred Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Virginia Madsen, Chevy Chase and Kristen Stewart.

People magazine named Hudson one of its "100 Most Beautiful People" in 2008. Hudson appeared on the issue's cover.

In 2008, Hudson appeared in the romantic comedies Fool's Gold and My Best Friend's Girl. In 2009 Hudson will be seen in the comedy "Bride Wars" along with Anne Hathaway. Entertainment Weekly magazine recently announced Hudson will appear in the highly anticipated movie musical "Nine" alongside top actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Dame Judi Dench, to be released in the fall of 2009. Hudson subsequently appeared on the cover of W magazine.

For the first time, Hudson appeared on the cover of Elle magazine for the magazine's February issue.