Brittany Murphy broke onto the scene as the girl most in need of a makeover in Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone. From that 1995 film, Murphy went on to star in films such as Girl, Interrupted, Sidewalks of New York, Riding in Cars with Boys, Don't Say a Word, Spin, 8 Mile, Just Married, Drop dead Gorgeous, Little Black Book, Sin City & Uptown Girls.
Murphy also built up a solid resume doing voice work. Murphy lent her voice to the animated TV series King of the Hill as both Luann and Joseph. Murphy also provided the voice of Elijah Wood's love interest in the animated movie, Happy Feet. Not only was she called upon to act the part of a singing penguin in that family film, Murphy also sang "Somebody to Love" and "Boogie Wonderland" (both songs are included on the Happy Feet soundtrack).
In recent memory, Brittany Murphy had been receiving press for her described "loopy" behavior, her husband and her thin frame. Movies? Not so much: her acting had been put on the back-burner. With the star's film career stalled, mentions of the actress on gossip sites usually used the words "crazy" and "difficult" rather than "talented."
She appeared thinner than usual at her final public event, when she walked the red carpet Dec. 3 at the opening of Tt Collection's Pop-Up shop in Los Angeles. Us Magazine quoted one blogger as saying her dress "hung to her skin and bones frame" at the event.
Two days before, she appeared "quite thin," "out of it" and with eyes "dilated" at the premiere of her latest film, 'Across the Hall,' according to Gawker's assessment of an interview she did with MaximoTV.com.
Perez Hilton bluntly asked if Murphy was "all hopped up on the crazy happy pills" at the premiere and said she was "lookin' a little Abdrool-y" -- a pet name he's given to Paula Abdul.
But besides the criticism tied to her appearance, Murphy had found herself in the headlines in recent months more for her husband. Simon Monjack (profiled here) landed in the hospital in late November after he fell ill on a plane due to unknown circumstances (possibly asthma). The 911 call described him as having "stopped breathing."
Monjack, a screenwriter, is also being blamed for Murphy's recent departure from the film, 'The Caller.' Contrary to prior reports that Murphy was fired for being difficult, Showbiz411's Roger Friedman is reporting that it was Monjack's erratic on-set behavior that led to her firing. Michael Z. Gordon, a producer who cast Murphy in the upcoming 'Shrinking Charlotte,' said he'd been warned about Monjack's antics on the set of 'The Caller.'
"'Monjack came on the set inebriated," Gordon said he'd been told. "The producers wanted to keep him away. Brittany of course defended him. And so she was let go."
Two weeks ago, 'Saturday Night Live' ran a skit lampooning Murphy, using 'The Caller' scandal and her apparent loopiness as the idea. The segment featured Abby Elliott playing a clearly out-of-it Murphy, who mistakenly thinks she's hosting the show again (Murphy helmed 'SNL' once, in 2002). NBC has since pulled the sketch from their site and Hulu.
Murphy's film career had been long-hampered by reports she was a difficult addition to any set. Blogs and tabloids were not the only ones accusing her of being a risk to casting directors.
In 2002, the New York Times used "difficult" to describe her. The New York Post went one step further in 2008, calling her "extremely difficult" for alleged demands including peanut-butter sandwiches. MSNBC said she was acting "erratic" at a 2004 press event for 'Uptown Girls' and The Wrap said she was "barely there" on the set of 'Something Wicked.'
The star's tragic death on Sunday has sadly only brought on more speculation about her health. TMZ is reporting the actress had experienced flu-like symptoms in recent days and that she had begun vomiting early Sunday. Sources to the site said no illegal drugs were found in Murphy's home, but it is apparent the actress was taking some prescription medications. After the 911 call, Murphy's mother Sharon told paramedics her daughter was diabetic.
An autopsy is scheduled for today(Monday, Dec 21st 2009) but the LA County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told the press Sunday evening that the tragedy was likely the result of natural causes.
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