Kristin Cavallari

Kristin Elizabeth Cavallari, born January 5, 1987 is an American television personality and actress. She is best known for her starring roles on the former MTV programs Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spin-off, The Hills.

Early life

Cavallari was born in Denver, Colorado, the second of two children of Judith Spies (née Eifrig) and Dennis Cavallari. When her mother divorced her father, her older brother Mike moved with their father to Laguna Beach, California, while she moved with her mother to the village of Barrington, Illinois, a suburb an hour northwest of Chicago. Kristin attended Barrington Station Middle School, and graduated on to Barrington High School. After difficulties adjusting to a new life with a stepfather and stepbrother, Kristin moved to California to live with her father. Instead Kristin was enrolled at Santa Margarita Catholic High School for her sophomore year. After she attended a Driver's Education course through Laguna Beach High School, her father enrolled her in Laguna Beach High School.

Career

Cavallari was in her junior year of high school when the first season of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County began production. At the time, she was involved in an on-and-off relationship with senior Stephen Colletti. Cavallari's romance with Colletti caused a rivalry with another cast member, Lauren Conrad. The love triangle became one of the series' central plotline. 

In May 2009, Cavallari confirmed that she would be joining the cast of the popular MTV reality series The Hills. She appeared in the mid-season finale that aired on May 31, 2009 and appeared as a regular in the remainder of the fifth season. She inked a deal with MTV to appear as a series regular throughout two more seasons of the series following the fifth. The sixth and final season aired summer 2010.

Acting

After her stint on Laguna Beach, Cavallari headed to Los Angeles and briefly enrolled at University of Southern California. She signed on the UPN reality television series Get This Party Started, which premiered February 7, 2006. The series was canceled after airing two episodes due to extremely low ratings. She guest starred in another UPN series Veronica Mars in one episode. She has appeared in numerous television roles such as CSI: NY, Cane and Adventures in Hollyhood.

In 2006, she signed on as Crystal in the horror film Fingerprints. Filming took place throughout April and May 2006 in two Oklahoma towns. The film premiered at Screamfest on October 16, 2006. The film won Best Feature at the 2006 New York City Horror Film Festival. The film was released in 2007 to mixed to positive reviews. She also played a small role in "Wristcutters: A Love Story," an independent film, directed by Goran Dukic in 2006.

In 2008, she had a supporting role in Spring Breakdown alongside Amy Poehler as Summer. The film was released straight-to-DVD on June 2, 2009 and received mixed reviews. She also starred in the independent film Green Flash alongside Torrey DeVitto.

Activism

Cavallari has been involved in the "Until There's a Cure" public service advertising campaign to raise awareness and funds for AIDS and HIV research and vaccine development. In 2006, Cavallari appeared in ads for PETA. and has also appeared as a celebrity spokesperson for "We Are Ellis Island", a campaign for the restoration of historic buildings on Ellis Island. In February 2009, she posed for the NOH8 Campaign in support of gay marriage. In January 2010, she traveled to El Salvador to do charity work. She told US Magazine "It really put everything into perspective and made me appreciate everything I have, seeing how happy and excited the kids were was the best feeling in the world", said Cavallari.  In March 2011, Cavallari traveled to Kenya, Africa to do charity work with the non-profit organization One Kid One World. Cavallari was engaged to Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler but he called off their engagement in mid July 2011.

Filmography

2004 - 2005 Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County Herself 28 episodes

2006 Get This Party Started Host 2 episodes

2006 Veronica Mars Kylie Marker 1 episode

2006 Fingerprints Crystal

2007 Cheerleader Camp Julie Television movie

2007 Cane Casey Episode: "Family Business"

2008 Green Flash Lana Direct-to-DVD release

2008 CSI: NY Isabelle Vaughn Episode: "Forbidden Fruit"

2008 Spring Breakdown Seven #3

2009 Wild Cherry Trish van Doren

2009 National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year Kaitlin Hayes Direct-to-DVD release

2009 - 2010 The Hills Herself 23 episodes

2011 The Middle Ms. Devereaux Episode: "Friends, Lies, and Videotape