Stars Of The Early 2000's: Where Are They Now?
By | June 4, 2021
Paris Hilton showing some skin at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards
The 2000s were an era that was all about more more more. Things were big, they were bright, and the stars were in your face and proud of it. You may think that you know everything about the celebrities of the 2000s, but do you know what they're up to now? Look closer and you'll find out.
You won't find these stories from the 2000s to today in the history books. These are one of a kind rare photos that all tell a story of how much the world has changed since the dawn of the millennium.
Many of these stars and stories are too hot for TV, so handle with care. You won't want to miss one second of these fascinating tales of the 2000s.
Paris Hilton was everywhere you looked in the 2000s. As the era's newest reality star Hilton did everything she could to put her face out there: from starring on her own show on Fox to appearing in a series of commercials for Carl's Jr. and Hardy's. What seemed like oversaturation at the time now feels like the way things are done.
Today, Paris Hilton remains an icon of the new millennium
2000s icon Paris Hilton is still living life to the fullest today even if she's not as exposed as she was at the beginning of the millennium.
Since 2004, Hilton has been the face of a perfume line that's estimated to be a $2 billion busines - something she balances with a lucrative career as a DJ.
Brtiney and Justin do denim like no one else can
In the 2000s there were famous people, and then there was Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
This photo shows just how confident Britney and Justin were in their success in the aughts - you don't wear matching denim outfits without knowing you're the most famous person in the room.
In spite of the fact that she's one of the most well known faces on the planet Spears remains mum on pretty much everything when it comes to her private life.
After a documentary on her life was released in early 2021 she released a statement through Instagram letting her fans know that she's okay.
With The Princess Diaries Anne Hathaway became a household name and an icon to young women everywhere.
Speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Hathaway says that it was her role in Brokeback Mountain that helped get out of her comfort zone.
Anne Hathaway is all smiles in this video chat
Throughout the 2010s, Hathaway flexed her inner theater kid muscles in a big way with starring roles in Le Mis and an adaptation of The Witches.
While chatting on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Hathaway admitted that even though she's in the percentage of folks who can afford a private chef, in 2020 her family prefered to snack on food from the frozen food aisle in their local grocery store.
Zac Efron in 'High School Musical'
It's crazy to think that in the 2000s Zac Efron was just a cute kid with a mop top starring in a trio of Disney films about high school.
Efron really wasa squeaky clean young celebrity in the early half of his career, something that he tried to upend in 2014 when he starred in Neighbors as a saucy frat boy.
Zac Efron embraced the dad bod in 2020
In 2020, Efron made a huge pivot from dancing and singing across television to getting super positive on Netflix with his series, Down To Earth.
Efron's look has remained a going concern thanks to his hunky transformation, but he's quick to point out that just because he was in insane shape for his role in Baywatch that doesn't mean he wants to look that way forever.
Who knew that this fresh-faced Disney star would become one of the most talked about celebrities of the modern era?
As the star of Hannah Montana, Cyrus was a child star playing a pop star who was masquerading as a regular kid, it's not easy to keep straight in our head so it must have been exhausting to live it.
Miley Cyrus went through major changes in the 2010s
Miley Cyrus has been through serious ups and downs since her early days as a star on the Disney Channel, but she's come out of it all the better.
Cyrus says that while the surgery was definitely a drag, it helped her get sober for the first time in a long time.
The Jimmy Olsen to Paris Hilton's Superman, Nicole Richie was a reality TV sidekick like no other.
When asked about her hard partying ways in the early 2000s, Richie addressed it as if she was trading war stories, saying, "I was just young and wanted to go out and have fun, hanging out with my friends."
Nicole Richie went from starring on 'The Simple Life' to leading a simple life (sort of)
Richie has done a lot of growing up since the hedonistic days of the 2000s.
While speaking with Marie Claire in 2020 she explained that she finds much more joy out of life now that she knows how to grow her own food.
Brad Pitt lays down the first rule of 'Fight Club'
It seems strange that there was a time and place where audiences weren't hyped on Fight Club.
Pitt reminisced on seeing Fight Club for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival, and explained that the screening didn't go well.
Brad Pitt fills in for Sean Penn during the 'Fast Times' reunion
Brad Pitt's role as Tyler Durden now feels like a lifetime away, and in many ways it is.
While speaking with the New York Times in 2019, Pitt explained that some directors know how to use him and some don't, but either way he doesn't really keep tabs on what the audience thinks.
Beyonce is crazy in love
When Beyonce first hit the scene with her group Destiny's Child in the late '90s it was a revelation for pop music fans everywhere.
Throughout the 2000s, Beyonce dropped hits like they were going out of style.
Beyonce gives the 2020 virtual graduation speech
Today, Beyonce isn't just a pop star, she's an entire industry unto herself.
She's so popular that she gave a virtual graduation speech to the entire class of 2020.
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen show off their style
Even though Mary Kate and Ashley Olson became major, big time stars in the '90s with their dual role as a cute baby on Full House, they really came into their own in the 2000s.
The sisters took their starpower and used it to get into the fashion world, something that took them from being teenage millionaires to teenage billionaires.
Twin power
The Olsen twins have kept their heads down and continued working their fashion magic throughout the 2010s and into the modern era.
While speaking about their 2019 fashion line the twins gave a rare interview where they spoke about how they only have themselves to count on in the industry.
Avril Lavigne, the punk rock princess of the 2000s
When Avril Lavigne came onto the scene in the early 2000s she thrust a jolt of pop punk energy onto MTV (emphasis on pop).
Even though a lot of music fans were turned off by Lavigne's music, she actually did a lot of hard work for her fans.
Avril is all grown up
Today, Lavigne has moved far beyond her early days of singing "Complicated" to a stadium full of Hot Topic wearing fans.
While speaking with Entertaint Weekly, Lavigne said that lyme disease nearly took her down, but surviving that gave her inspiration to keep playing music.
Cameron Diaz in 'Charlie's Angels'
Even though Cameron Diaz became a Hollywood sensation in the '90s thanks to The Mask, it wasn't until the 2000s that she really showed audiences what she could do.
More often than not actresses have to tick which box they belong in.
Cameron Diaz is all smiles today
For all intents and purposes Cameron Diaz has left the big screen behind and started to focus on her family and projects outside of Hollywood.
Retired from acting, Diaz now focuses on environmental activism while working as an author and operator of her own wine brand.
Chris Pratt poses on the red carpet
Chris Pratt is living proof that the most important part of life isn't talent, it's perserverance and the desire to stick to something until you make success happen.
In the 2000s, Pratt was fresh off a stint of bumming around the United States when he was hired onto a WB show.
Chris Pratt in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'
Is there anyone in Hollywood who's had the same glow up as Chris Pratt?
Pratt got his chance to be one of the Guardians of the Galaxy after proving that he could get into the insane shape needed to be a comic book hero, something that's not as easy as it looks.
Christina Aguielera, from her 'XTina' phase
Stars like Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, and Christina Aguilera had to differentiate themselves in an overly saturated market and that wasn't easy, that's why Aguilera briefly took on the persona of "Xtina."
Half David Bowie-esque alter ego and half desire to seperate herself from a growing pack of blonde pop stars, Xtina allowed Aguilera to be as bad as she wanted to be.
Christina as a coach on 'The Voice'
By the 2010s Aguilera was no longer the new pop star on the block.
While the series gave Aguilera a way to stay in the spotlight during her lean years, she says that starring on a TV show like The Voice was never something that interested her.
Do you smell what Dwayne Johnson is cooking?
When this photo was taken for the release of the Doom movie in 2005, Johnson was still transitioning from wrestling superstar to perfunctory action hero.
Rather than give up on his acting dreams Johnson took every role that came to him.
Somehow Dwayne Johnson got more jacked than he was in his 20s
Today, Johnson has proved that he's not just adept at heading the charge for a franchise, he's a legit leading man who audience and studio execs alike love and want to see more of.
While speaking about his success with Esquire Johnson explained, "I came to Hollywood wanting a career that had longevity, and I wasn't afraid to take risks because I had a dollar in the bank."
Gwyneth Paltrow is all smiles after her Academy Award win
When Paltrow first appeared onscreen in the '90s, she did so in small parts reserved for character actors.
While speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Paltrow explained that in the early days of her career she was in and out of favor with Hollywood.
Gwyneth Paltrow in 'Avengers: Infinity War'
Today, Paltrow lives by her own rules.
Initially no one knew what to think about Paltrow pet project, Goop, but she says that people finally go on board with her lifestyle brand.
Gwen Stefani from the 'Hey Baby' video
In the early 2000s, Gwen Stefani and her group No Doubt were at a crossroads.
While the group never officially disbanded, Stefani struck out on her own in the mid-2000s.
Gwen Stefani after taking over for Christina Aguilera on 'The Voice'
Stefani continues to reinvent herself even in the 2020s.
While speaking with Stereogum, Stefani said that she was ill prepared when she first took the job but now it's incredibly important to her.
Halle Berry rocks the 2000 MTV Movie Awards
After spending the '90s working in small roles in big films, Berry finally took on major status in the 2000s.
Berry's work in the 2000s shows just how adept she is at maneuvering between different types of roles.
Halle Berry shows off her locks on 'The Tonight Show'
Berry has continued to work hard throughout the decades, taking on action roles and refusing to stop even when her chops are down.
While speaking with Variety she explained that she feels more encouraged as a woman decades after she initially found success.
Jennifer Lopez shows off her moonman at the 2000 Video Music Awards
In the 2000s, Jennifer Lopez (or JLO if you prefer) was on top of the world.
In the 2000s were audiences skeptical of her abilities for some reason (she really is a charismatic performer), but she rarely had the chance to take on starring roles outside of genre pictures.
Jennifer Lopez in 'The Boy Next Door'
Lopez returned to the screen in a big way at the end of the 2010s in Hustlers, a film where she was able to show just how good she can be in a dramatic role.
Lopez managed to work through her pain, but while speaking with Oprah she admitted that she was understandably sad about not getting an Oscar nomination
Kanye West and John Legend long before they were international superstars
When Kanye first hit the MTV scene in the early 2000s with his solo debut "College Dropout" he was mostly known as a beatmaker for Jay-Z.
At the time, hip hop was severely obsessed with stret cred, Kanye didn't care about that.
Kanye West performing on 'Saturday Night Live'
Kanye remains one of the most enthralling and exciting stars, not just of the music landscape but on the planet.
Kanye has definitely gotten himself in trouble when he speaks to the press, but while chatting with the New York Times he insisted that artists should be able to say what they want even if it shines a bad light on them.
Keira knightley rocking a set of shades in 'Domino'
Keira Knightley will be the first person to tell you that her success was quite literally a whirlwind.
Knightly told the Guardian that no one working on the first Pirates of the Carribbean thought that they would have that level of success.
Keira Knightly in 'Misbehaviour'
After the massive success of the Pirates of the Carribbean films Knightly specifically remvoed herself from the fame game.
Knightly says that she avoided huge roles both because of her home life, and for the sake of her mental health.
Kim Kardashian stuns in this early interview
In the 2000s Kim Kardashian was mostly known as Paris Hilton's friend and assistant.
It's an understatement to say that Kim Kardashian's life changed forever when her family appeared on television for the first time, but she says that she would have been working regardless of whether or not she had a TV show.
In just a couple of decades Kim Kardashian became a stately woman of pop culture
Looking at Kim Kardashian of the 2000s and the Kim Kardashian of the 2020s is like looking to two different people.
While speaking with David Letterman, Kardashian explained that she often has to depend on her family when things get out of control.
Hi, his name is Slim Shady
In the early 2000s, Eminem (Marshall Mathers if you will) was easily the biggest firebrand in America - and especially on MTV.
What gets lost in the conversation about Eminem is that he has some of the most intriguing rap skills of the decade.
Eminem made a surprise appearance at the Academy Awards in 2020
Eminem's star never really faded even when he went away.
While speaking about the film with Variety, Eminem noted that it was fun to film but definitely a struggle.
Was anyone more suited to being a star in the 2000s than Megan Fox?
While speaking with writer Diablo Cody about the way Jennifer's Body was received, Fox opened up about struggling with the existential pain of the films negative reaction.
Today, Megan Fox has come into her own as an actress and a mother.
Fox is now a mother of three who hangs out with her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly when she's not popping up for interviews in unexpected places.
Pink lives up to her name at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards
When Pink first hit the scene in a big way with her debut album "Can't Take Me Home" it was a smash hit.
Those comparisons have never really gone away, but in the 2000s Pink did her best to show that she was a malleable pop star who could flit between styles.
Pink takes the stage
Even though she's never been as popular as Britney or Christina, Pink is still a best seller in the pop music world.
While speaking to the New York Times, Pink explained that she's always going to be the underdog even when she's doing well.
When Rihanna's voice first made it to the airwaves in the 2000s it was like a breath of fresh air after years spent in a cave.
Shortly after the release of her third album she spoke with Cosmo and explained that she was still figuring herself out, who she was and who she wanted to be.
Rihanna posts her first selfie of 2020
No longer just the chantreuse who adds a specific flavor to the work of others, Rihanna has become a genuine business.
Even though Rihanna has successfully branched out into the world of fashion, she says that she's never going to stop making music because it's the one way in which the whole world can communicate.
Scarlett Johanson looks over Tokyo in 'Lost in Translation'
When Scarlett Johansson first appeated onscreen in the 2000s it was clear that she was talented.
While speaking about the whirlwind that was filming Lost In Translation, Johansson explained that everything came together so quickly that wasn't like any other movie she'd been a part of.
Scarlett Johansson basks in the love of the SNL audience
Scarlett Johansson is easily one of the most famous people on the planet today.
When Johansson was in conversation with Parade, she noted that when she and the rest of the Avengers were all dressed up it was hard to believe that they were actually living out their comic book dreams.
American Pie introduced audiences to a lot of interesting concepts and actors.
Actors like Scott have the ability to step into a role so well that they make the audience feel like they're watching a real person.
Decades after Stifler, Seann Williams Scott is just a buff dude
Today, Seann Williams Scott has been in so many films that it feels weird to bring up his work in the American Pie series.
While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Scott explained that Stifler is easily the most important character he's ever played.
Frankie Muniz in 'Big Fat Liar'
Malcolm in the Middle didn't just introduce audiences to one of the most dysfunctional families on television, it showed viewers just what Frankie Muniz could do.
Muniz brought a sweet charisma to a character who could have been frustrating, even as a young actor he clearly knew how to give a nuanced performance in the confines of a sitcom.
Since starring in Malcolm in the Middle Frankie Muniz has appeared in films, he's driven racecars, and he's played drums in a band.
In his appearance on Dancing with the Stars Muniz explained that he remembers very little of his early life because of a series of mini-strokes that he suffered in his youth.
Shaggy would like you to know that whatever happened, it wasn't him
For a few years in the 2000s everyone was answering, "It wasn't me" no matter what the question was.
While speaking about the beginnings of the song Shaggy explained that with "It Wasn't Me" he wanted to make something sultry without being explicit.
Shaggy remains a hit-maker in the 2020s
Shaggy, it would seem, never stops working.
When Digital Journal interviewed him in 2020 he said that it's amazing to see his daughter's friends jamming to his tracks on TikTok.
Mandy Moore was the coolest pop star of the 2000s
If it feels like Mandy Moore has been around forever, that's probably because she's been living the pop life from a young age and opening for huge bands before she was even old enough to drive.
In 2006, she spoke about how long she's been performing and noted that when she first got her start she was playing to huge crowds but she wasn't sure if anyone was paying attention.
Mandy Moore takes on the role of mom on 'This Is Us'
It's wild to think about just how Mandy Moore has gone above and beyond the life of a normal pop star.
Moore continues to perform, but in an interview with Parade she said that This Is Us is easily her most important work because it brings people together.
