Busy Philipps

25 Jun, 1979 | Oak Park, Illinois

Actress

Biography

Elizabeth Jean "Busy" Philipps is an American film actress, perhaps best known for her supporting roles on the TV series Freaks and Geeks and Dawson's Creek. Philipps worked the toy-fair circuit as a real-life Barbie before making her show-business debut. Her first major role was as the part of Kim Kelly in Freaks and Geeks, in which she appeared in all 18 episodes. She later made her film debut in comedy The Smokers in 2000, as well as various other cameos on television. In 2001, Philipps was cast as Audrey Lidell in the teen drama Dawson's Creek. She was a series regular in seasons 5 and 6, appearing in 46 episodes, before the show finished in 2003. Her role of Audrey earned Philipps a Teen Choice Awards nomination in the category of "TV - Choice Sidekick".  She was later ranked #58 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2001. Philipps later appeared in two films, Home Room (2002) and White Chicks (2004). She was cast in the UPN sitcom Love, Inc., in a role originally intended for Shannen Doherty. The show lasted for one season (2005-2006) before being cancelled. In 2006, she had a major recurring role as Hope Bobeck on ER. During her second year on ER, her character headed to South America to "fulfill her Christian mission". Philipps had a co-credit for the storyline of the 2007 comedy film Blades of Glory. A year later, Philipps returned to being in front of the camera with her supporting role in Made Of Honor. While pregnant with her first child, Philipps taped scenes for The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Philipps was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Her parents gave her the nickname Busy because, as an infant, she was always moving, and the nickname stuck; it even appears on her driver's license. She attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. She attended Loyola Marymount University at the same time as former boyfriend, Colin Hanks, and Linda Cardellini (her Freaks and Geeks and ER co-star). She married Marc Silverstein in 2007. She is an avid Tori Amos fan.  According to PEOPLE.COM, Busy Philipps and her screenwriter husband, Marc Silverstein, welcomed a baby girl. Birdie Leigh Silverstein was born Wednesday, August 13, 2008.