Born April 9, 1965 in Prostejov, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) Paulina Porizkova was, at one time, considered the most beautiful woman in the world – a title which the brainy beauty never felt comfortable with.
A model from the age of three and one of the highest paid supermodels in the world, following her reign as the top Sports Illustrated swimsuit covergirl of the late 1980s, as well as being the face of Estee Lauder, Porizkova surprised critics who assumed she could not speak, let alone act, when she made an impressive film debut in "Anna" (1987). Playing a scheming Czechoslovakian refugee who uses a former actress (and usurps her past) to become a star, Porizkova impressed Hollywood with her first film foray. She had, previously, appeared in husband Ric Ocasek's band, The Cars' music videos before "Anna" proved she had acting chops. She went on to co-star with Tom Selleck in the pallid comedy "Her Alibi" (1989) and the cult film "Arizona Dream" (1992), before focusing more on her family than film sets and catwalks.
By 2007, Porizkova came back into the limelight – first, by releasing her first work of fiction, A Model Summer ; followed by her joining the fourth season of the immensely popular dance competition series, "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2004- ) in early 2007. Porizkova would be guided through her dance training by season one champ, Alec Mazo.
Family
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Brother: Joachym Porizkova.
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Mother: Anna Porizkova. Born c. 1947; teamed with daughter on an Estee Lauder makeup video, "A Private Lesson" (1991)
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Son: Jonathan Raven Ocasek. Born Nov. 4, 1993; father, Ric Ocasek
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Son: Oliver Orion Ocasek. Born May 23, 1998; father, Ric Ocasek
Milestones
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1968 Was separated from her parents by the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
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1980 Became a top model from age 15
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1983 Made film debut in the modelling pseudo-documentary "Portfolio"
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1984 Appeared in Cars' music video "Drive" where she met future husband Ric Ocasek
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1987 Appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine (August) to preview her new swimsuit calendar
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1987 Feature acting debut, "Anna"
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1988 Signed a six million dollar per year contract with Estee Lauder cosmetics
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1989 Best-known role to date, co-starring with Tom Selleck in the film "Her Alibi"
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1991 Appeared in Estee Lauder how-to makeup video, "A Private Lesson" with her mother Anna
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1993 Appeared in the cult film, "Arizona Dream," with Johnny Depp and Jerry Lewis, as Lewis's young Polish fiancee
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1998 Appeared in the film "Thursday"
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2001 Hosted for a television show on the E! network's Style Channel
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2001 Wrote and directed the film, "Roommates"
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2004 Starred in the romantic comedy, "Knots"
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2007 Joined the fourth season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" as a contestant
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2007 Joined the tenth season of "America's Top Model," as a judge, replacing Twiggy
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Appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1984 and again in 1985
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First modelling assignment at age 3
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Rejoined parents in Sweden at age ten
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Signed a new contract as the lead model for Escada