Brittany Murphy: 11 roles we'll remember

See late actress's most notable work, from 'Clueless' and 'King of the Hill' to '8 Mile' and 'Sin City'
By Archana Ram
December 20, 2009 at 09:00 PM EST

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CLUELESS (1995)

Credit: Everett Collection

The seminal teen flick would be Brittany Murphy's breakout film, and gave the actress (pictured, left, with Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash) what's likely her most fondly remembered role. She played new-kid-at-school Tai with equal parts compassion and awkwardness — and misfits everywhere had a new role model.

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KING OF THE HILL (1997-2009)

Credit: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

The actress had a successful voice-over career, most notably in Mike Judge's long-running Fox animated hit as the air-headed, but ultimately lovable, Luanne.

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GIRL, INTERRUPTED (1999)

Credit: Columbia/Everett Collection

Angelina Jolie may have garnered the most buzz from this film, but Murphy's portrayal of the reclusive Daisy Randone proved to be a quietly stunning performance.

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DON'T SAY A WORD (2001)

Credit: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

Channeling the psyche of a mental patient in this psychological thriller, Murphy spooked audiences with her disturbingly real performance as Elisabeth and uttered one of the eeriest lines in movie history: ''I'll never tell...''

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RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS (2001)

Credit: Everett Collection

As best friend to Drew Barrymore's Beverly, Murphy made her mark as an outspoken young mother.

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8 MILE (2002)

Credit: Universal/Everett Collection

Murphy played an aspiring model in this Curtis Hanson-directed hip-hop drama, co-starring Eminem.

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JUST MARRIED (2003)

Credit: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

In this slapstick romantic comedy, Murphy took to the screen with then-boyfriend Ashton Kutcher as newlyweds Sarah and Tom, grappling with Sarah's disapproving parents and a honeymoon gone terribly wrong.

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UPTOWN GIRLS (2003)

Credit: MGM/Everett Collection

Murphy's spoiled Molly had no idea what she was getting herself into when she took a job nannying the precocious Ray (Dakota Fanning). But each benefited from the other by the time the credits rolled: Ray learned to loosen up and Molly learned to grow up.

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LITTLE BLACK BOOK (2004)

Credit: Columbia/Everett Collection

Alongside Holly Hunter, Murphy got to play a mischievous girlfriend on a mission to unearth more about her boyfriend's past by stealing his top-secret black book.

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SIN CITY (2005)

Credit: Dimension Films/Everett Collection

Murphy flexed her film noir muscles in the adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel, playing Shellie the barmaid.

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TRIBUTE (2009)

Credit: Lifetime

In this Lifetime adaptation of Nora Roberts' novel, Murphy played Cillia, a former child star who finds happiness outside of Hollywood restoring homes in Virginia, and forges a relationship with Jason Lewis' character, Ford.

Murphy completed work on three projects, which are currently in post-production, according to IMDB: Abandoned with Dean Cain; the thriller Something Wicked, and The Expendables, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone.

More on the life and career of Brittany Murphy from EW:
Brittany Murphy dies at age 32
Brittany Murphy remembered by friends and colleagues

From the PopWatch archive:
Brittany Murphy: Is that you singing backup on _____? (2006)

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By Archana Ram