Raised in Long Beach, CA, Cameron Diaz appeared to come out of nowhere when she landed her first feature role opposite Jim Carrey as the babe in The Mask(1994). Her only prior professional experience was as a model from age 16, working in Japan and then for the Elite Agency in commercials for Coke, Nivea and L.A. Gear. Her mother is part English, German and Native American and her dad Cuban-American, perhaps explaining her astonishing looks which initially interested Hollywood. She followed The Mask with featured roles in Feeling Minnesota(1996) and A Life Less Ordinary(1997). Both films were less than well received, but her comedic turn and support work in My Best Friend's Wedding(1997) earned her some positive critical attention.