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Elisa Donovan (right), is still being remembered for her portrayal as "Amber" in the 1995 film 'Clueless', where she shared screen with actors Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, the late Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd.
From 1996 to 1999 Elisa reprised her role in the TV show of the same name, working once again with Stacey Dash, plus Rachel Blanchard and Donald Adeosun Faison.
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Born on February 3, 1971 in Poughkeepsie, New York, to Charlotte and Jack Donovan, the actress made her TV debut in the 1994 sitcom 'Blossom', playing "Tanya" in two episodes. The following year, she appeared in the series 'Renegade' as "Tina". That same year she made her film debut in 'Café Babel'.
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According to IMDb, during that time the star struggled with an eating disorder, battling anorexia from 1993 to 1995. Donovan experienced serious issues as her weight dropped to 90 pounds (40 kg).
Her recovery journey was featured in a 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' book.
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Apart from her successful role as "Amber" in 'Clueless', other of Elisa's notable credits include her portrayal of "Ginger LaMonica" in four episodes of 'Beverly Hills, 90210' (1995-1996).
She also starred as "Morgan Cavanaugh" in Melissa Joan Hart's 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch', where she appeared from 2000 to 2003, from season 5 to 7.
From 2009 to 2011 she played "Gayle" in the series 'In Gayle We Trust'.
As of the big screen, the actress portrayed "Suzy" in the 2006 film 'National Lampoon's TV: The Movie', and then starred as "Anna" in the 2009 movie 'A Golden Christmas'.
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Elisa's acting skills are no limited to TV and film only. In fact, she appeared in 'N Sync's 1999 music video for 'Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)', playing member Joey Fatone's romantic interest.
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What about Elisa's love life? In 2012, the actress married Charlie Bigelow, after three years of relationship.
That same year, when Elisa was 41, she and her husband welcomed daughter Scarlett, who is turning 12 in 2024.
In a 2020 interview with 'People', the actress opened up about being a mother and how she wants to be a role model to little Scarlett. She said: "I hope that I create an image of a full woman for Scarlett, a woman who has goals and desires and thoughts of her own, but whose primary purpose is being her mom. [...] The love I have for and feel from Scarlett is beyond articulation. Just beyond. And I feel like I’m a really good mom most of the time. But I think a lot of that has to do with my constant tending to the balance of work, marriage, life and motherhood. And it is an exhausting balancing act that I’m never sure I am getting right."
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Apart from her acting career, Elisa is passionate about sports and physical activity. Some of her hobbies include gymnastics, dancing and horse riding.
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Elisa is a talented actress, a mother to an adorable daughter and also an avid philanthropist! The star's been part of the steering committee for The Young Literati, an organization that raises funds to support Los Angeles-based The Library Foundation.
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Quick facts about 'Clueless' star Elisa Donovan:
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Some of Elisa's most recent on-screen appearances took place in a 2014 episode of 'Melissa & Joey', where she played "Darcy", and in the 2017 film 'MDMA', portraying "Mary".
In November 2023, the actress reflected on her time as "Amber" in 'Clueless', confessing she would have liked to have someone to support her deal with fame. She told 'Inspired' magazine: "I certainly didn't have anyone to help me prepare for that. I had an agent and a manager back then, but it would have been useful to have someone who helped me mentally and emotionally metabolize how to deal with situations like this."
Today, Elisa keeps her fans updated via Instagram (@reddonovan), where she often posts pictures of her daily life as a mom, as well as some throwback pics. As of January 2024, she has +104k followers on the social platform.
The actress known as "Amber" in the 1995 teen film 'Clueless', as well as in the TV show of the same name, has built a successful career in show business.
The Poughkeepsie, New York- native has been active in the film and TV industry since the mid '90s.
Take a look at some of her career highlights in our gallery! This is what Elisa Donovan has been up to!