Kirsten Dunst Is Still Turning Heads at 43 — More Than 20 Years After ‘Spider-Man’ Made Her a Star

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Kirsten Dunst started her career extremely young. She began modeling at just three years old, appearing in television commercials with top agencies like Ford Models and Elite Model Management.

By 1988, she made her first TV appearance on Saturday Night Live, playing the granddaughter of George H. W. Bush. Soon after, she had a small role in Woody Allen’s short film Oedipus Wrecks, which was part of the anthology New York Stories. She then appeared in movies like The Bonfire of the Vanities and guest-starred in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Dunst’s big breakthrough came in 1994 with Interview with the Vampire. She played Claudia, a child vampire, alongside Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Despite being only ten, she impressed critics with her performance. Dunst even remembered her first onscreen kiss with Pitt, joking, I thought it was gross, that Brad had cooties. I mean, I was 10. She earned a Golden Globe nomination, an MTV Movie Award, and a Saturn Award for the role.

After that, Dunst starred in hits like Little Women and Jumanji, where she acted alongside Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt. By 2002, she became a household name with Spider-Man, playing Mary Jane Watson opposite Tobey Maguire. The film was a massive success, making over $822 million worldwide. She reprised the role in the sequels, cementing her status as a major Hollywood star.

Over the years, Dunst has balanced blockbuster work with challenging independent films. She received critical praise for her roles in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, winning Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for the latter. She has also appeared in dramas like The Virgin Suicides, comedies like Bring It On, and recent thrillers such as Civil War.

Dunst’s personal life has been equally notable. She has been open about struggling with depression, telling the public in 2008 that she sought treatment at a Utah facility. She has had high-profile relationships, including with Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Garrett Hedlund. Since 2016, she has been with her Fargo co-star Jesse Plemons. They became engaged in 2017, married in 2022 in Jamaica, and now have two sons born in 2018 and 2021. Dunst and Plemons live in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Today, Dunst continues to act and take on diverse roles. She is praised for her fearless choices, from indie dramas to big-budget blockbusters. She has also explored music and voice work, including singing in films like Spider-Man 3 and appearing in music videos for artists like Savage Garden and R.E.M. The actress remains grounded and private, keeping her family life close while maintaining her career momentum.

At 43, Kirsten Dunst proves that she is still a force in Hollywood, balancing a rich career, creative projects, and a happy personal life, more than two decades after she became a star with Spider-Man.

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