On November 6th, 1972, Rebecca Romijn was born in Berkeley in the American state of California. Her name comes from her Dutch heritage, as both parents - father Jaap and mother Elizabeth - are from Holland.

According to reports, she was born to 'hippie' parents, though I prefer the term 'non-mainstream'. Anyway, by the time she had reached college in 1995, UC Santa Cruz, her course in music was causing financial problems.

Rebecca decided to give modeling a try and so signed on with a San Francisco modeling agency - that's right, no dodgy 'talent' scouts here, thank goodness.

Her new job as a full-time model would help her pay for her schooling, and though she had to take a year off to begin with, what a brilliant beginning it was.

Before too long, clients going through the lists of models on offer came across Rebecca, and fashion houses Escada and Christian Dior were quick to sign her to ad campaigns in 1995.

By 1996, she was a Victoria's Secret model, and though the lingerie brand wasn't as powerful as it is today, getting the gig with VS was still a massive coup for the easy going blue-eyed model.

The year of '96 was a big one for Rebecca. She was recognised by the US edition of People magazine as one of its 50 Most Beautiful People.

The magazine insisted she was included in the issue not because she's physically attractive, but because she had a sense of humour about her appearance. Which begs the question: Why, then, was the issue not called 'The 50 People Most at Ease with their Bodies"?

Rebecca has worked for companies like Maybelline, Pantene, Christian Dior, Escada, Furla, Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria's Secret, and had signed on with the IMG and Nextmodels agencies.

The year got better and better as Rebecca scored her first appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which she went on to appear in numerous times over the years. She also met former husband John Stamos on the set of Full House, in which she appeared.

By the time 1997 had rolled around, the tall blonde American model was guest appearing in episodes of 'Just Shoot Me', alongside Laura San Giacomo and funny-man David Spade, and also 'Friends' with Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston. Engaged in 1997, the model and aspiring actress tied the knot with Stamos in 1998.

Rebecca's acting and television work was coming thick and fast, and after hosting MTV's popular House of Style program with fellow top model James King she gravitated towards the big screen.

So many models have fallen by the wayside when attempting to carve a successful movie career, but Rebecca Romijn is currently enjoying a close relationship with Hollywood.

Her first foray into movies was in 1998, when she had a small role in the comedy flick Dirty Work as a Bearded Lady, where she asks the main character: "Honey, you ever done it with a chick with a beard?" Haven't we all..?

Next it was another guest-appearance in 1999's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, playing herself, followed in 2000 by the big-budget action flick X-Men. She played Mystique, a shape shifting femme fatale, and was a pivotal character in the film. She even had some fight scenes, though it's likely she used a stunt-double for these.

In 2002, she appeared in more movies, including the disastrous Rollerball and the Simone, and also appeared as herself on WWF Smackdown, which, as fans of the wrestling will know, is quite an honour.

She reprised her role as Mystique in the X-Men sequel X2, in 2003, and also voiced the character of Mercury in the Tron remake, Tron 2.0.

In 2004 she appeared in another Marvel comic-book-movie adaptation, The Punisher, as worked on Godsend, where she starred alongside Robert DeNiro and Greg Kinnear. Then on the 11th of April 2004, Rebecca split with her hubby, John Stamos, after six years and according to their agents the split was 'amicable'.

And you can bet your last dollar the single Rebecca Romijn had suitors clamouring for her attention at every turn.

She then reprised her role for a third time in the X-Men 3 in 2006 and will appeared in movie Alibi in the same year, which is about an an alibi service for men and women who cheat on their spouses. Naughty!

What lies ahead for the model/actress? Probably doing the things that make her happy, like eating her favourite foods such as tuna sashimi and filet mignon. She also enjoys listening to music made by Prince, Nina Simone, Radiohead the Beastie Boys and keeps fit thanks to Pilates.

Of course the future also promises to deliver a good selection of new movies, maybe the odd Victoria's Secret catalogue and probably not much time for romance. But then again, the witty, easygoing blonde is boy crazy, and she is a Dutch model after all...

by Sara Templeton