Michelle Monaghan (born March 23, 1976, Winthrop, Iowa, USA) is an American actress.

Her parents are Sharon and Bob Monaghan. She has two brothers.

She was very motivated as a young woman and had her mind set on becoming a journalist. Because of her drive, determination and respect of her fellow classmates, she was elected as the president of her High School class. After graduating High School, she went to Chicago to fulfil her journalistic desire and study journalism. Between studying, she did some modelling both in the United States and around the world with stints in Europe (Milan), Asia (Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong) and so on. To her delight it more than paid for tuition and eventually became to the conclusion that she would rather pursue a career in modelling instead of journalism.

She eventually became interested in acting and eventually received a few minor parts in episodes of a few television series such as Young Americans (in which she appeared twice) in 2000 and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2001.

This eventually lead to the big screen and she made her big screen debut in 2001 with the small role of Henrietta in the movie Perfume. This was followed up by another small role in Unfaithful in 2002. In the mean time she continued her modelling career and eventually expanded her resume by doing commercials. She has appeared in some television commercials for products such as Stayfree deodorant in 2001 and Secret Sheer dry in 2002.

Her big break came in 2002, when she co-starred on the television series Boston Public in the role of Kimberly Woods.

After the two year run on the television series, she turned back to the silver screen and appeared in It Runs in the Family in 2003, Winter Solstice in 2004 and. Her roles kept on getting better and she appeared in the blockbuster The Bourne Supremacy also in 2004 and then Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2005.

In 2005 she starred in her first movie, a comedy/murder spoof entitled Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang along side Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. Opening on the same weekend, was North Country by Niki Caro which she appeared in together with Charlize Theron, Sissy Spacek and other great actresses.

In 2006, she is due to appear as the love interest and female lead opposite Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III.

Credit: en.wikipedia.org