Bijou Phillips is an American actress, model, and singer who embarked on her career as a model. She is the daughter of musician John Phillips and Geneviève Waïte. She began her career as a model. Phillips made her singing debut with I’d Rather Eat Glass (1999), and since her first major film appearance in Black and White (1999).
Bio/Wiki
Age-43years
Height- 1.68 m
Weight- 50 Kg
Born- 1 April 1980
Birthplace-Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
Full name- Bijou Lilly Phillips Masterson
Spouse- Danny Masterson (m. 2011)
Profession-Actor, Model, Singer
Nationality- American
Family
Bijou Phillips born on April 1, 1980, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Bijou Phillips is the daughter of John Phillips from the iconic band The Mamas and the Papas and his third wife, Geneviève Waïte, who was a South African model, artist, and actress. Her name was inspired by the song “My Petite Bijou” by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, with “bijou” meaning ‘jewel’ in French.
She is the youngest among John Phillips’s children, with one brother named Tamerlane, and three half-siblings named Mackenzie, Jeffrey, and Chynna. Following her parents’ separation, both were deemed unfit to have custody of Bijou. Consequently, she was placed in foster care with a family residing in Bolton Landing, New York. She lived with them intermittently, occasionally visiting her parents, who both owned homes in the same area. Custody of Bijou was eventually awarded to her father when she was in the third grade, and she relocated with him to Lloyd Harbor, a village within the Town of Huntington on Long Island.
Husband
In the mid-2000s, Bijou Phillips was romantically involved with Sean Lennon, which inspired and led to him creating his 2006 album titled “Friendly Fire,” with Phillips serving as his muse and the subject of his music.
In 2004, Phillips began a relationship with actor Danny Masterson, whom she met at a poker tournament in Las Vegas. Both of them share the affiliation of being Scientologists. Their engagement was announced in March 2009, and they tied the knot in a private castle in Ireland in October 2011. On February 14, 2014, Phillips gave birth to their daughter. The couple also appeared together in several films and in a 2011 episode of the TV show “Raising Hope.”
Career
Early Career
Bijou Phillips made her mark in the entertainment industry at a young age. She graced the cover of Interview magazine when she was just 13 and soon appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia. Her association with Calvin Klein as an image model drew attention, but some of the advertising campaigns she participated in were met with controversy for their perceived inappropriateness. Phillips expressed her discontent with the modeling world, likening it to “jumping up and down in a puddle.”
At the age of 17, she signed a record deal and embarked on her debut album, “I’d Rather Eat Glass,” produced by Jerry Harrison. This album, released on May 11, 1999, remains her sole full-length music release to date. The album’s title alludes to her past as a fashion model, conveying her preference for music over modeling. Phillips collaborated with various artists, including Eric Bazilian, Greg Wells, Dave Bassett, Howard Jones, and Jill Cunniff, in crafting the album. Although “I’d Rather Eat Glass” received mixed reviews from music critics, her musical style drew favorable comparisons to artists like Natalie Imbruglia and Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo.
Phillips ventured into film with a small role in the independent drama “Sugar Town” (1999). Her major film breakthrough came the same year with James Toback’s drama “Black and White,” where she portrayed an Upper East Side girl attempting to fit in with the black hip-hop community. While the film garnered mixed reviews and had limited theatrical success, Bijou Phillips stood out as one of its intriguing actors, particularly noted for her fearless performance.
Acting Breakthrough
In 2000, Phillips starred alongside Kate Hudson in Cameron Crowe’s semi-biographical musical drama “Almost Famous,” a critically acclaimed film that received multiple Academy Award nominations.
The year 2001 saw Phillips in two independent coming-of-age films. In “Tart,” she played a longtime friend of a young woman attending a preparatory school in 1980s New York City. Her performance garnered praise for its fearlessness. In “Bully,” based on a true story, she portrayed one of several young adults in South Florida who conspired to murder a mutual friend who had subjected them to years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. While the film received mixed reviews, esteemed critic Roger Ebert gave it a four-star rating. Her role in “Bully” earned her recognition as one of the “Shooting Stars of Tomorrow” in 2002, as recognized by The Hollywood Reporter.
In 2003, Phillips starred in the thriller “Octane,” and in 2004, she appeared in the drama “The Door in the Floor,” alongside Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. “Havoc” (2005) featured her alongside Anne Hathaway in a story about a spoiled socialite, earning her acclaim for her performance as the trashy best friend. That year, she also appeared in the slasher film “Venom.”
Horror Films
In 2007, Phillips starred in the independent horror film “The Wizard of Gore” and featured in the comedy drama “Spin,” centered around characters at a popular Los Angeles nightclub. She also played a key role in “Hostel: Part II,” a sequel to “Hostel” (2005), portraying one of three American female art students who end up in a horrifying situation in Slovakia. Her challenging scenes in the film, including a gruesome scalping sequence, marked a unique experience for her. The film faced bans in several countries and had a tepid reception at the U.S. box office.
Phillips took on the role of Lorna Doom, the bassist of the punk band Germs and a close friend of singer Darby Crash, in the biographical film “What We Do Is Secret.” Her performance received critical acclaim.
In 2008, she appeared in the documentary “Chelsea on the Rocks” and starred in the black comedy “Choke,” based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel. “Dark Streets” (2008) featured her as a nightclub’s star singer in 1930s New York City.
Her film roles continued in 2009 with a variety of independent features, including “Wake,” “It’s Alive,” “Made for Each Other,” and “The Bridge to Nowhere.”
Television
Phillips transitioned to television with a recurring role in FOX’s sitcom “Raising Hope” (2010–2014), where she portrayed the biological mother of the title character, a serial killer sentenced to death. She also made guest appearances in episodes of “Hawaii Five-0” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Additionally, she appeared in the music video for Broken Social Scene’s “Sweetest Kill.”
Health
In February 2017, Masterson disclosed that Phillips had been grappling with kidney disease for a period spanning five years. She was born with undersized kidneys and had been managing the condition through a stress-free lifestyle, a vegan diet, and undergoing dialysis. Unfortunately, she developed a blood infection and required a kidney transplant. In April 2017, she underwent a successful kidney transplant procedure.
Allegations
Phillips Family Allegations
In 2009, following her sister Mackenzie’s allegations of sexual assault against their father, Bijou Phillips expressed her perspective, stating, “I’m 29 now, I’ve spoken with everyone who was present during that time, and I’ve asked the difficult questions. I do not believe my sister. Our father was many things, but this is not one of them.” She also revealed that Mackenzie had informed her about their incestuous relationship, describing the news as “confusing and frightening,” and expressing heartbreak over the idea that her family had left her alone with their father.
In a 2000 interview with Bruce LaBruce, Phillips mentioned a song she had written about her father, featuring the refrain “He touched me wrong.” However, she did not provide further details regarding whether the lyrics pertained to her own experiences or someone else’s.
Allegations of Physical and Emotional Abuse
In November 2017, actor Daniel Franzese made accusations against Phillips, stating that she had mocked him regarding his sexuality and weight and had physically attacked him while they were working on the set of “Bully.” Following these allegations, Phillips issued an apology for her actions.
During the same period, actress Heather Matarazzo asserted that Phillips had forcibly pinned her against a wall and strangled her just before they began filming “Hostel: Part II.”
Net Worth 2023
Bijou Phillips net worth is $22 million as of 2023.
Bijou Phillips Files for Divorce from Danny Masterson
US actress Bijou Phillips has reportedly filed for divorce from Danny Masterson, less than two weeks after the That ’70s Show star was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two rapes. In the divorce documents, Phillips, 43, cited “irreconcilable differences” after 12 years of marriage. The couple shares a child. While their attorneys have not provided immediate comments, Phillips’ lawyer stated that her priority is their child, acknowledged Masterson’s role as a father, and requested privacy for the family during these challenging times. The divorce petition seeks full custody of their child, spousal support, and the division of assets as separate property.
The couple had been engaged in 2009 and wed in Ireland in 2011. Phillips had supported Masterson throughout his trials on rape charges, which eventually led to his conviction. The divorce adds to the ongoing repercussions of Masterson’s conviction, which also prompted backlash against his former co-stars, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, for their letters to the judge in support of leniency.
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