Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Hilary Duff
How Hilary Duff built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Hilary Duff is an American actress, singer, author, and businesswoman recognized with numerous awards, including Kids' Choice Awards and Teen Choice Awards. She has also received nominations for People's Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards, reflecting her impact and recognition in the entertainment industry.
1993: Move to California
In 1993, Hilary Duff and her sister moved to California with their mother to pursue acting careers.
1998: Casper meets Wendy
In 1998, Hilary Duff appeared in Casper meets Wendy.
1999: The Soul Collector
In 1999, Hilary Duff appeared in The Soul Collector.
January 12, 2001: Lizzie McGuire Premiere
On January 12, 2001, Lizzie McGuire premiered on the Disney Channel, becoming a ratings hit and boosting Hilary Duff's career.
2001: Lizzie McGuire Debut
In 2001, Hilary Duff starred in the Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire," which quickly led to her recognition as a teen idol.
October 2002: Santa Claus Lane Release
In October 2002, Hilary Duff released her debut Christmas-themed album, Santa Claus Lane.
2002: Significant Fame and Media Attention
Following the launch of Lizzie McGuire in 2002, Hilary Duff received a significant amount of fame and media attention.
2002: Appearance in Cadet Kelly
In 2002, Hilary Duff appeared in Cadet Kelly, one of her early movies.
2002: Release of Santa Claus Lane
In 2002, Hilary Duff released her debut studio album, the Christmas-themed "Santa Claus Lane."
August 2003: Metamorphosis Album Release
In August 2003, Hilary Duff released her second studio album, Metamorphosis, which topped the Billboard 200 chart.
December 2003: Co-starring in Cheaper by the Dozen
In December 2003, Hilary Duff co-starred in Cheaper by the Dozen, which became her highest-grossing film.
2003: Revival of Hollywood Records
Hilary Duff's album Metamorphosis (2003) was credited with the revival of Hollywood Records, giving the label a needed shot in the arm and leading to a formula they tried to implement with future acts.
2003: The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Other Film Roles
In 2003, Hilary Duff starred in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" and appeared in "Agent Cody Banks" and "Cheaper by the Dozen", building her early film career.
2003: Agent Cody Banks and The Lizzie McGuire Movie
In 2003, Hilary Duff starred in Agent Cody Banks and reprised her role as Lizzie McGuire in The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
2003: Metamorphosis Album Release
In 2003, Hilary Duff's second album, "Metamorphosis," was released and topped the Billboard 200 chart.
2003: Come Clean Used as Laguna Beach Theme
In 2003, Hilary Duff's song "Come Clean" was used as the theme song to the MTV reality series Laguna Beach, helping promote the song in the United States.
2003: Public Image Tied to Lizzie McGuire
In 2003, Richard Huff from the New York Daily News stated that Hilary Duff's public image is "tied" to Lizzie McGuire.
February 14, 2004: Final Episode of Lizzie McGuire
On February 14, 2004, the final episode of Lizzie McGuire aired after Hilary Duff's contract was fulfilled.
March 2004: Launch of "Stuff by Hilary Duff" Clothing Line
In March 2004, Hilary Duff launched her first clothing line, "Stuff by Hilary Duff", which was distributed in multiple countries.
2004: Hilary Duff Album Release
In 2004, Hilary Duff released her self-titled third studio album, showcasing prominent rock elements.
2004: End of Lizzie McGuire
In 2004, Hilary Duff's contract for Lizzie McGuire ended after 65 episodes and plans for a second film and spin-off fell through.
2004: Most Wanted Tour Success
In 2004, multiple dates on Hilary Duff's Most Wanted Tour sold out in minutes.
2005: Cheaper by the Dozen 2
In 2005, Hilary Duff appeared in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
2005: Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
In 2005, Hilary Duff donated $250,000 and over 2.5 million meals to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
2005: Most Wanted Compilation Release
In 2005, Hilary Duff released her compilation album, Most Wanted, achieving commercial success.
2005: The Perfect Man and Most Wanted Release
In 2005, Hilary Duff starred in "The Perfect Man" and released her compilation album "Most Wanted".
2005: Transition Towards More Pop And Dance Friendly Sounds
In 2005, the new material featured on her Most Wanted compilation album began to see Duff transfer towards a more pop and dance friendly sound.
August 2006: New Orleans Elementary School Visit
In August 2006, Hilary Duff visited an elementary school in New Orleans and worked with USA Harvest to distribute meals.
September 2006: With Love... Hilary Duff Perfume Release and Stalking Incident
In September 2006, Hilary Duff released her first perfume, "With Love... Hilary Duff," and was stalked, leading to restraining orders.
2007: Release of Dignity
In 2007, Hilary Duff released her album Dignity, heavily influenced by Europop, hip hop, and rock 'n roll. She co-wrote all but one of the songs on the album, which dealt with topics including her stalker, her breakup with Joel Madden, and her parents' divorce.
2007: Dignity Album Release
In 2007, Hilary Duff released her fourth studio album, Dignity, continuing her musical career.
2007: From Teen Queen to Breakout Sex Symbol
In 2007, Hilary Duff's appearance on the cover of Maxim marked a shift in her image, declaring she had gone "from the queen of teen to breakout sex symbol."
2007: End of "Stuff by Hilary Duff" Clothing Line distribution
In 2007, Hilary Duff's first clothing line, "Stuff by Hilary Duff" ended.
October 2008: PSA for The Think Before You Speak Campaign
In October 2008, Hilary Duff starred in a public service announcement for The Think Before You Speak Campaign by Ad Council and GLSEN to discourage the use of anti-LGBT vocabulary.
December 2008: Announced New Album
In December 2008, Hilary Duff announced to MTV that she would begin writing another album, but it was never developed. That same year, Duff ceased to have control over Stuff by Hilary Duff, thus the line was discontinued.
2008: Appearance in War, Inc.
In 2008, Hilary Duff appeared in the independent film War, Inc.
July 2009: Youth Ambassador to Bogota
In July 2009, Hilary Duff was named a youth ambassador to the children of Bogotá, Colombia, where she spent five days distributing backpacks filled with food to children in need.
August 2009: Femme for DKNY Jeans Launch
In August 2009, Hilary Duff collaborated with DKNY Jeans to co-design an apparel line called Femme for DKNY Jeans, targeting women her age, and it was available for a limited time in the United States.
2009: Appearance in According to Greta
In 2009, Hilary Duff appeared in the independent film According to Greta.
October 2010: Elixir Novel Published
In October 2010, Hilary Duff's young adult novel, Elixir, co-written with Elise Allen, was published and became a New York Times best-seller.
2010: Elixir Novel Release
In 2010, Hilary Duff co-authored her first novel, "Elixir", which became a New York Times Best Seller.
October 2011: Release of Devoted
In October 2011, Hilary Duff released Devoted, the sequel to her novel Elixir.
2011: Appearance in Bloodworth
In 2011, Hilary Duff appeared in the independent film Bloodworth.
2011: Devoted Novel Release
In 2011, Hilary Duff released "Devoted", the sequel to her novel Elixir.
January 2012: Resumed Working on Music
In January 2012, Hilary Duff confirmed that she had started working on music again.
August 2012: Signed Deal with 20th Century Fox
In August 2012, Hilary Duff signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to develop and produce a sitcom in which she would star, but the plan ultimately failed to develop.
2012: Johnson's Baby Cares Campaign Involvement
In 2012, Hilary Duff participated in the Johnson's Baby Cares campaign, which sent care kits to new mothers and raised funds for children and low-income families in partnership with Save the Children.
July 2013: Finished Filming Flock of Dudes
In July 2013, Hilary Duff completed filming the independent film Flock of Dudes.
November 2013: Campaign with Duracell Canada
In November 2013, Hilary Duff collaborated with Duracell in Canada for a campaign that donated 20,000 batteries to hospitals across Canada, promoting the campaign through hospital visits and media appearances.
2013: True Novel Release
In 2013, Hilary Duff released "True", the sequel to her novel Devoted.
January 15, 2014: Joined Younger Cast
On January 15, 2014, Hilary Duff signed on to co-star in the comedy-drama pilot Younger for TV Land.
April 2014: Younger Picked Up for Series
In April 2014, the pilot for Younger, in which Hilary Duff co-starred, was picked up for a series with a 12-episode deal.
May 1, 2014: Attended iHeartRadio Music Awards
On May 1, 2014, Hilary Duff attended the iHeartRadio Music Awards and confirmed she was working with Savan Kotecha and Ed Sheeran.
July 23, 2014: Signed with RCA Records
On July 23, 2014, it was revealed that Hilary Duff had signed with RCA Records.
July 29, 2014: Released 'Chasing the Sun'
On July 29, 2014, Hilary Duff released the single "Chasing the Sun," marking her first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 since 2007's "Stranger."
November 2014: Guest Voice Work
In November 2014, Hilary Duff provided voice work for a Dora the Explorer episode as Jessica the Ice Witch.
2014: Total Album Sales
By 2014, Hilary Duff had sold over fifteen million albums.
2014: Shift to Folk-Influenced Indie Pop Sound
In 2014, Hilary Duff's releases featured a more folk-influenced, "earthy" indie pop sound, compared to her previous releases, eventually consolidating her position as a dance-pop singer.
March 31, 2015: Younger Series Premiere
On March 31, 2015, Younger premiered on TV Land, marking Hilary Duff's first starring role in a television series since Lizzie McGuire.
April 6, 2015: Released "Sparks"
On April 6, 2015, Hilary Duff released the single "Sparks" from her upcoming album.
June 12, 2015: Released Breathe In. Breathe Out
On June 12, 2015, Hilary Duff released her fifth studio album, Breathe In. Breathe Out.
2015: Younger Debut
In 2015, Hilary Duff began starring as Kelsey Peters in the TV Land series "Younger".
2015: Meeting Matthew Koma
In 2015, Hilary Duff met singer-songwriter Matthew Koma while working on her album Breathe In. Breathe Out.
2015: Breathe In. Breathe Out. Album Release
In 2015, Hilary Duff released her fifth album, Breathe In. Breathe Out., after signing with RCA Records.
January 2016: Release of "Little Lies" Cover
In January 2016, Hilary Duff's cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies" was released, coinciding with the second season of Younger.
February 2016: Canceled Tour
In February 2016, Hilary Duff announced that she would not be touring in support of her album.
June 2016: New Album
In June 2016, Hilary Duff revealed that she was working on a new album with a darker tone.
September 2016: Release of Flock of Dudes
In September 2016, the independent film Flock of Dudes, which Hilary Duff finished filming in July 2013, was released.
January 2017: Invested in Kopari Beauty
In January 2017, Hilary Duff became an investor in the cosmetic line Kopari Beauty.
2017: Telethon for Houston Floods
In 2017, Hilary Duff participated in a telethon for the Houston floods and contributed an essay to Marie Claire about the hurricane's impact on her hometown.
January 2018: Launched Eyewear Collection
In January 2018, Hilary Duff returned to fashion design and launched a collaborative eyewear line with GlassesUSA called the "Muse x Hilary Duff" collection and also announced she was filming the movie The Haunting of Sharon Tate.
September 2018: Voice role for Meet Your Tooth Fairy
In September 2018, it was confirmed that Hilary Duff would voice the lead character in the animated film Meet Your Tooth Fairy.
2018: Relief Efforts for Hanalei Floods
In 2018, Hilary Duff raised funds for relief efforts for the 2018 Hanalei floods through sales of her "Muse x Hilary Duff Collection".
January 2019: Invested in Nudestix
In January 2019, Hilary Duff invested in the cosmetics line "Nudestix" alongside Chelsea Handler.
April 2019: Release of The Haunting of Sharon Tate
In April 2019, The Haunting of Sharon Tate, starring and produced by Hilary Duff, was released.
August 2019: Lizzie McGuire Revival Announcement
In August 2019, Hilary Duff announced at the D23 Expo that she would reprise her role as Lizzie McGuire in a revival series on Disney+.
September 2019: Launched Make-up Kit
In September 2019, Hilary Duff launched her own make-up kit named "Daydreamer" following her investment in Nudestix.
November 2019: Duff Becomes Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer
In November 2019, Hilary Duff was announced as the new co-owner and chief brand officer of Naturalena Brands' line of baby and feminine care products.
2019: Appearance in The Haunting of Sharon Tate
In 2019, Hilary Duff appeared in the independent film The Haunting of Sharon Tate.
January 9, 2020: Creative Differences Halt Lizzie McGuire Revival
On January 9, 2020, it was reported that Terri Minsky departed as showrunner of the Lizzie McGuire revival due to "creative differences", and the production of the series was halted.
February 2020: Single Release and Cameo Appearance
In February 2020, music producer RAC released the single "Never Let You Go" featuring both Duff and her husband Matthew Koma on vocals. Later that month, Duff made a cameo in the music video for the single "CVS" by Koma's band, Winnetka Bowling League.
May 2020: Duff to Star in Younger Spinoff
In May 2020, it was reported that Duff would be starring in a spinoff series of Younger, reprising her role as Kelsey Peters.
August 2020: Hilary Duff Optimistic About Revival
In August 2020, Hilary Duff said she was "optimistic that [the revival] will happen" and that she would continue filming the revival series following the completion of filming Younger's final season.
October 2020: Launch of "Veeda in Action" Donation Campaign
In October 2020, Hilary Duff launched the "Veeda in Action" donation campaign through her feminine care line "Veeda", partnering with PERIOD to donate period products to those in need.
December 16, 2020: Lizzie McGuire Revival Scrapped
On December 16, 2020, Hilary Duff confirmed that the Lizzie McGuire revival was scrapped by Disney+ due to creative differences.
February 23, 2021: Smash + Tess Romper Collection Launch
On February 23, 2021, Hilary Duff's collaboration with Smash + Tess, a romper company, launched and sold out within minutes.
March 2021: Duff Releases Children's Book
In March 2021, Hilary Duff released a children's picture book titled My Little Brave Girl, inspired by her daughter Banks.
April 2021: Spin-off Described as Female Entourage
In April 2021, Darren Star described the spinoff as a "female Entourage", and said that it would focus on Kelsey Peters in Los Angeles.
April 2021: Duff to Star and Produce How I Met Your Mother Spinoff
In April 2021, Hilary Duff announced that she would star in and produce a spinoff of How I Met Your Mother, titled How I Met Your Father.
June 10, 2021: Younger Spin-off Not Happening
On June 10, 2021, it was announced that the Younger spin-off was no longer in the works.
July 2021: Younger Soundtrack Album Release
The Younger soundtrack album was released digitally in July 2021, and Duff's cover of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" was included.
August 2021: Filming of Spinoff Series Begins and Duff Contracts COVID-19
In August 2021, filming for the How I Met Your Mother spinoff began in Los Angeles. Three days into filming, Duff contracted COVID-19, pausing the show's shoot.
2021: Younger Ended
In 2021, Hilary Duff's appearance as Kelsey Peters in the TV Land series "Younger" ended.
January 18, 2022: How I Met Your Father Premieres
On January 18, 2022, How I Met Your Father premiered on Hulu, receiving mixed reception.
February 15, 2022: How I Met Your Father Renewed for Second Season
On February 15, 2022, Hulu renewed How I Met Your Father for a 20-episode second season.
May 18, 2022: Duff Becomes Chief Mom Officer of Carter's
On May 18, 2022, Hilary Duff became the first-ever Chief Mom Officer of the children's apparel company Carter's and designed a clothing capsule collection for children.
2022: How I Met Your Father
In 2022, Hilary Duff starred as Sophie Tompkins in the Hulu sitcom "How I Met Your Father".
September 2023: How I Met Your Father Cancelled
In September 2023, Hulu cancelled the series after two seasons.
November 2023: Release of "My Little Sweet Boy"
In November 2023, Hilary Duff released her second children’s picture book, titled "My Little Sweet Boy."
November 2023: Chief Brand Director of Below 60°
In November 2023, Hilary Duff unveiled a new business venture as Chief Brand Director of Below 60°, a line of home fragrance products.
2023: How I Met Your Father Ended
In 2023, Hilary Duff's appearance as Sophie Tompkins in the Hulu sitcom "How I Met Your Father" ended.
