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Maria Shriver was born on November 6, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. Shriver is the daughter of prominent politican and diplomat Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of John F. and Robert Kennedy. She graduated from Georgetown University in June 1977 with a B.A. in American studies.

She was a reporter for NBC's Dateline NBC from 1989 until August of 2003, when she took a leave of absence when her husband, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, became a candidate in the California recall election. Upon his inauguration as the 38th Governor of California on November 17, 2003, Shriver became the First Lady of California.

She helped develop and launch a special website to match volunteers with organizations needing assistance. Shriver supported the construction of playgrounds and community gardens in lower income areas.Serving as executive producer, Shriver helped bring the documentary The Alzheimer's Project to television in May 2009.

Advancing understanding of the disease and supporting medical research is a personal mission for Shriver. Her father had Alzheimer's disease.Later that year, Shriver experienced two great personal losses. Her mother died on August 11th at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts

Kristin Kreuk was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her father, Peter Kreuk, is of Dutch ancestry and her mother, Deanna Che, is of Chinese ancestry; both are landscape architects. She also has a younger sister, Justine Kreuk.

She had no previous experience in acting other than musicals at her high school, was convinced to audition for the role by her drama teacher. Much to her surprise, she won the part.After shooting the first season of Edgemont and getting herself an agent, Kreuk landed the lead role of Snow White in a TV movie entitled Snow.

The program (which was slated to be shot in Vancouver) was to revolve around the life of teenager Clark Kent, alias Superboy. Gough and Millar called Kreuk to the WB's studios in Burbank, California to audition for the role of Clark Kent's pre-Lois Lane love, Lana Lang.

She wrapped up her role on Edgemont. She was also tapped for her first feature film role in the summer of 2003; she made a cameo appearance in the movie Eurotrip, starring Scott Mechlowicz and Michelle Trachtenberg. The film, shot in Prague, Czech Republic, also featured cameos by Matt Damon and Lucy Lawless.

Kristen Bell's breakout role as feisty, teen detective-in-training "Veronica Mars" (UPN, 2004- 07) might have been surprised to know that the young actress' roots were in musical theater. She had already appeared on Broadway twice when she was cast in the lead of the critically acclaimed TV series.

While Bell's fledgling film career included brief dips into horror and little-seen indie comedy, a leading role in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) launched her romantic comedy career and bumped up her status to big league Hollywood films, where her self-possessed demeanor, quick wit and dark edge made her a film and TV star simultaneously.

She had secured an agent and was appearing in print advertising for local retailers; eventually working her way up to local television commercials. Theater continued to be a passion, and while attending the Shrine Catholic High School in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak.

Bell was also cast as the kidnapped daughter of the President in David Mamet's largely unseen thriller "Spartan" (2004), and had a recurring role as a conniving grifter who meets an unpleasant end in HBO's gritty, wild West drama, "Deadwood" (HBO, 2004-06). But 2004 was best remembered as Bell's breakout year - thanks to a quirky family drama (of sorts) called "Veronica Mars."