She was a big deal in Hollywood in the late 1990s as she seemed to land magazine covers and movie deals left and right.
This beauty got her start as a teenager: she popped up in skincare commercials before nailing a part on popular TV series like Beverly Hills, 90210.
Then the blonde landed big roles in teen romances and horror movies that were box office hits.
She has worked with high-profile stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jared Leto, Courteney Cox and, more recently, Brad Pitt.
And her love life has been headline-making as well: she was wed to one of the actors on Grey’s Anatomy.
Scandal has plagued her life. She was involved in a tragic accident and her marriage was plagued with cheating allegations. But she seems to have handled all the drama with class.
This bubbly beauty looked incredible in a yellow bikini during a trip to Mexico with pals in images shared to Instagram on Tuesday.
Who is she?
She was a big deal in Hollywood in the late 1990s. This beauty got her start as a teenager: she popped up in skincare commercials before nailing a part on popular TV series like Beverly Hills, 90210. Seen here this week in Mexico
The mystery woman is Rebecca Gayheart.
She is a 52-year-old actress from Kentucky who has lived in Los Angeles for the past 35 years.
The Hollywood vet was seen at the Laura Brown opening of Sezane the Brentwood Country Mart store on Wednesday in Los Angeles with Lake Bell and Lily Rabe.
She was hard to recognize with little makeup and her big black nerd glasses.
Rebecca has worked as both an actress and model.
She began her career as a teen model in the 1980s and subsequently appeared in a student short film by Brett Ratner, with whom she had an extensive relationship.
In the early 1990s, Gayheart signed a contract with Noxzema and became a spokesperson for the company.
Her hit films include Jawbreaker in 1999, Urban Legend in 1998, Scream 2 in 1997, Nothing to Lose in 1997, From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter in 1999 and Harvard Man in 2001.
The cover girl was wed to Eric Dane of Grey’s Anatomy fame from 2004 until 2018, though it seems they may have gotten back together as they have been looking rather cozy while on vacation.
Together they have daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane.
There she is! The mystery woman is Rebecca Gayheart. She is a 52-year-old actress from Kentucky who has lived in Los Angeles of the past 35 years. Seen in 2022
She is seen here in her blockbuster movie Urban Legend in 1998
With a cast mate: Seen with Alicia Witt in Urban Legend
Rebeca got her start on TV with the series Earth 2 (1994 to 1995).
They she had a recurring guest star on Beverly Hills, 90210 (1995).
She made her feature film debut in the comedy Nothing to Lose (1997) and then had a lead role in the slasher film Urban Legend (1998).
She subsequently starred in the black comedy film Jawbreaker (1999), followed by supporting roles in the thriller Shadow Hours (2000) and the independent comedy Harvard Man (2001).
Tragedy struck in June 2001.
She fatally hit a boy, age nine, with her vehicle in Los Angeles.
She was sentenced to probation and community service.
The star went out of her way to connect with the family and paid for his funeral.
In 2019, she said she did not want to live after the accident and went on a destructive path.
Seen with Lake Bell, and Angela Sarafyan pose as Laura Brown and Sezane at the opening of their Brentwood Country Mart store on May 2023 in Los Angeles
But in 2003 she got back to acting and made a big comeback with Dead Like Me (2003).
That was followed by roles in Nip/Tuck (2004–2006), and Vanished (2006).
In 2005, Gayheart made her Broadway debut in a production of Steel Magnolias.
She returned to Broadway again in a 2008 production of Boeing-Boeing, opposite Mark Rylance and Christine Baranski.
In 2019, Gayheart appeared in a supporting role as Brad Pitt’s angry wife in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Early years: She got her start as the face of the skincare brand Noxema
90210 fame: Here she is seen on the TV show Beverly Hills, 90210 with Jennie Garth, right
A part of the massive Scream franchise: And Rebecca is center with Sarah Michelle Gellar, far right, in Scream 2
They worked together again: Gayheart is seen on the left in red jeans as she pushed down Gellar in Harvard Man
Gayheart gushed about her ‘sexy’ co-star Pitt.
Speaking to PEOPLE, she said: ‘He’s such a professional. He’s such a great actor, super smart guy. But it was a little unfortunate because our scenes are quite volatile. So we stayed in character a lot to get through those scenes. But when I was done tossing a Bloody Mary in his face, he was lovely, and I think he’s like the perfect guy next door, but way sexier.
‘Him and Quentin together are magic. I think people are going to be very surprised at the magic that Brad and Quentin created in this movie.
Rebecca was thrilled to land a Tarantino movie after she took time off for her kids.
She explained: ‘Literally, I called my manager and I said, “I think I’m ready to go back to work. My daughters need to see me work. I’m missing it.” She goes, “Perfect. We have an audition for you.” So I went in and I read for it and next thing I know I’m shooting. It’s a small part, but it was amazing to shoot.’
This comes after she said it was hard parenting ‘pretty much solo’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The actress has said the global health crisis made it ‘difficult’ for them to co-parent, leaving Rebecca to do most of the work herself.
She said: ‘[I’ve been parenting] pretty much solo. With the pandemic and the social distancing, [it] has been difficult. But they’ve been here with me so that’s been good. [It’s] very consistent that they’ve been in one place.’
The star says things haven’t been easy, as she’s also been trying to keep track of her mental health whilst staying at home amid the pandemic.
She added: ‘My kids and I were [recently] bickering and I was screaming at them. I was like, ‘Why am I doing this? This is ridiculous.’ ‘
During her time at home with her daughters, Rebecca educated them on important topics.
And she discussed homelessness with them.
Rebecca – who also takes her children to donate their leftover food to food banks – told Us Weekly magazine: ‘They’re like, “Why wouldn’t someone help them? You’re supposed to help people in need.” It’s complicated. It’s very hard to get children to understand because it is a very complicated issue.
‘No one has a perfect solution, but I always say it starts at home.’
Meanwhile, Rebecca split from Eric in 2018 after 14 years together.
In 2019, Gayheart appeared in a supporting role as Brad Pitt’s angry wife in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Her ex: Rebecca split from Eric in 2018 after 14 years together. Seen in 2017
The kids: Together they have daughters Billie Beatrice Dane and Georgia Dane
Hanging in there: She appears to be a single mom these days, but her relationship status with Dane is not known
They said in a joint statement: ‘After 14 years together we have decided that ending our marriage is the best decision for our family.
‘We will continue our friendship and work as a team to co-parent our two beautiful girls as they are the most important thing in the world to us.’
She told People last year: ‘Well, here’s the thing. There’s a new normal for me and my family, as you know. And it’s taken us a little bit to get that down. Not going to lie, it hasn’t been easy. But I think what’s exciting is what’s ahead because there are so many different things that could happen now. I mean, we have so many options, and the good news is my kids are happy and healthy.
‘My ex Eric and I, we are friends and we are doing our best to co-parent and maintain a family, even though we’re not married. Legally we’re still married, but separated. And I think we’re doing a pretty good job of it. Life is just good. There are so many exciting things happening.’
