A couple of months after Kate's birth, Bill and Goldie divorced, and the estranged father has been out of his two children's (Kate and older brother Oliver) lives ever since. In 1983, Goldie met actor Kurt Russell, who has lived with the family for the past 18 years, and is considered by Kate to be her "Pa".

Taking after her mother's passion, Kate wanted to act since she was a young girl. But despite her strong desire for drama, her parents originally wanted her to take another career path. The progeny finally got her first taste in front of the camera as a stand-in for the 7-year-old actress playing Goldie's daughter in the 1986 film, Wildcats.

After her graduation from Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, Kate was accepted to NYU's Tisch School of Drama. But rather than taking her skills to the classes and student theater productions, she went straight for the real deal: Hollywood.

Proving that her family was not going to serve as her means to fame, Kate got herself an agent, and began going through the requisite auditions. She actually didn't get a part in Escape From L.A., the Kurt Russell film she auditioned for, but did land a role in the Fox hit series, Party of Five. Unfortunately, after one episode, her character was not rewritten into the script.

After another television gig in EZ Streets in 1997, Kate moved up to the silver screen. The determined actress landed a part in 1998's Desert Blue, and finally made people take notice in the small film, 200 Cigarettes, as Cindy the virgin, among actors Courtney Love, Ben Affleck and Janeane Garofalo.

Kate's repertoire included more independent, small films such as Ricochet River and About Adam, but things began to really take off for the young actress in 2000, whose face seemed to be plastered everywhere.

Kate starred as chaste rich girl Naomi in the teen thriller Gossip, and joined the ensemble cast of 2000's Dr. T and the Women, along with fellow babes Liv Tyler, Tara Reid and Helen Hunt.

But it was her role as Band-Aid Penny Lane, with which Kate captured the hearts and attention of both critics and audiences alike. Kate was determined to work with Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe ever since she heard about his upcoming film. Ready to work as an extra just for the chance to be in his film (which was finally titled Almost Famous), she fell in love with the script and especially the role of Penny Lane.

Penny Lane was originally offered to actress Sarah Polley, therefore Kate was cast in the minor role of the lead actor's stewardess sister. As fate would have it, Crowe awarded Kate the role of the innocently sexy groupie, thanks to her determination and loyalty.

Penny Lane was indeed the role that made Kate Very Famous, and the critical praise she earned include the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Breakthrough Performance, the Golden Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.