Hilary Duff - 1st role in a theatrical motion picture, Human Nature.

Hilary Duff's 1st role in a theatrical motion picture was in Human Nature (2002), an independent film shot around the time of the start of Lizzie McGuire.

Human Nature was 1st showcased at the Cannes and Sundance film festivals. Human Nature film, written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry, follows a female naturalist, played by Patricia Arquette. Hilary Duff played the younger version of Arquette's character.

Hilary Duff - Success with Lizzie McGuire.

Hilary Duff, with Lizzie McGuire 1st aired on the Disney Channel on January 12, 2001. Hilary Duff, with Lizzie McGuire was a ratings hit, drawing in 2.3 million viewers per episode.

Hilary Duff's participation in the show led to her becoming highly popular among children between the ages of 7 and 14, with critic Richard Huff of the New York Daily News calling her "a 2002 version of Annette Funicello".

After Hilary Duff fulfilled her 65 episode contract with Lizzie McGuire, Disney considered continuing the franchise further, through films and a prime-time television series to be broadcast on ABC.

However, the plans failed because Hilary Duff's representatives said she was not being paid enough for the proposed series. Hilary Duff also starred in the Disney Channel television film Cadet Kelly. Cadet Kelly became the network's most watched program in its 19-year history. In Cadet Kelly movie, Hilary Duff plays a free-spirited girl who enrolls in a military school and finds it hard to adjust to its strict and disciplined environment.

Hilary Duff - Rise to fame, when cast children in the pilot episode of the NBC sitcom Daddio.

Hilary Duff's 1st serious rise to fame came when Hilary Duff was cast as one of the children in the pilot episode of the NBC sitcom Daddio in 2000. Her co-star Michael Chiklis, stated, "After working with her the first day, I remember saying to my wife, 'this young girl is going to be a movie star'.

Hilary Duff was completely at ease with herself and comfortable in her own skin." Duff was dropped from the cast of Daddio before it was aired, which made her reluctant to pursue her acting career further.

However, Hilary Duff manager and mother urged her on, and a week later Hilary Duff successfully auditioned for the children's television series Lizzie McGuire, where Hilary Duff portrayed the title role of a clumsy but average middle school girl. The show focused on her growth into teenhood.

Hilary Duff - In The Soul Collector, won a Young Artist Award.

Hilary Duff, in 1999, she appeared in a supporting role in the television film The Soul Collector, which was based on a (Maureen Child) Kathleen Kane novel.

Hilary Duff won a Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot (Supporting Young Actress)" for Duff's role in the movie.