Brittany Murphy (1977-2009) was an American film, television, and stage actress, singer, voice artist, and film producer. Beginning her career, 1995's Clueless proved to be her breakthrough film; notable roles followed in Girl, Interrupted (1999), Don't Say a Word (2001), 8 Mile (2002), and Just Married (2003). Despite the lead in Uptown Girls (2003), the production of The Ramen Girl (2008), and a long-running voice role on the animated television series King of the Hill (1997-2010), subsequent leading roles were less successful. Her later acting years were plagued by scandal and bad press, and the once critically acclaimed actress died of pneumonia at the young age of 32, shrouded by mystery. The first to span her life and career, this biography surveys Murphy's films, television appearances, stage shows, music videos, and public appearances in the order in which they were made. Critical reactions to and awards earned for her works are featured as is a selection of portraits, film stills and posters. Although I had a passing awareness of Brittany Murphy as a screen actress she had never made a great impression on me until after her death. It was the 2014 episode of the biographical documentary television series Autopsy on her that really began my fascination with the star who died on December 20, 2009. I loved that series for its sometimes macabre investigations into the deaths of celebrities and Murphy's tale had its own tragedy, particularly since she had died at the age of 32. And her death was among the most bizarre with conspiracy theories that the actress had been murdered with rat poison by either her mother or her husband, taken out by the government because of her association with a whistleblower, or was the victim of toxic mold that reportedly was in her house. All this is what led me to want to look into her career since it seemed to me that she was like Frances Farmer.Farmer was another doomed actress whose work had been totally overwhelmed by the facts of her private life. Neither's legacy was their acting skills or star power and Murphy was perhaps an even more extreme case because of an untimely and somewhat puzzling death. I had written a book about Farmer and now I would write one about Murphy. --From the Author Although I had a passing awareness of Brittany Murphy as a screen actress she had never made a great impression on me until after her death. It was the 2014 episode of the biographical documentary television series Autopsy on her that really began my fascination with the star who died on December 20, 2009. I loved that series for its sometimes macabre investigations into the deaths of celebrities and Murphy's tale had its own tragedy, particularly since she had died at the age of 32. And her death was among the most bizarre with conspiracy theories that the actress had been murdered with rat poison by either her mother or her husband, taken out by the government because of her association with a whistleblower, or was the victim of toxic mold that reportedly was in her house. All this is what led me to want to look into her career since it seemed to me that she was like Frances Farmer.Farmer was another doomed actress whose work had been totally overwhelmed by the facts of her private life. Neither's legacy was their acting skills or star power and Murphy was perhaps an even more extreme case because of an untimely and somewhat puzzling death. I had written a book about Farmer and now I would write one about Murphy. --From the Author Although I had a passing awareness of Brittany Murphy as a screen actress she had never made a great impression on me until after her death. It was the 2014 episode of the biographical documentary television series Autopsy on her that really began my fascination with the star who died on December 20, 2009. I loved that series for its sometimes macabre investigations into the deaths of celebrities and Murphy's tale had its own tragedy, particularly since she had died at the age of 32. And her death was among the most bizarre with conspiracy theories that the actress had been murdered with rat poison by either her mother or her husband, taken out by the government because of her association with a whistleblower, or was the victim of toxic mold that reportedly was in her house. All this is what led me to want to look into her career since it seemed to me that she was like Frances Farmer.Farmer was another doomed actress whose work had been totally overwhelmed by the facts of her private life. Neither's legacy was their acting skills or star power and Murphy was perhaps an even more extreme case because of an untimely and somewhat puzzling death. I had written a book about Farmer and now I would write one about Murphy.  Peter Shelley is a playwright, screenwriter and author of several film books. He lives in Gosford, Australia.