Selma Blair (born Selma Blair Beitner on June 23, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in
Cruel Intentions,
Legally Blonde,
The Sweetest Thing, and the
Hellboy franchise. Blair, born in Southfield, Michigan, emerged from a background in legal and political involvement: both her parents were lawyers and her father active in the U.S. Democratic Party. Blair's upbringing was predominantly Jewish. She initially pursued photography at Kalamazoo College before moving to New York to become involved in the arts, graduating from the University of Michigan. Blair's early career was marked by numerous auditions to land her first roles in television and film, with her breakthrough in
Cruel Intentions and subsequent mainstream success in projects like
Legally Blonde and
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