Born in Houston, Texas, on September 28, 1987, Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer, writer, and businesswoman who has transformed from a popular teen idol into a strong, versatile performer. Duff, who is 38 years old, continues to be a cultural icon for millennials by fusing bold reinvention with nostalgia in her professional life.
Early Years and Innovation
Hilary was raised in a loving home with her older sister, actress Haylie Duff. As a young child, she started taking acting and ballet classes. In order to take advantage of entertainment opportunities, the family moved to California in the middle of the 1990s. With her lead role as Lizzie McGuire in the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire, which ran until 2004 and inspired the popular film The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), Duff got her big break in 2001. She won numerous Kids’ Choice Awards and Teen Choice Awards for this role, which elevated her to the status of a global teen icon.
With hits like Agent Cody Banks (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and its sequel (2005), A Cinderella Story (2004), Raise Your Voice (2004), and The Perfect Man (2005), her film career took off in the early 2000s. Afterwards, she played Kelsey Peters in Younger (2015–2021) and Sophie in How I Met Your Father (2022–2023). She was revealed in 2025 to be the lead and executive producer of the drama series Pretty Ugly on Hulu, which is based on the book by Kirker Butler.
Career in Music and Comeback
With her debut album Metamorphosis (2003), which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and went four times platinum, Duff made a musical transition. Her pop-rock sound was cemented by sequels such as Hilary Duff (2004), Dignity (2007), and Breathe In. Breathe Out (2015), which sold millions of copies worldwide. Duff signed with Atlantic Records in September 2025 after a ten-year break from full albums, and her lead single “Mature” was released in November. Luck… or Something, her sixth studio album, will be released on February 20, 2026. In January 2026, she will embark on a four-show tour called “Small Rooms, Big Nerves,” which will take place in London, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Los Angeles. A documentary series about her return is being produced.
Individual and Commercial Activities
Before divorcing in 2016, Duff wed NHL player Mike Comrie in 2010. The couple had a son, Luca Cruz Comrie, born in 2012. She married musician Matthew Koma in 2019, and the two of them have three daughters: Townes Meadow (born 2024), Mae James (born 2021), and Banks Violet (born 2018). Duff, a mother of four, places a high value on family and uses her music to address personal issues like family dynamics.
Duff has amassed a business empire outside of entertainment. She started fashion lines such as “Stuff by Hilary Duff” and “Muse x Hilary Duff” with GlassesUSA. In 2022, she was Carter’s Chief Mom Officer. In 2023, she was appointed Chief Brand Director for Below 60° home fragrances. Due to her astute real estate and endorsement investments, her estimated net worth is $25 million.
Momentum of the Present and Legacy
From Disney’s innocent star to a mature artist embracing growth and nostalgia, Hilary Duff’s journey demonstrates incredible adaptability. She came in at number 73 on Billboard’s 2025 list of the “Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century.” Duff continues to inspire fans with new music, TV shows, and family-oriented endeavors, demonstrating that reinvention is achievable at any stage.
