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9 Hilary Duff Films and TV Series From Her Disney Era and Later

Festival juror Hillary Duff at the Lucky Brand Modern Master award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, Feb 6, 2010 in Santa Barbara, CA.

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It's hard to believe it has been over 20 years since we were first introduced to one of the Disney Channel's hottest shows, Lizzie McGuire. The children's program stars Hilary Duff in a breakout role that paved the way for the actress' flourishing career and, what we later realized, started the Bitmoji trend with McGuire's cartoon avatar frequently appearing on-screen. 

Duff was one of the leaders of Disney in the early 2000s, alongside stars like Christy Carlson Romano (Even Stevens) and Danielle Fishel (Boy Meets World), which also aired on the network during that time. Despite Lizzie McGuire only lasting a couple of seasons, it propelled Duff to global fame and gave her opportunities for many more projects thereafter. Hello, Younger, How I Met Your Father, and a slew of movie roles that made us adore Duff even more.

Not to mention, it had an impact on pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter, who channeled the blonde beauty with her Halloween costume in 2024. (McGuire did teach us what dreams are made of.) And we can't blow past Duff's exuberant singing career. Her track “Come Clean” was the theme song for one of the first reality TV shows, Laguna Beach, that will forever be ingrained in our minds.  

In addition to her musical career, let's take a closer look at some of Duff's films and television series from her time at Disney and afterward, including a few that may have slipped your mind (they certainly slipped ours during our research). 

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) is a family comedy film that revolves around the chaotic life of the Baker family, who are parents to twelve children. The story follows Tom and Kate Baker as they navigate the challenges of raising such a large family while managing their careers and personal lives. As they face the ups and downs of family dynamics, the film showcases the importance of love, teamwork, and the humorous side of parenting in a bustling household. 

Steve Martin and Hilary Duff in Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) is a family comedy film that revolves around the chaotic life of the Baker family, who are parents to twelve children. The story follows Tom and Kate Baker as they navigate the challenges of raising such a large family while managing their careers and personal lives. As they face the ups and downs of family dynamics, the film showcases the importance of love, teamwork, and the humorous side of parenting in a bustling household.

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Photo Courtesy: Twentieth Century Fox.

Duff put herself in the shoes of a teenager living in a hectic, disorganized home with 11 siblings (yes, double digits!) in the 2003 blockbuster Cheaper by the Dozen. The Texas native portrays one of the older kids of Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt's characters, who continuously argues that too many people reside under one roof in their large family, giving her not enough time in front of the bathroom mirror. 

Absolutely, Lorraine, portrayed by Duff, places a strong emphasis on her appearance, and it's hard to fault her for her stunning, flowing platinum hair and trendy fashion sense. In 2005, the full cast reunited for a sequel that once again showcased the Baker family's hectic everyday life, even as they tried to enjoy a peaceful vacation at the lake. The film's second chapter also features Eugene Levy and Carmen Electra, with returning favorites like Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, and Alyson Stoner.

In May 2020, much of the original cast reunited on TikTok, posing as their characters all grown up, and it gave fans some serious nostalgia. Duff even slathered on a green mud mask to mimic a funny scene from the movie with the film's soundtrack, “I'm Just A Kid” by Simply Plan, playing in the background. It's no wonder the TikTok went viral, and we're here for it. 

Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004)是一部受欢迎的青少年情景喜剧,讲述了一个普通女孩在成长过程中面临的各种挑战和冒险。 

Robert Carradine, Hilary Duff, Hallie Todd, and Jake Thomas in Lizzie McGuire (2001)

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Photo Courtesy: Stan Rogow Productions.

Jumping right into Duff's first TV series and what attracted many of her fans to her work: Lizzie McGuire. The comedy premiered on the Disney Channel in 2001 and lasted two seasons before its cancelation in 2004. Duff's character is all too relatable for teen girls trying to find their place in school and often yearning to be a part of the popular crowd (cough, cough, Kate Sanders and Ethan Craft). 

Thankfully, McGuire had her BFFs Miranda and Gordo to lean on for support, something every middle schooler needs in their corner. The show led to the Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), which was also a big hit with fans and showed off Duff's amazing vocals as she impersonated her popstar lookalike Isabella. Only McGuire could live out every 14-year-old's fantasy and perform to a sold-out crowd at a massive concert venue in Rome and have a dreamy romance with an Italian singer. 

Duff and her co-stars attempted a revival of the beloved series, showing what their characters are up to now as adults. However, the reboot was canceled in 2020 due to creative differences between Duff and Disney executives. We guess we'll just have to watch reruns of Lizzie McGuire on Disney+ to get our fix; at least, there's that. 

How I Met Your Father (2022-2023) is a television series that serves as a sequel to the beloved sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The show follows a new group of friends navigating love and life in New York City, as the main character, Sophie, recounts to her son the story of how she met his father. This modern take on relationships and friendship explores themes of romance, personal growth, and the challenges of dating in today's world.

Hilary Duff and Francia Raisa in How I Met Your Father (2022)

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Photo Courtesy: Patrick Wymore/Hulu.

Duff plays the lead character in the How I Met Your Mother sequel series, How I Met Your Father, which aired on Hulu from 2022-2023. Even with guest appearances from the original show's stars, Neil Patrick Harris and Colbie Smulders, the sitcom sadly couldn't be saved and ended after two seasons.

The new series shares a comparable concept with the original series, featuring Jason Segel, Josh Radnor, and Alyson Hannigan as well. It explores the journey of how Duff's character encountered the father of her children, with Kim Cattrall portraying her character's older version. The ensemble cast includes Francia Raisa, Chris Lowell, Tom Ainsley, Suraj Sharma, Tien Tran, and Josh Peck. 

We never did learn who Sophia (Duff) ended up with, which is the entire point of the show, and disappointed fans who were loyal watchers. Their dreams of a revival were then crushed when Disney Television executive Craig Erwich told Deadline in May 2024 that he didn't have anything to share about a possible third season. It sounds like fans will have to make their own predictions as to the conclusion of Sophia's love story. 

A Cinderella Story (2004) is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, featuring a young woman who, despite facing numerous challenges and a difficult home life, finds love and self-discovery through an unexpected romance. The film combines elements of comedy and drama, showcasing themes of resilience, identity, and the importance of staying true to oneself. 

Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray in A Cinderella Story (2004) is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, featuring a young woman who, despite facing numerous challenges and a difficult home life, finds love and self-discovery through an unexpected romance. The film combines elements of comedy and drama, showcasing themes of resilience, identity, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

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Image Source: Warner Bros.

We mentioned the 2004 film A Cinderella Story when recalling Chad Michael Murray‘s most memorable roles, and the same thing could be said about Duff's part in the movie. The production is a reimagined take on Cinderella, with Duff portraying a “Diner Girl” who is forced to dote on her cruel stepmother and stepsisters after her father's tragic death. 

Sam's (Duff) life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters her secret pen pal at a Halloween dance, only to find out that he is none other than Austin Ames, the charming football star of her school. This revelation sends her retreating back into her shell. The film illustrates that a simple white ball gown and a delicate eye mask can completely disguise one's identity, and it offers a glimmer of hope for those aspiring to win the heart of someone who seems unattainable. 

In a November 2024 interview with Elle, Murray revealed he's interested in reprising his role for an A Cinderella Story sequel. Now, to just get Duff on board. The cast also includes Jennifer Coolidge, Regina King, Julie Gonzalo, and Dan Bryd. 

Younger (2015-2021) is a television series that explores the life of a 40-year-old woman who pretends to be in her 20s to land a job in the competitive publishing industry.

Hilary Duff and Charles Michael Davis in Younger (2015)

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Photo Courtesy: Darren Star Productions.

Although we've loved watching Duff appear in more kid-centered films, we've also loved seeing her in mature roles as her career grows. She did just that for seven seasons from 2015 to 2021 when she starred as big-time book editor Kelsey Peters in the Lifetime series Younger. The show follows single mom Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), who lies about her age to land a gig at a publishing company after realizing she had seemingly aged out of the business at 40. 

Duff portrays Miller's BFF and colleague at the company, who, like her boss and co-workers, is also in the dark about Miller's actual age. Among the cast are also Nico Tortorella, Peter Hermann, Debi Mazer, and Miriam Shor. After the show got the axe, a possible spin-off series was discussed to continue Duff's character's storyline as she started her own publishing company, but unfortunately, it never made it to production. Whomp, whomp. 

Raise Your Voice (2004) 

Raise Your Voice (2004)

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Photo Courtesy: Zade Rosenthal – New Line Cinema.

Duff appeared to be pumping out projects left and right on the heels of her Lizzie McGuire success. One film that combined her acting and singing talents (and we couldn't help but sing along to) was the 2004 family movie Raise Your Voice. In it, Duff portrays a small-town teen, Terri, who dreams of attending a performing arts school in California despite her overprotective father's (David Keith) refusal to let her go. However, after her brother's (Jason Ritter) shocking death, she secretly enrolls in the program and has to prepare for the school's talent competition while harboring her secret from her dad.

The cast is also comprised of John Corbett, Kat Dennings, Oliver James, Johnny Lewis, and Dana Davis. Corbett portrays Duff's character's music teacher in the film, and the pair later reunited as co-stars in How I Met Your Father, where they, funnily enough, play love interests. Duff spoke about adjusting to their significant character shifts during an interview with TV Insider in February 2023. 

"Duff expressed his enjoyment of collaborating with John once more, noting that the context was quite different this time, which required a moment for him to adjust his thinking." 

Gossip Girl (Season 3) 

Hilary Duff in Gossip Girl (2007)

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Image Source: Warner Bros. Television.

There were countless celebrity cameos in Gossip Girl during its six-season run on The CW in the late 2000s (Tyra Banks, Cyndi Lauper, and Ivanka Trump, to name a few). Duff is also a part of the revolving door of stars to appear on the show, as she plays Olivia Burke, a famous actress who falls for lonely boy Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) in season three. 

Viewers embraced Duff as a delightful new character in the series, joining the elite group of affluent teenagers from the Upper East Side that the show revolves around. Olivia is among the several romantic interests of Dan before he ultimately discovers his perfect match in (spoiler) Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively).

The Ideal Man (2005)

Heather Locklear, Hilary Duff, and Aria Wallace in The Ideal Man (2005)

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Image Source: Universal Pictures.

Have you ever wanted to be in charge of your mother's love life so much that you created a fake online secret admirer to woo her heart? No? Well, Duff's character Holly did in 2005's The Perfect Man, where she took matters into her own hands after her mom's (Heather Locklear) string of failed relationships continuously uprooted her and her younger sister Zoe (Aria Wallace). 

To keep her mother in New York City, Holly invents an ideal partner for her single mom. However, things take an unexpected turn when her mother starts to develop real feelings for the imaginary man. The film features a talented cast including Ben Feldman, Chris Noth, Caroline Rhea, Kym Whitley, and Vanessa Lengies. 

Cadet Kelly (2002)是一部关于年轻女孩在军事学校成长与挑战的电影。 

Christy Carlson Romano and Hilary Duff in Cadet Kelly (2002)是一部关于年轻女孩在军事学校成长与挑战的电影。

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Photo Courtesy: Disney Channel.

We're rounding out this list with a Disney classic that brought together Duff and fellow child star Christy Carlson Romano, and that is the 2002 film Cadet Kelly. Duff was still captivating pre-teens at the time with her wispy bangs and admirable wardrobe on Lizzie McGuire. But she traded in her flowy skirts for a military uniform in the movie, in which her character Kelly Collins is shipped off to George Washington Military School by her ex-military stepfather (Gary Cole) to reel in her wild child ways and learn discipline. 

Kelly must learn to navigate her new surroundings, endure the tough demeanor of her commanding officer, Jennifer Stone (Romano), and resist the distractions posed by her attractive classmate Brad (Shawn Ashmore). The cast also features Aimee Garcia, Andrea Lewis, and Sarah Gadon.