Born in 1970, Uma's passion for acting emerged while in the 8th grade, and she was later talent-spotted while performing in a school production of The Crucible. Although she was often teased for her height and angular look while growing up, Uma's beautiful bone structure helped score her a modelling contract at the age of 15 and numerous high-profile magazine covers followed.

One of Uma's first film roles was in the high school comedy Johnny Be Good, starring alongside Robert Downey Jnr and The Breakfast Club's Anthony Michael Hall. Loving those stonewash jeans Uma.

Uma's breakthrough role came at the age of 18, when she starred as naive young French gentlewoman Cécile de Volanges in the period romp Dangerous Liaisons. She was praised by co-star John Malkovich who said: "There's nothing twitchy teenager-ish about her, I haven't met anyone like her at that age. Her intelligence and poise stand out."

By 1991, Uma was well into her acting stride and took the role of Maid Marian in the TV adaptation of Robin Hood.

Quentin Tarantino's iconic film Pulp Fiction made Uma a household name, starring as gangsters moll Mia Wallace opposite Bruce Willis, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.

Her vampy look - complete with black wig, deep cherry lipstick and nails - became a true fashion moment in the mid-90s.

Uma ditched vampy Pulp Fiction styling for a light and elegant Oscars look. Note: Uma's pastels have come full circle to be this season's hottest colour trend.

In a case of art imitated life, Uma starred as a beautiful model in the rom-com The Truth About Cats and Dogs.

Uma famously lopped off her trademark blonde locks and went brunette ahead of the Gattaca film premiere. She explained her dramatic makeover as a spontaneous decision - she just wanted something new and fun.

Speaking of dramatic makeovers... Uma starred as the devilish Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin, the fourth in the Batman film series.

Uma met her second husband, (she was previously married to Gary Oldman), Ethan Hawke on the set of their film Gattaca. The pair were married in 1998 when Uma was seven months pregnant with their first child Maya. Son Levon followed in 2002, but unfortunately the marriage broke down a year later.

Looking smokin' hot in a sexy black catsuit, Uma played secret agent Emma Peel in The Avengers.

Uma donned period costume once again for her role as Charlotte in the adaptation of Henry James' novel The Golden Bowl.

After taking a few years out to focus on being a mother, Uma exploded back onto our screens in Quentin Tarantino's bloody revenge thriller Kill Bill Vol. 1.

Uma pictured enjoying just a bit of the adoration brought to her by Kill Bill. The film became an instant cult classic and a massive hit with critics, earning her a Golden Globe nomination.

Citing Uma as his muse for the film, Tarantino wrote the part of The Bride or Beatrix Kiddo especially for her - even delaying shooting when Uma found out she was pregnant with her son Levon.

Uma showing off her killer Kill Bill-toned body on the red carpet; she undertook three months intense training for the film role including learning martial arts, swordsmanship and Japanese.

Uma chose a bold floral two-piece to show off her toned midriff for the 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Thurman and Tarantino teamed up once again for the second instalment of Kill Bill, released in 2004. She's also due to star in Kill Bill Vol. 3, yet to go into production.

Uma rocked a casual-cool outfit for the opening of the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009.

After scoring modelling contracts with Lancôme and Louis Vuitton, Uma became the darling of the fashion world once again - even the famously stand-offish Karl Lagerfeld seems to have fallen under her spell.

Uma began dating businessman Arpad Busson back in 2007; the couple eventually became engaged but broke up in 2009. However, like a twist in a classic rom-com, Uma and Arpad got back together in 2011 and have announced that they are expecting their first child, due in late 2012.

She may have been a judge at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2011, but that didn't stop Uma from paying a very public homage to the festival president Gilles Jacob.

Uma sat alongside fellow actresses Naomi Watts and Chloe Moretz (who is rumoured to play Uma's daughter B.B. in Kill Bill Vol. 3) on the front row of Calvin Klein's catwalk show.

Glossy hair and shiny skin, Uma and Liv Tyler show off their star quality at a fundraising event in New York. Jealous!