Remember Jackie Burkhart from ‘That ’70s Show’? Here’s What Mila Kunis (42) Looks Like Now
Mila Kunis is best known for playing Jackie Burkhart on That ’70s Show, but her career started long before she became a household name. Born in 1983 in Ukraine, Kunis moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was seven.
Her father enrolled her in acting classes at Beverly Hills Studios when she was nine, where she met her future manager, Susan Curtis, according to several interviews and biographies. Her first audition landed her a Barbie commercial, followed by another for Lisa Frank products.
Soon, she began appearing on television, including small roles on Days of Our Lives, Baywatch, 7th Heaven, and Walker, Texas Ranger. She also appeared in supporting roles in films like Santa with Muscles, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, and Gia, playing a young Angelina Jolie.
In 1998, Kunis landed the role that would change her life. She was cast as Jackie Burkhart on the Fox sitcom That ’70s Show. Although she was only 14 at the time, the casting directors were impressed with her audition and thought she was the best fit, even though all actors had to be at least 18.
The show ran for eight seasons and became a launching pad for Kunis’s career. She won two Young Star Awards for her work on the series in 1999 and 2000. Looking back, Kunis has said that That ’70s Show gave her confidence and opened doors for both acting and voice work.
Around the same time, Kunis began her voice acting career. In 1999, she replaced Lacey Chabert as Meg Griffin on Family Guy, the animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane. Kunis was just 15 when she started voicing Meg, bringing a natural and authentic teen voice that MacFarlane loved.
He explained, “She had a very natural quality to Meg that really made what we did with that character kind of really work” . Her work on Family Guy has continued for more than two decades, earning her nominations such as an Annie Award in 2007.
After That ’70s Show, Kunis focused on film. She appeared in comedies and thrillers, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Max Payne (2008), and Extract (2009). While some early films received mixed reviews, Kunis was praised for her performances, and her work in comedies helped her break out of the teen TV mold. Critics noted her timing and natural energy, which she credited in part to her experience on That ’70s Show.
Kunis’s major breakthrough came with Black Swan (2010), where she played a rival ballet dancer to Natalie Portman. The role required intense training, including four-hour ballet sessions, a strict diet, and physical challenges that led to injuries. Her performance received critical acclaim, earning her nominations for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and she won the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the Venice International Film Festival.
Following Black Swan, Kunis appeared in hit comedies like Friends with Benefits (2011) and Ted (2012), as well as family-friendly films like Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). She launched her production company, Orchard Farm Productions, in 2014, and continued to star in both comedies and dramas, including Bad Moms (2016), A Bad Moms Christmas (2017), and Luckiest Girl Alive (2022), earning praise for her performances.
Outside acting, Kunis has been recognized for her style and influence. She was named on Forbes’ 100 most powerful celebrities in 2013, Time’s 100 most influential people in 2022, and has served as the face of major brands like Christian Dior and Gemfields.
Kunis’s personal life has also drawn attention. She married her That ’70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher in 2015, and they have two children. She has spoken openly about her health struggles, including chronic iritis and heterochromia iridum, and has supported various charitable causes.
Looking back, That ’70s Show played a huge role in Mila Kunis’s career. It introduced her to Hollywood, gave her a fan base, and helped her develop the comedic timing and confidence that carried into film and voice acting. Without that early start, it’s unlikely she would have become one of the most recognizable actresses of her generation.
I think it’s fascinating how one role can shape an entire career. What do you think about Kunis’s journey from teen sitcom star to acclaimed actress? Share your thoughts in the comments.
