Born in the Ukraine on Nov. 14, 1979, Olga Kurylenko survived a hardscrabble childhood marked by bouts of extreme poverty and her single mother's self-sacrificing efforts to keep her clothed, fed and well-educated. But the young Kurylenko's life changed for the better when she was discovered by a Moscow modeling scout at age 13.

Exquisite bone structure and an enviable body helped secure Kurylenko's future in the fashion industry, eventually landing her a high-profile gig as the face of the Bebe clothing company. But the Slavic beauty's talents were equally appropriate for Hollywood fare -- and it didn't hurt that she bore a striking resemblance to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Despite a handful of previous credits, Kurylenko made her first big splash as a gun-toting Bond girl in Quantum of Solace (2008). The role required her to do many of her own stunts, including a 12-foot drop from a rooftop.