Staring In: Wild Wild West(July 2). Plays Rita Escobar, caught in alove triangle between goverment lawmen Will Smith and Kevin Kline, inthis movie version of the ’60s TV series directed by Barry(Get Shorty)Sonnenfeld

Born: Sept. 2, 1968, in Coatzacolacos, Mexico, daughter of a Labanesefather and a Spanish mother. Deciding acting was her destiny, she becamea superstar in Mexico, playing the title role in the soap Teresa, thecountry’s highest rated TV show.

Next Up: Appears as Serendipity in Dogma, a satiric look atCatholicism, with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck; will play painter FridaKahlo in biopic Frida.

Little-Known Fact: Thwew formerly snake-phobic actress danced with awhite python as vampire Satanico Phandemonium in Robert Rodriguez’s FromDusk Till Dawn.

On What Kills Creativity: “Comfort, Censorship, fear, formulas, andapathy for life.”

Staring In: Big Daddy(June 25). Plays the girlfriend Adam Sandler triesto impress with his maturity by adopting a little boy; directed dyDennis Durgan (Beverly Hills Ninja)

Born: Jan.6, 1971, in Little Rock Arkansas. Came to L.A. at age 19 withonly a high school part in Annie and singing in her Baptist church choirunder her belt. Started out on TV as the Mona Mullins in the sitcoms Topof the Heap and its sequel, Vinne Bobby( staring Friends’ Matt LeBanc);Featured in 1993’s ’70s stoner flick Dazed and Confused; had a recurringrole on the short-lived sitcom The Second Noah.

Signature Role: Alyssa, the lesbain comic-strip artist who falls forBen Affleck in Chasing Amy(Golden Globe nomination).

On the Pros and Cons of Her Unique Little-Girl Voice:”When I get calls from sales people at home, I tell them that my mom’snot home, and they believe me. I could learn to lower it, but it’s myvoice.”