Helen Hunt was born on 15, 1963 in Culver City, California to a theater director father, and photographer mother.

At age ten, she had an agent, and landed a role in the 1973 television movie "Pioneer Woman". After appearing as an adolescent in such TV series as Amy Prentiss, Swiss Family Robinson, The Fitzpatricks, and It Takes Two, Helen found a recurring role on the medical melodrama St. Elsewhere.

After completing the feature film "Project X," Hunt moved to New York to gain more stage experience. In 1989, she achieved her dream of performing on Broadway when she was cast in "Our Town." Her other stage work includes Bianca in the 1990 'Shakespeare in the Park' production of "The Taming of the Shrew," with Tracey Ullman and Morgan Freeman.

The show first aired in 1992, and the following year Hunt received her first Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Series. She won two more Golden Globes and an Emmy for the role before the show went off the air in 1999. Hunt continued to work in film during her seven year stint on MAD ABOUT YOU.

Hunt's starring role in "As Good As It Gets", with Jack Nicholson and Cuba Gooding Jr. received much praise, and earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

In 2000, Helen Hunt returned to the big screen with several long awaited efforts, including "Pay It Forward", co-starring Kevin Spacey, "What Women Want", costarring Mel Gibson, "Dr. T and the Women", starring Richard Gere, and "Cast Away", costarring Tom Hanks.

She is currently working on several film projects for her production company, Hunt/Tavel, which she formed with business partner, Connie Tavel. She lives in southern California with her husband, Hank Azaria.