Five Famous People Born on March 5

Yes, that's a picture of a much younger and cuter me. It's amazing how much my 2-year-old looks now like I did then (I think I was maybe about a year old in this picture). In fact, she saw this picture the other day and said, "Amanda picture." And I had to tell her, "No, that's actually a picture of Mommy." I think she understood.

Anyway, since I began this "Five Famous People Born on ..." series for Valentine's Day, it seemed only natural to include a hub about five famous people who were born on the same day I was - March 5. Here goes ...

Niki Taylor is only 2 years older than I am. She was born on March 5, 1975. I first remember seeing her picture in the now non-existent YM (Young&Modern) Magazine when I was a pre-teen/young teenager. She, of course, was a young teenager herself, although those pictures of her always made her look so much older. Why is it that so many older women fight to look younger, but the beauty industry makes younger women look so much older?

Still, Niki Taylor was a beautiful girl, and she's a beautiful young woman. And I've always been at least slightly jealous of her ever since I first saw her. But I suppose that's what happens when non-supermodels see supermodels - especially when they are teenagers and struggling with identity and body image issues (I was/am NOT supermodel-thin by any means). So, happy birthday, Niki, even if you do still look better than I do. That probably does explain, though, why you're famous and I'm not!

Another really beautiful woman, Eva Mendes, is one year older than Niki and three years older than me. She was in one of my favorite movies of all-time, Hitch , with Will Smith. Before I saw her in that, I never really knew who she was. Although, apparently she was in some other hit movies before that (that I never saw): Training Day and 2 Fast 2 Furious .

And it looks like Eva had a role in the TV series ER in the late 90s, although I don't remember ever seeing her in that, either. So, even though she may not be as famous as some, I'll still always remember her as Sara Melas, the girl Will Smith (Hitch) fell in love with. That's why I'm proud to share my birthday with her.

Singer Andy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958. He was the younger brother of the three Gibbs (Barry, Robin, and Maurice) who made up the Bee Gees, whose hit song "Stayin' Alive" came out the year I was born (although not on my birthday) and established them as permanent cultural icons.

Andy was never a part of the Bee Gees, but he did have a very successful solo music career, especially in the U.S. One of his hit songs, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything," was released a few months after I was born and a few months before his brothers had a hit with "Stayin' Alive."

He died a few days after his 30th birthday from an inflammation of the heart caused by a virus. So here's a birthday tribute to the youngest Gibb.

Who would have thought that the father of one of the most famous/infamous golfers in the U.S. would share my birthday? Not me, but he did.

Earl Woods, father of Eldrick (Tiger) Woods, was born on March 5, 1932. He was more than just the father of Tiger Woods, though. Earl was a very accomplished person, in his own right. He was a college baseball player, an army officer, and a writer. And he devoted quite a bit of his life to seeing his son succeed in golf. He died on May 3, 2006, at the age of 74. R.I.P., Earl. At least you didn't have to see your son possibly jeopardize his career with his infidelity. 

The incomparable British actor Rex Harrison was born on March 5, 1908. He starred in so many movies during his 50-year career, it's impossible to name them all, so I'll just touch on a few. 

Probably my all-time favorite Rex Harrison movie is The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947). Rex plays the ghost of a sea captain who inhabits a house the widow Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) buys after her husband's death. Lucy Muir falls in love with the spirit of Captain Daniel Gregg. And I must say I think I fell a little in love with him myself, or maybe I fell in love with Rex Harrison. Who knows?

I also loved another ghost movie that Rex starred in, Blithe Spirit (1945), although he did not play the ghost in this one. He played the hassled haunted husband of Elvira Condomine (Kay Hammond)'s ghost. It's really a very funny movie and one that's great to watch over and over again. The very remarkable Margaret Rutherford also appears in this film as a scatter-brained medium. Great stuff!

And, of course, we can't forget Rex as the surly Professor Henry Higgins who loses his heart to the poor street urchin Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) when he tries to turn her into a lady. I always thought it was odd how his singing parts were spoken, not really sung. But his performance has always stayed with me, this many years after the first time I saw that movie. 

Rex died in 1990, but his Hollywood legend lives on. 

Ok, so I'm really not famous at all, but I was born on March 5, so I do share something in common with all these successful individuals. 

In closing, I'd just like to say Happy Birthday to you, if your birthday is also today, since I've kind of already said Happy Birthday to me by writing this hub. Thanks for reading, and have a great day!