Kirsten Dunst is an American actress whose career has spanned more than four decades, from child star to Cannes Best Actress winner. Born on April 30, 1982, in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, the 44-year-old broke through as the child vampire Claudia in Interview with the Vampire, starred as Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man trilogy and won Best Actress at Cannes for Melancholia. She has been married to actor Jesse Plemons since 2022.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Kirsten Caroline Dunst |
| Born | April 30, 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old |
| Birthplace | Point Pleasant, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | American (also holds German citizenship) |
| Spouse | Jesse Plemons (m. 2022) |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years Active | 1985–present |
| Known For | Interview with the Vampire; Spider-Man; Melancholia; Fargo; The Power of the Dog |
Who Is Kirsten Dunst?
Kirsten Dunst is an American actress and singer who has worked steadily since childhood, moving from blockbusters to independent film and prestige television. She made her acting debut as a child in New York Stories (1989) and broke through at 12 as Claudia in Interview with the Vampire (1994), earning a Golden Globe nomination. She went on to play Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for Melancholia (2011) and earned an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog (2021).
Her honours include a Cannes Best Actress award, an Academy Award nomination, a Primetime Emmy nomination and four Golden Globe nominations. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.
Early Life & Background
Dunst was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, on April 30, 1982, to parents Inez and Klaus Dunst; her mother owned an art gallery. She began acting as a child, making her film debut with an uncredited role in Woody Allen’s New York Stories in 1989, followed by her first credited role in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990). She acquired German citizenship in 2011, and holds dual American and German citizenship.
Career
After her breakthrough in Interview with the Vampire (1994), Dunst appeared in Little Women (1994) and Jumanji (1995), which grossed $262 million worldwide, and had a recurring role on ER in 1996 and 1997. She voiced Young Anastasia in Anastasia (1997) and appeared in Wag the Dog (1997), Small Soldiers (1998) and All I Wanna Do (1998). She turned down the role of Angela Hayes in American Beauty in 1999, not wanting to appear in sexual scenes at 15, and instead starred in Drop Dead Gorgeous, Dick and Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, playing Lux Lisbon.
She became a household name as Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007), the last of which grossed $891 million worldwide and remains her highest-grossing film. Between the superhero films she appeared in Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Wimbledon (2004) and Marie Antoinette (2006), her second collaboration with Coppola.
In 2011 she won Best Actress at Cannes for Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, also winning Best Actress from the National Society of Film Critics. She followed it with Bachelorette (2012), On the Road (2012) and The Two Faces of January (2014), and in 2015 played Peggy Blumquist in the second season of Fargo, earning Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominations. She appeared in Hidden Figures (2016), which grossed $236 million and won the SAG Award for its cast, and in The Beguiled (2017), her third film with Coppola.
After starring in and executive producing On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019), she earned an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog (2021), alongside her husband, Jesse Plemons, who was also nominated. She took a two-year hiatus after the film, saying she was only being offered sad mom roles, and returned in Civil War (2024) as the war photographer Lee Smith. In 2025 she starred in Roofman opposite Channing Tatum. Her upcoming projects include Reptilia, A Minecraft Movie Squared (2027), The Housemaid’s Secret, The Entertainment System Is Down and Rhubarb.
Facts About Kirsten Dunst
- She made her film debut as a child in New York Stories (1989) and broke through at 12 in Interview with the Vampire.
- She played Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007); Spider-Man 3 grossed $891 million worldwide.
- She won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 for Melancholia.
- She earned an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog (2021).
- She holds dual American and German citizenship, having acquired German citizenship in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kirsten Dunst?
Kirsten Dunst is 44 years old. She was born on April 30, 1982, in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
Who is Kirsten Dunst married to?
Kirsten Dunst is married to actor Jesse Plemons. They met on the set of Fargo, got engaged in 2017 and married in July 2022 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
What is Kirsten Dunst famous for?
Kirsten Dunst is famous for Interview with the Vampire, the Spider-Man trilogy, Melancholia, Fargo and The Power of the Dog.
How many children does Kirsten Dunst have?
Kirsten Dunst has two sons with Jesse Plemons, born in 2018 and 2021.
What is Kirsten Dunst doing now?
Kirsten Dunst starred in Roofman in 2025. Her upcoming projects include Reptilia, A Minecraft Movie Squared (2027), The Housemaid’s Secret, The Entertainment System Is Down and Rhubarb.
1 thought on “Kirsten Dunst Age, Husband & Biography”