Elizabeth Hurley began her career as an actress before becoming a successful model and a producer. She reprises her co-starring role from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. As an actress, Hurley starred in the critically acclaimed Permanent Midnight with Ben Stiller, the real-life story of Hollywood scriptwriter and heroin-addict Jerry Stahl. She was most recently seen in Disney's My Favorite Martian with Jeff Daniels and Christopher Lloyd, and in Ron Howard's comedy Ed-TV with Matthew McConaughey.

Concurrent with her acting career, Hurley and Hugh Grant set up Simian Films as part of their first-look deal with Castle Rock Entertainment. Hurley is producing Mickey Blue Eyes, a romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant, Jeanne Tripplehorn and James Caan, that is currently in post production. Hurley also developed and produced their first film Extreme Measures, starring Hugh Grant and Gene Hackman, which was released in 1996. The company has several other projects in various stages of development.

Hurley initially worked in the theatre after studying dance and drama at the London Studio Centre, and made her screen debut in the 1987 film Aria directed by Bruce Beresford. This was followed by a string of television parts in shows such as Rumpole of the Bailey and Inspector Morse, before she landed her first starring role opposite Hugh Grant in the Spanish feature film, Remando al Viento.