It's a big day for Lindsay Lohan [1] — she turns 28 years old! As we celebrate Lindsay's birthday, let's put aside her family drama, addictions, DUIs, arrests, and rehab stints. Instead, try to remember the first time you saw her. Was she a sweet pip-squeak oozing with talent in Disney's The Parent Trap [2] or pop culture's queen bee in Mean Girls [3]? Was she cracking jokes with the likes of Jimmy Fallon [4] and Tina Fey [5] on Saturday Night Live [6] or getting praise from costars Meryl Streep [7] and Jane Fonda? All that and everything in between reminds us there's a lot more to Lindsay than the tough times splashed across magazine covers. Nearing the end of her wild 20s, Lindsay seems determined to get back to work. As we await Lindsay's upcoming stage debut [8] in Speed-the-Plow on London's West End in September, take a trip down memory lane with the moments that made us love the actress and root for her!
Source: Getty/John Sciulli [9]
The cutie-pie redhead burst onto the scene in 1998's The Parent Trap.
How did she play twins? How did she master the British accent? We were instantly obsessed.
She debuted her pizzazz on The Tonight Show in '98.
It was the first — and last! — time Jay Leno [10] messed up her name.
After a four-year break from film, Lindsay costarred with Jamie Lee Curtis in Disney's Freaky Friday remake.
In a music video for the movie, Lindsay showed us she had total pop star potential.
Then, in 2004, Mean Girls captivated us . . . and we fell for Lindsay. Hard.
When the DVD came out, we watched it over and over until lines crept into our daily conversations.
And we couldn't get enough of this pack. Lindsay was their leader, and we followed everything they did.
She finally went for it in the music world, releasing Rumors in 2004.
Source: Universal Music [11]
She graced the cover of Elle in 2005, and we totally thought American Vogue would eventually happen for her.
Source: Elle [12]
Then came the massive fame. In 2006, she went out with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and we would have died to be with them.
Meryl Streep bonded with Lindsay after Prairie Home Companion, and we saw a teen who just wanted love.
She brought on huge laughs by playing a rather mature version of Hermione when she hosted SNL for the first time.
She shared the screen with Jane Fonda in Georgia Rule. Jane said she was a "fantastic actress" but often late to set.
Things were getting rough for her in 2009, but she kept a smile on her face.
For a while there, it looked like she found true love in Samantha Ronson. She showed us how committed she could be.
She was still in trouble with the law in 2010, but she made sure to be camera ready at her court appearances.
Lindsay returned to SNL in 2012, forcing us to watch "The Real Housewives of Disney" on repeat.
She showed us her hunger to work when she played Elizabeth Taylor in Liz & Dick.
Source: Lifetime [13]
Sporting blond locks, she scored some major comic relief on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in early 2012.
Post-rehab, she brought on the laughs on Chelsea Lately.
Source: E! [14]
She was hesitant to tell Oprah about her addiction issues in 2013, but it was the most we had seen her try in a long time.
Source: OWN [15]
And in this teaser for her new show [16], Lindsay seems to heed Oprah's advice.
Is this when Lindsay turns it all around? Tune in to her OWN premiere on March 9 to find out.
Source: OWN [17]
After lying low, she got us nostalgic with a Mean Girls reunion [18].
When Lindsay's show premiered, she got more personal than we expected.
Source: OWN [20]
And she spoke the truth.
Source: OWN [21]
She was a good sport when Jimmy Fallon threw water at her.
Seriously, her March 2014 Tonight Show appearance [22] was a hoot and a holler. We can't wait to see what she brings to the London stage in September. Break a leg, Lindsay!