Neve Adrianne Campbell was born on October 3, 1973, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, to Marnie, a Dutch-born psychologist and yoga instructor, and Gerry Campbell, a Scottish drama teacher.123 Her maternal grandparents ran a theatre company in the Netherlands, while her paternal grandparents were also performers.3 Campbell has an older brother, Christian, and two younger half-brothers, Alex and Damian.2

At age six, Campbell was inspired to take up ballet after seeing a performance of The Nutcracker.12 She enrolled at the Erinvale School of Dance and later attended the National Ballet School of Canada, where she trained and appeared in productions of The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.42 However, due to numerous dance-related injuries, Campbell transitioned to acting at age 15.2

Neve Campbell's early career began with minor roles before landing a starring role in the Canadian drama series Catwalk from 1992 to 1994.1 Her breakthrough came when she was cast as Julia Salinger in the Fox teen drama Party of Five, which aired from 1994 to 2000. The role earned her recognition as a teen idol and a nomination for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress.2

While starring in Party of Five, Campbell made her American feature film debut in the 1996 supernatural blockbuster The Craft.2 That same year, she rose to international prominence for her role as Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven's slasher film Scream. The movie was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing slasher film for over 20 years and spawning a franchise in which Campbell reprised her role in four sequels.23 Her work in the Scream series earned her several accolades, including two Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Best Actress and a Saturn Award for Best Actress.2

Neve Campbell's portrayal of Sidney Prescott in the Scream franchise catapulted her to international stardom and solidified her status as a modern scream queen. Her character's evolution from a vulnerable teenager to a resilient survivor resonated with audiences, making Sidney one of the most iconic final girls in horror cinema12. Campbell's performance in the original 1996 film earned her critical acclaim and several accolades, including two Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Best Actress and a Saturn Award for Best Actress2.

Campbell reprised her role as Sidney Prescott in four subsequent Scream sequels, demonstrating her commitment to the franchise and her character's development. However, her involvement in the series hit a snag when she declined to appear in Scream VI due to salary disputes3. Despite this setback, Campbell has expressed excitement about potentially returning to the role, indicating her enduring connection to the character that helped define her career3.