ON THE SMALL SCREEN

She may now be known for her big-screen film roles, but Tara Reid scored one of her first major breaks on TV back in 1995, playing Ashley in the daytime soap Days of Our Lives.

AMERICAN DREAM

Reid, who first began acting at 6 years old, became a household name in Hollywood following her turn in 1999’s American Pie and its subsequent sequels: 2001’s American Pie 2 and 2012’s American Reunion.

“In my American Pie days, everyone was kissing my butt. I didn’t realize how good I had it,” the actress told PEOPLE in 2008.

“But the second things go down, no one cares. See who visits you in the hospital when you’re sick. I’ve become more humble.”

BE OUR GUEST

From 2003 to 2005, Reid held a recurring role in Scrubs, on which she played J.D.’s (Zach Braff) love interest.

PARTY ROCK

As she began rising up the ranks in Hollywood, Reid — who would go on to host her own (albeit short-lived) travel show, Taradise, in 2005 — was branded as a party girl.

“I was the first one,” she told TIME in 2014 of her partying days. “I was before Paris Hilton, before Lindsay Lohan. I’m the oldest one, and I started selling magazines. They still want to make me that.”

She added: “The magazines aren’t even letting me grow up, and that’s what’s hurting me with the character roles. They need to let me be the woman I am now, not the girl. There’s a big difference.”

OVEREXPOSED

Talk about a wardrobe malfunction: At Diddy’s birthday party in 2004, Reid inadvertently flashed more than a smile when the strap of her dress slipped off on the red carpet. “I just can’t get a break,” she told PEOPLE. “It’s like people expect this to happen to me.”

CAMERA-READY

Reid has always been a natural in front of the camera — a statement her mom is quick to echo. As a kid, Reid “was always hamming it up,” said her mom, Donna.

BIG PLANS

“It would be the ultimate dream for me to win an Academy Award, be in love and have kids,” Reid told the New York Post in 2005 of her future plans.

“Then I would say, ‘Life is great! I have done everything I wanted.’ I keep trying to get closer to that.”

MOVING ON

Following a 2004 liposuction surgery, Reid — who would undergo reconstructive surgery two years later — was left with scars on her stomach. “They are my battle wounds,” she told PEOPLE of her “uneven” abs.

After unflattering bikini shots of her surfaced in 2008, Reid faced a barrage of Internet attacks aimed at her post-surgery figure.

“I’ve been a media target for years now,” the actress shared. “It does hurt my feelings, but what can I do? I have to move on.”

SEEKING HELP

In December 2008, Reid made the decision to enter rehab with the intention of changing her life for the better and mending “strained” relationships with friends and family members.

“Tara has a problem with alcohol. It’s been at the root of much discomfort between herself and her family and friends,” a source close to the star told PEOPLE at the time. “She finally made the decision to do something positive for herself and her loved ones.”

FIRING BACK

The actress was faced with comments like “anorexic” and “#soskinny” after posting a bikini photo of herself on Instagram over Thanksgiving weekend in 2014.

“Some people that eat too much, [and] you yell at them that they’re fat,” she said during an interview, adding that women of all sizes encounter body-shaming comments in their lifetime. “You want to get mad at me because I’m skinny? Great, get mad at me. I am what I am.”

SCREEN TEAM

While Reid stayed busy through the years with small acting roles and event appearances, the American Pie star experienced a career resurgence with 2013’s surprise hit, Sharknado, a SyFy original movie that would lead to four sequels in the coming years.

“I think people are saying, ‘This girl has lasting power. She’s been in this business since she was 6 years old,’ ” Reid told TIME. “I’ve done over 45 movies. Regardless if they’re A movies, B movies, C movies, D movies. I always stay working. I love what I do.”

REAL TALK

In 2016, Reid and Dean May signed up to star on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars — but their turn didn’t last long after the show’s counselors found out the two weren’t actually in a romantic relationship. The actress confirmed their dynamic in a candid interview with a producer.

“Part of the reason we did the show is because [May] owes money and taxes and he could use the money and he wouldn’t mind the fame … so I wanted to do the show for him,” Reid revealed.