The fantastic Jessica Alba: with a new movie, Good Luck Chuck, and several others on the horizon, Jessica has gone from sexy rising star to bona fide leading lady. Here, we uncover the sizing actress's dorky side, get-fit trick, and a lot more.(COSMO NEWS: interview)(Cover story)

Though Jessica Alba's rockin' bod has played a prominent Role in many of her past acting gigs (just think of the sultry striptease she performed in Sin City and the skin-tight bodysuit she sported in the Fantastic Four series), the 26-year-old actress is hell-bent on expanding beyond sex-symbol typecasting. "I've been told, "Wearing bikinis is what you're known for.' It would be nice if people didn't know me for that, and they knew me as an actor," says Jessica, between bites of hummus and a green salad at a low-key lunch spot in Beverly Hills, California, where her Cosmo interview is taking place. "I think the biggest thing is not to get stuck in a pattern and to be 'always changing and growing."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

If her diverse lineup of upcoming movie roles is any indication, she's well on her way to being taken seriously ... well, sort of. In this month's flick Good Luck Chuck, Jessica tackles full-on physical comedy for the first time as a klutzy penguin specialist being pursued by Dane Cook (a comic-turned-actor in real life). "I play the biggest dork ever," Jessica says. "I've wanted to do comedy my whole career, and Dane really encouraged me just to make an ass of myself." As it turns out, Jessica is surprisingly far more goofy than glamorous in real life too. "My character is pretty similar to who I really am. I've fractured three bones and broken four ribs. All of it has just been dumb mistakes."

But Jessica hasn't totally abandoned her sexy side (as if she could!). Good Luck Chuck is packed with raunchy jokes and sex romps, including a steamy phone-sex scene shot with her in a hot tub. Guys hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunner au naturel, however, will be disappointed--Jessica remains faithful to the no-nudity clause in her acting contracts. "I'm not naked at all," she says, pointing out that she'll only show as much skin as when she's wearing a bathing suit. "I don't try to dress provocatively. I'm not comfortable putting it all out there."

That sentiment also applies when she's talking about her personal life. Though Jessica was beyond candid when Cosmo first interviewed her in March 2005--telling us it was "'kind of a love-at-first-sight thing" when she met her producer boyfriend of more than two years, Cash Warren, and discussing her "wild period" with men and the loss of her virginity--this time around, Jessica was much more cautious about subjects outside of work. "I don't talk about [my private life]," she says, explaining that she's been burned by various tabloid rumors in the past. One such recent bit of gossip was that her relationship with Cash had hit a rough patch. (As of press time, the two are still a couple.)

The truth is, even when sticking to the subject of her career, there's still plenty to talk about. In addition to her parts in Chuck and the August ensemble comedy The Ten, early next year, she'll star in her meatiest role yet, playing a blind violinist in the psychological horror film The Eye. "It was the least glamorous [role] and really, really fun," says Jessica. "I studied with three different violin teachers."

Speaking of practice, Jessica 'also is dedicated to keeping her killer shape through regular workouts that include cardio, weight training, yoga, and ab exercises using a stability ball.