Ending the eager speculation of who will land the starring role, MTV today announced that Jessica Alba will take the spotlight as leading lady of the 2006 MTV Movie Awards. Star of both big screen and small, Alba will host the MTV ceremony, as well as star in its leading role as this year's show promises to be more than an award show, but a movie unto itself. Jessica Alba is also up for three nominations at this year's event including "Best Hero" and "Best On-Screen Team" for her performance in the Fantastic Four (20th Century Fox), along with "Sexiest Performance" for her role in Sin City (Dimension Films), a film also up for "Best Movie" honors. Filming June 3rd at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, CA, the 2006 MTV Movie Awards will premiere to audiences nationwide on Thursday, June 8th at 9pm ET/PT on MTV.

"The MTV Movie Awards is like a three-ring circus and I'm thrilled they asked me to be this year's ringmaster," said Jessica Alba.

"Talented, smart and funny, Jessica is one of Hollywood's hottest and most sought-after actresses, and the perfect leading lady for the Movie Awards," said Christina Norman, President, MTV. "This year's show promises to be anything but traditional, and Jessica is just the person to help mix things up."

The MTV Movie Awards is just the most recent addition to Jessica Alba's growing list of credits. In 2005 alone, Alba starred in three major motion pictures including the critically-acclaimed Sin City, starring alongside Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood and others; the Marvel Comics' franchise blockbuster Fantastic Four where she played the lead female character Sue Storm; and the underwater action-adventure Into the Blue, starring alongside Paul Walker, Josh Brolin and Scott Caan. All achieving notable success, combined worldwide box offices for all three films generated over half a billion dollars. Audiences will also recognize Jessica from her stand out performance in the hit urban drama Honey, as well as her role as the lead character in James Cameron's television series, Dark Angel, among her multiple other credits. Upcoming projects in which Alba will star include sequels to the comic book adaptation to Fantastic Four and the acclaimed Sin City, along with the psychological thriller, Awake opposite Hayden Christiansen set for release in early 2007.

Up for starring roles at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards are the "40-Year Old Virgin" and Wedding Crashers, each receiving five nominations. Also vying for the spotlight are Batman Begins, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hustle and Flow, Sin City and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith with three nominations each. MTV will also celebrate the all new categories of "Best Hero," "Sexiest Performance" and the "mtvU Student Filmmaker Award" for the first time ever. Fans can vote for the entire nominated cast of the 2006 MTV Movie Awards by visiting movieawards.mtv.com before May 19th. Fans can also vote from their mobile phone by texting "MOVIEAWARDS" to 91757 to receive a ballot. Voting is also available by dialing toll free to 1-877-MTV-VOTE where fans can support their favorite nominees with a different category available for voting each day.

For complete information on the 2006 MTV Movie Awards including details on host Jessica Alba, to vote and watch performances from this year's nominees, and to learn more about this year's show, visit www.movieawards.mtv.com.

The 2006 MTV Movie Awards will be seen in 171 countries/territories via 50 music programming services, and in 23 languages in more than 479.5 million households.