Heather Graham

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Heather Graham

Heather Graham in June 2007
Born Heather Joan Graham
January 29, 1970 (1970-01-29) (age 38)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American film and television actress.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Graham was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Joan, a teacher and noted author of children's books, and James Graham, a retired FBI agent.[1] Graham has a younger sister, Aimee, who is also an actress and writer. The family, who are of Irish descent, followed a strict traditional Catholic upbringing; Graham has since estranged herself from the Catholic Church.[2] Graham has practiced Hinduism and associated transcendental meditation since 1991.[3] Graham graduated from the Agoura High School in California in 1988. In 1986, she appeared on a special "Teen Week" episode of the NBC-TV game show Scrabble.

After high school, Graham enrolled in extension classes of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and she also met the actor James Woods. They became romantically involved at about the time she was cast in the movie Diggstown, which starred Woods. Two years later, Graham stopped taking classes at UCLA to pursue acting full time, over her parents' objections. She then moved to Hollywood, where she worked different jobs while continuing to establish herself as an actress.

[edit] Film and television career

As a supporting actress, Graham was cast in a number of parts that brought her attention, including Nadine in 1989 film Drugstore Cowboy. In 1991, she appeared in the TV series Twin Peaks as Annie Blackburn, Dale Cooper's second-season love interest. However, her breakthrough role was that of 1970s porn starlet Roller Girl in 1997's Boogie Nights, for which she received several award nominations. Her first starring role was in 1999 as Felicity Shagwell in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. She also appeared in the music video for Lenny Kravitz's cover of "American Woman" by The Guess Who. More recently, she starred as Mary Kelly in the 2001 film From Hell, based on the story of Jack the Ripper.

Although Graham has been featured in mainstream films, she has also been cast in a number of independent films. Some of those films, like 2002's The Guru, have brought her critical praise. She also starred opposite Joseph Fiennes in the less successful Killing Me Softly. In 2001, Graham was named by People as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World".[4]

Graham also played herself on one episode of the TV series Sex and the City. She was given special guest-star status on several episodes of NBC-TV's Scrubs during its fourth season (2004–2005), and also appeared in a small role as a teacher in an episode of Fox's Arrested Development. In 2005, Graham became the spokeswoman and TV model for the Garnier brand of hair care products. Graham's print ad for Skyy vodka, which was photographed in 2003 (titled "#3, Entourage") is still appearing in national magazines today as well.

Graham starred in the ABC-TV comedy series Emily's Reasons Why Not, in 2006. However, ABC-TV announced that the show was canceled after its first airing on January 9, 2006. Because they print their covers weeks in advance, and they did not expect the quick cancellation, Life did a cover story on Graham two weeks later in their January 27, 2006 issue, and they referred to her as "TV's sexiest star".[5][6] Billboard ads also remained in place promoting the show weeks after the cancellation.

Graham voiced the character of Antonia Bayle in the online role playing game EverQuest 2.

[edit] Personal

Graham has been in relationships with musician Adam Ant and actors Elias Koteas, Heath Ledger and Edward Burns (1998-2000).

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Film

Year Title Role
1984 Mrs. Soffel Factory Girl (uncredited)
1987 Student Exchange Dorrie Ryder
1988 License to Drive Mercedes Lane
Twins Young Mary Ann Benedict (uncredited)
1989 Drugstore Cowboy Nadine
1990 I Love You to Death Bridget
1991 Guilty as Charged Kimberly
Shout Sara Benedict
1992 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me Annie Blackburn
O Pioneers! Young Alexandra Bergson
Diggstown Emily Forrester
1993 The Ballad of Little Jo Mary Addie
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Cowgirl Heather
Six Degrees of Separation Elizabeth
1994 Desert Winds Jackie
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Mary Kennedy Taylor
Don't Do It Suzanna
1995 Toughguy Olive
Let It Be Me Perfumery Salesgirl
1996 Kiss & Tell Susan Pretsel
Swingers Lorraine
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story Maggie Bowen
1997 Nowhere Lilith
Two Girls and a Guy Carla Bennett
Boogie Nights Brandy 'Rollergirl'
Scream 2 'Stab' Casey
1998 Lost in Space Dr. Judy Robinson
1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Felicity Shagwell
Bowfinger Daisy
2000 Committed Joline
2001 Say It Isn't So Josephine Wingfield
Sidewalks of New York Annie Matthews
From Hell Mary Kelly
2002 Alien Love Triangle Elizabeth
Killing Me Softly Alice
The Guru Sharonna
2003 Anger Management Kendra (uncredited)
Hope Springs Mandy
2004 Blessed Samantha Howard
2005 Cake Pippa McGee
Mary Elizabeth Younger
2006 The Oh in Ohio Justine, Sex Shop Clerk (uncredited)
Bobby Angela
2007 Gray Matters Gray Baldwin
Broken Hope
Adrift in Manhattan Rose Phipps
2008 Have Dreams, Will Travel Cassie's Aunt
Boogie Woogie Beth Freemantle
Miss Conception Georgina
Ex-Terminators Alex
Baby on Board TBA

[edit] References

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Graham, Heather Joan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American actress
DATE OF BIRTH January 29, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH