Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970, in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin) is an American actress. Heather Graham's
father, Jim, is a retired FBI agent and her mother,
Joan, is a noted author of children's books. Graham
has a younger sister Aimee Graham, who is also an aspiring
actress and writer.
Graham was brought up in a traditional
Catholic family of Irish descent. Growing up in Virginia
where her father worked as an FBI agent, she attended
Sumac Elementary School. Her family then moved to
the Conejo Valley in California where she attended
Lindero Canyon Middle School, and finally, Agoura
High School.
Initially, Graham's parents were very
supportive of her budding acting career, with her
mom driving her to her auditions. Later, her father
and mother were insistent that she should not appear
in any movie featuring sex. This difference of opinion
may have cost her the lead role in Heathers in 1989,
the dark high school comedy that made an instant star
of Winona Ryder. Graham is currently estranged from
her parents, though they are hopeful for a reconciliation.
She has publicly discussed her conversion to a new-age
eastern-based religion and philosophy.
After high school, Graham enrolled
in the University of California at Los Angeles. While
pursuing a drama degree at UCLA, Graham met James
Woods. Their subsequent romantic involvement led to
Graham being cast in Diggstown (1992), which starred
Woods. After two years had passed, Graham dropped
out of UCLA to pursue acting full time, over her parents'
objections. She moved to Hollywood where she worked
different jobs while continuing to establish herself
as a starlet, for a time romantically involved and
living with once famous New Romantic glam-rocker Adam
Ant.
Though earlier Graham had a number
of critically noted acting parts including Nadine
in Drugstore Cowboy 1989, her breakthrough role was
that of Roller Girl in Boogie Nights (1997), for which
she received several award nominations. She achieved
international stardom in 1999 with her lead role as
Felicity Shagwell in Mike Myers' second Austin Powers
comedy: The Spy Who Shagged Me. More recently, she
starred as Mary Kelly in the film From Hell (2001),
based on the story of Jack the Ripper.
She was named by People Magazine as
one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World
2001". In addition to her relationship with James
Woods, she also has been romantically involved with
actor Edward Burns, producer-director Chris Weitz,
actor Josh Lucas, actor Heath Ledger, actor Elias
Koteas, actor Kyle MacLachlan, and director Stephen
Hopkins.
Graham enjoyed special guest-star
status on several episodes of NBC-TV's Scrubs during
its fourth season (2004-2005). She's 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 Garnier brand of hair care products.
Graham's print ad for Skyy vodka, which was photographed
in 1993 (titled "#3, Entourage") is still
appearing in national magazines today as well. ABC-TV
announced that production has begun on "Emily's
Reasons Why Not," with Graham slated to be its
star.
Filmography
Gray Matters (2005)
Cake (2005)
Mary (2005)
Scrubs (2005)
Blessed (2004)
Hope Springs (2003)
Anger Management (2003)
Alien Love Triangle (2002)
The Guru (2002)
Killing Me Softly (2002)
From Hell (2001)
Sidewalks of New York (2001)
Say It Isn't So (2001)
Committed (2000)
Bowfinger (1999)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
Lost in Space (1998)
Scream 2 (1997)
Boogie Nights (1997)
Two Girls and a Guy (1997)
Nowhere (1997)
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)
Swingers (1996)
Terrified (1996)
Kiss & Tell (1996)
Desert Winds (1995)
Run for Cover (1995)
Let It Be Me (1995)
Don't Do It (1994)
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)
The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
Diggstown (1992)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Shout (1991)
Guilty as Charged (1991)
I Love You to Death (1990)
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Twins (1988)
License to Drive (1988)
Student Exchange (1987)
Mrs. Soffel (1984)
source from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
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