Dianna Agron facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dianna Agron
Agron in 2017
Born	Dianna Elise Agron (1986-04-30) April 30, 1986 (age 39) Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer dancer
Years active	2006–present
Works	Performances
Spouse(s)	Winston Marshall ​ ​ (m. 2016; div. 2020)​
Musical career
Genres	Cabaret folk-country folk rock jazz Songbook soul
Instruments	Vocals
Signature

Dianna Elise Agron (born April 30, 1986) is an American actress and singer. She has worked in movies, TV shows, and on stage. Her awards include a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Dianna started acting in small plays when she was young. She first appeared on screen in 2006. She became well-known for her role as Quinn Fabray in the TV series Glee (2009–2015).

After Glee, Dianna Agron acted in more films. She starred in I Am Number Four (2011). She also appeared in The Family (2013) and Novitiate (2017). She has directed short films and music videos too. In 2017, she began singing at the Café Carlyle in New York City. She continued acting in films like Shiva Baby (2020) and As They Made Us (2022). In 2019, she acted in and directed part of Berlin, I Love You. In 2023, she returned to TV as the main character in the Netflix series The Chosen One.

Dianna Agron is Jewish and has talked about how her faith connects to her work. She also does a lot of charity work. She supports rights for all people and human rights. Many people see her as a fashion icon because of her unique style.

Early Life and Growing Up

Dianna Elise Agron was born on April 30, 1986, in Savannah, Georgia. Her mother, Mary, was a seamstress, and her father, Ronald, managed Hyatt hotels. Her father's family was Jewish, and her mother became Jewish before they married. Dianna has a younger brother named Jason, who is a photographer. Her family is of Russian-Jewish background.

Dianna grew up in different places, including San Antonio, Texas, and Burlingame, California. Because of her father's job, they often lived in hotels. Dianna's mother made sure there was always music from the 1960s and 1970s playing at home. Her mother also encouraged her to watch classic musicals, which made Dianna want to become an actress.

Agron lived in the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport for seven years from the age of nine.

Dianna lived in Texas from age two to nine. She started dancing at age three, learning jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. She often performed in school plays, like playing Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz when she was eight. She went to Hebrew school and a Jewish day school. While in Texas, she faced bullying because of her Jewish faith.

When her family moved to California, Dianna found it easier to make friends. She attended Lincoln Elementary, Burlingame Intermediate, and Burlingame High School. She had her bat mitzvah at a Reform Judaism temple. In middle school, her voice changed, which made her feel shy about speaking or singing for a while. She later overcame this and felt it made her stronger.

In high school, Dianna was involved in school theater. She helped with set design, costumes, and painting. She also taught dance and worked at a clothing store, where she became interested in fashion. She took piano lessons and loved photography. When she was a teenager, her father became ill with a serious brain condition. This illness caused her parents to separate, which was very hard for Dianna and her brother. She felt she had to be strong for her family.

Career Beginnings

2006–2008: Early Roles and Heroes

Dianna Agron moved to Los Angeles in 2005. She wanted to be in musicals but was told they were outdated. She appeared in TV shows like Shark, CSI: NY, and Numbers from 2006 to 2008. Her first movie role was a small part as a cheerleader in When a Stranger Calls (2006).

Dianna turned down many early roles that she felt were not right for her. Instead, she chose comedy films like Skid Marks. She had a recurring role in Veronica Mars as Jenny Budosh. During these early years, she lived in the same building as other young actors like Emma Stone.

In 2007, she played Harper in the MTV series It's a Mall World. She then had a recurring role in the second season of Heroes as Debbie Marshall, a cheerleading captain. This role helped people see her as a versatile actress. During a writers' strike, Dianna wrote a movie script about a man's relationships.

2009–2011: Glee and First Films

Agron at the Glee premiere party in 2009

In 2009, Dianna got her big break as Quinn Fabray in the TV series Glee. She was the last main actor to be cast for the show. Producers were impressed by her audition, where she sang Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon". They felt she brought depth to the character of Quinn.

Dianna's acting as Quinn was highly praised. She made her singing debut on the show with "I Say a Little Prayer". In 2009, the Glee cast, including Dianna, sang the national anthem at the World Series.

During a break from Glee in 2009, Dianna wrote, starred in, directed, and produced a short comedy film called A Fuchsia Elephant. She also directed a music video in 2010. She took on more film roles in 2010 and 2011, including Natalie in Burlesque. Dianna was considered for roles in The Amazing Spider-Man and Man of Steel but did not get them due to her busy Glee schedule.

In the Glee episode "Born This Way", Agron's character Quinn is encouraged to embrace self-love by wearing a past mean nickname on a T-shirt, as the rest of her friends are doing with their flaws. The cast recreated the performance set to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" during the tour.

In Glee's second season, Dianna performed a duet of "I Feel Pretty" and "Unpretty" with Lea Michele. This song was highly praised by critics and fans. Dianna enjoyed filming episodes like "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" and the performance of "Thriller". On Glee, Quinn often sang in a high voice, which was challenging for Dianna. She later changed her character's singing voice for the third season.

Her big movie role came in 2011 with I Am Number Four. She played Sarah Hart, an artistic and misunderstood character. Dianna chose this role because it was different from Quinn. Filming for the movie happened during her Glee break.

In Glee's third season, Dianna sang her first solo song since the first season, "Never Can Say Goodbye". Her character had a storyline where she was in a car accident, but she recovered quickly. Critics praised Dianna's acting during this time.

Many songs Dianna performed as Quinn were released as singles. The Glee cast won an American Music Award in 2010. They were also nominated for several Grammy Awards and a Brit Award.

2012–2014: The Family and Music Videos

Agron at the New York premiere of The Family in 2013

Dianna appeared less often in Glee's fourth season. She chose to work on other projects. She starred as Belle Blake in the 2013 film The Family, alongside Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer. The director, Luc Besson, reportedly wrote the role with Dianna in mind. Critics praised Dianna's performance in the film.

In 2013, she appeared in the music video for the Killers' song "Just Another Girl", playing the lead singer. She also starred in Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One" music video in 2014. Dianna directed the music video for "Till Sunrise" by Goldroom. She also worked as a photographer for Galore magazine. In 2015, she directed a short film for designer Tory Burch's store opening in Paris. Dianna returned to Glee for its final season.

2015–2019: Independent Films and Singing

Agron performing the national anthem in 2015

After Glee, Dianna chose to work on independent films. She played the main role in the 2015 drama film Bare. In 2015, she also made her professional theater debut in the play McQueen in London. She performed the U.S. national anthem in London for Independence Day in 2015.

Dianna moved to New York City in 2016. She appeared in several films released in 2017. She had a supporting role in Novitiate, playing Sister Mary Grace. Dianna, who is Jewish, was interested in exploring faith through this role. Critics praised her performance in the film. She also played Alison Miller in the drama Hollow in the Land.

Agron in the Carlyle after performing in January 2019

In September 2017, Dianna began singing at the Café Carlyle. She performed songs originally sung by male artists. Critics noted her strong voice and ability to connect with the audience. She returned to the Carlyle in 2019 with a larger band. She chose romantic and playful songs for her performances. Dianna has mentioned she might release an album in the future.

Berlin, I Love You, an anthology film, was released in 2019. Dianna directed a part of the film and also acted in it. She played a puppeteer who helps a tired Hollywood star. Critics had mixed reviews for the film, but some praised Dianna's segment.

2020–Present: New Successes

Starting with Shiva Baby in 2020, Dianna Agron began appearing in more well-received independent films. Many of her recent roles have been Jewish characters.

Dianna played Kim Beckett in Shiva Baby, a comedy set at a Jewish mourning service. The film and its cast received wide praise. Critics described her performance as "perfect" and "flawless". She then played Laura Riding in the historical film The Laureate, which premiered in 2021. In As They Made Us, released in April 2022, Dianna played the main role, Abigail. She worked alongside Dustin Hoffman and Candice Bergen. Dianna had previously played Bergen's daughter in a 2010 film.

As They Made Us explores themes of parental loss, which Dianna could relate to because of her own father's illness. She also worked on Acidman, released in 2023, which also deals with father-daughter relationships. In 2023, she starred in the sci-fi horror film Clock. She also returned to television in 2023 for the Netflix show The Chosen One, speaking both Spanish and English.

In March and April 2022, Dianna performed her third residency at the Café Carlyle. Critics praised her charming conversations and how she connected with the audience. She returned to the venue in 2024 and is working on her first jazz album.

Helping Others

Charity and Advocacy

Dianna Agron is known for her activism and supporting charities. She is a strong supporter of rights for all people and human rights. She believes that her job allows her to help with important causes. She has also helped charities that support children, like Camp Wonder and UNICEF. She has hosted fundraisers for a literacy non-profit called 826LA.

Since 2012, Dianna has been an ambassador for GLAAD, an organization that promotes understanding and acceptance. Since 2014, she has been a Global Citizen Ambassador, taking part in the Global Citizen Festival. In politics, she has supported Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden in their presidential campaigns.

In 2012, she hosted the GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco. She also supports women's rights. In 2013, she spoke at an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. She later criticized the Supreme Court of the United States when it changed this ruling in 2022. Dianna also supports female filmmakers. She has been a judge for film awards at the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2014, she helped raise money for Children's Mercy Hospital. She also participated in the Young Storytellers Foundation's "Glee Big Show" to support arts programs in schools. In August 2014, she wrote an article for NBC News to promote United Nations (UN) International Youth Day.

Agron and Meghan Markle with General Martin Dempsey and others on a USO tour in Italy in 2014

Dianna has been a strong supporter of charities for refugees, especially children affected by war. In 2012, she visited a center in Cambodia that helps child and teenage residents. In 2014, she was featured on the United Nations Children's Fund charity song "Imagine". She has raised money for War Child since 2014, helping Syrian refugees. In 2016, she traveled with the UN to visit Syrian refugees in Austria and Jordan. She has also supported military personnel by providing entertainment to United States troops and their families.

You, Me and Charlie

You, Me & Charlie (YM&C) was an online platform launched by Dianna Agron in 2011. With help from others, she wrote and collected posts about music, art, fashion, and daily inspiration. The name "Charlie" was one of Dianna's childhood nicknames. The website also shared short films and videos. It aimed to inspire young artists. Vanity Fair called it a "stress reliever" full of "sunshine and optimism". InStyle praised how the platform spread activism. Dianna wanted the site to be a community where people could share ideas. In 2013, Dianna hosted a concert for YM&C in Los Angeles, where she performed songs by Fleetwood Mac and Tina Turner.

Selected Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Dianna Agron para niños