Erica Leerhsen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Erica Leerhsen
Leerhsen at the 2005 screening of Little Athens
Born	(1976-02-14) February 14, 1976 (age 49) New York City, U.S.
Education	Boston University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2000–2015
Spouse(s)	Antony Galvan ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2008)​ David Wilson ​ (m. 2012)​

Erica Lei Leerhsen (born February 14, 1976) is an American actress. She became well-known for her role in the horror movie Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000). Her work led her to appear in the TV show The Guardian and star in the popular horror film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003). She has since acted in many horror movies, like Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007) and The Butterfly Room (2012). Because of these roles, she is sometimes called a "scream queen." She has also worked with director Woody Allen on films such as Hollywood Ending (2002) and Magic in the Moonlight (2014), and in one of his plays.

Early Life

Erica Leerhsen was born in New York City. She grew up in Ossining, Westchester County, New York, with her two younger sisters, Debbie and Nora. Her father, Charles Leerhsen, was an editor for a magazine called Us Weekly.

Erica went to St. Augustine's School and Ossining High School. Later, she studied at the Boston University College of Fine Arts. While in college, she acted in plays like The Call of the Wild and The Tempest. She graduated in 1998 with a special degree in acting called a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).

Career Highlights

Early Roles (2000s)

Erica Leerhsen's first movie was a short film called Junior Creative (2000). Soon after, she appeared in the horror movie Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000). This movie received negative reviews from critics but earned over $47 million worldwide. She was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for her part in the film.

After this, Erica appeared in several TV shows. In 2001, she was a guest star in an episode of The Sopranos. She also joined the cast of the TV series The Guardian, playing Amanda Bowles. She had a supporting role in Woody Allen's film Hollywood Ending (2002).

Erica Leerhsen at the 2003 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre premiere

In 2003, Leerhsen starred with Jessica Biel in the horror remake The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. She played one of the teenagers in the movie. She once said that during her audition, she screamed so loudly that people in other parts of the building called the police! The movie was a big success, earning over $80 million in the U.S.

Also in 2003, Leerhsen guest-starred in two episodes of the TV show Alias. She also appeared in Woody Allen's romantic comedy Anything Else. She worked with Allen again in his play A Second-Hand Memory (2004).

In 2005, Leerhsen starred in the independent film Little Athens. A critic praised her acting, saying she showed how true small-town friendships can be. In 2006, she appeared in the TV show Ghost Whisperer and the romantic comedy Mozart and the Whale. She also guest-starred in an episode of CSI: Miami.

Leerhsen played a main role in the horror sequel Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007). This movie was released directly to DVD but was well-liked by reviewers. One critic said she was a "stand out" and brought a fresh take to the "scream queen" character.

She then starred in the horror-thriller film Living Hell (2008), playing a hazmat specialist. In 2009, she starred in the independent horror film Lonely Joe. For this movie, she did her own stunts and was almost hit by a train during filming! She was only 12 inches from the train as it passed by at 30 miles per hour. Even so, she insisted on filming the scene again.

Later Work (2010s)

In 2011, Erica Leerhsen filmed a short comedy called First Dates. She also made single-episode appearances in The Good Wife (2011) and Person of Interest (2012).

She played a neighbor in The Butterfly Room (2012), an Italian-American horror film. Leerhsen also starred in the low-budget horror movie The Message (2012).

In 2013, Leerhsen starred in the independent thriller Phobia. She played a doctor in the 19th century who helps people with their fears and gets involved in a murder mystery. She also had a supporting role in Mischief Night (2013), a slasher film.

Leerhsen appeared in Woody Allen's romantic comedy Magic in the Moonlight (2014). This was the fourth time she worked with Allen, who praised her acting skills. He said she always delivers a great performance without needing many instructions.

Personal Life

In February 2007, Erica Leerhsen married professional cyclist Antony Galvan, but they divorced in 2008. She now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband David Wilson, whom she married on June 29, 2012. Besides acting, Erica enjoys yoga, running, and playing basketball.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Images for kids

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  Erica Leerhsen at a movie screening in 2005.

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  Erica Leerhsen at the premiere of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003.

See also

In Spanish: Erica Leerhsen para niños