Heather Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heather Graham
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Graham in 2011
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Heather Joan Graham
January 29, 1970 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Years active | 1984–present |
Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American actress and director. She has been nominated for several awards, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Independent Spirit Award.
Graham started her career in TV commercials. Her first big role was in the teen comedy License to Drive (1988). She later appeared in the popular film Drugstore Cowboy (1989). ..... She became well-known for her role in the film Boogie Nights (1997). This led to major parts in comedies like Bowfinger and Austin Powers: The Spy Who ... Me (both 1999).
..... She has also appeared on TV shows like Scrubs (2004) and Californication (2014). In 2018, she directed her first movie, a comedy called Half Magic.
Graham also supports charities like Children International and the climate change campaign Global Cool.
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Early life
Graham was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has a younger sister, Aimee Graham, who is also an actress. Her mother, Joan, is a teacher and children's book author. Her father, James, is a retired FBI agent.
Her family moved many times before settling in Agoura Hills, California, when she was nine. She first got interested in acting when she was in a school play of The Wizard of Oz.
After high school, Graham studied English at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for two years. She decided to leave college to become a full-time actress, even though her parents did not agree with her choice at first.
Career
First Roles (1984–1988)
Graham's first movie role was a small, uncredited part in Mrs. Soffel (1984). She then appeared in the TV movie Student Exchange. In 1987, she was in an episode of the TV show Growing Pains.
Her first major role was in the 1988 teen movie License to Drive. She played Mercedes Lane, the love interest of the main character. For this role, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award. Her parents did not let her take a role in the movie Heathers because they felt it was not appropriate for her.
Gaining Attention (1989–1996)
In 1989, Graham starred in Drugstore Cowboy as Nadine. Her performance in this serious drama earned her a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress and helped her career grow.
Director David Lynch cast her as Annie Blackburn in his TV show Twin Peaks. She appeared in the last six episodes. After the show ended, she played Annie again in the 1992 movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
During the early 1990s, she acted in several other films. These included Diggstown (1992) with James Woods and Six Degrees of Separation (1993) with Will Smith. .....
Becoming a Star (1997–2003)
Graham became much more famous after her role in the acclaimed 1997 film Boogie Nights. The cast was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. That same year, she had a cameo in the horror movie Scream 2.
In 1999, she starred as Felicity in the hit comedy Austin Powers: The Spy Who ... Me. This is one of her most famous roles. She was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her performance. She also appeared in the comedy Bowfinger with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy.
In the early 2000s, Graham starred in several movies. She played Mary Kelly in the mystery film From Hell (2001) with Johnny Depp. She also appeared in comedies like Say It Isn't So (2001) and Hope Springs (2003).
Television and Independent Films (2004–2008)
From 2004 to 2008, Graham acted in several independent movies. Her 2005 film Mary received positive reviews and won awards at the Venice Film Festival. In 2006, she was part of the cast of Bobby, which was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
During this time, Graham also worked in television. She had a recurring role as Dr. Molly Clock in nine episodes of the comedy series Scrubs. She also appeared in an episode of Arrested Development.
Recent Work (2009–present)
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In 2014, she starred in a TV movie adaptation of the novel Flowers in the Attic. She played Corrine Dollanganger, a mother who does a terrible thing to her children to get money. She played the same character in two sequels, Petals on the Wind and If There Be Thorns.
In 2018, Graham directed her first film, Half Magic, which she also wrote and starred in. She also starred in the TV series Bliss. In 2023, she appeared in the Netflix holiday movie Best. Christmas. Ever!. Her latest film, Chosen Family, which she also wrote and directed, was released in 2024.
Activism
Graham is an advocate for Children International, an organization that helps children in need around the world. She says she likes that the group helps a child have a better life.
She also works with the Cambodian Children's Fund. This group gives education and healthcare to communities in Cambodia. Graham has said the fund helps create future leaders who can help their own communities.
In 2007, she supported Global Cool, a campaign to raise awareness about climate change.
Personal life
Graham began practicing transcendental meditation in 1991. She was introduced to it by director David Lynch.
She has said in interviews that she does not like reality television. She finds it strange that people want to watch others being miserable.
Over the years, Graham has been in relationships with several actors and artists. Since 2022, she has been dating John de Neufville.
Images for kids
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Graham in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Heather Graham para niños
