Laura Harrier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laura Harrier
Harrier in 2018
Born	Laura Ruth Harrier (1990-03-28) March 28, 1990 (age 35) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	William Esper Studio
Occupation	Actress model
Years active	2007–present
Partner(s)	Klay Thompson (2018–2020) Sam Jarou (2022–2025)
Relatives	J. Waskom Pickett (great-grandfather)

Laura Ruth Harrier (born March 28, 1990) is an American actress and model. She started modeling when she was 17 years old. A "location scout" found her, which is someone who looks for new faces. She moved to New York City and continued modeling. She worked for big agencies like IMG Models and Wilhelmina Models.

Laura modeled for many popular magazines. She also appeared in ads for brands like Urban Outfitters and Macy's. She was even the face of Garnier products. After doing some commercials and student films, Laura decided to become an actress. She studied acting at the William Esper Studio. She first became known for her role as Destiny Evans in the TV show One Life to Live in 2013.

Harrier became famous around the world in 2017. This was for her role as Liz Allan in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Liz was Peter Parker's love interest in the movie. She gained more recognition for playing Patrice Dumas in BlacKkKlansman (2018). Patrice was a civil rights activist. For this role, Laura was nominated for a Black Reel Award. In 2020, she also starred as Camille Washington in the Netflix show Hollywood.

Laura Harrier is an ambassador for Louis Vuitton. She has also modeled for other fancy brands like Bulgari and Calvin Klein. She often speaks out about important issues. These include civil rights and equality. She uses her social media to help people learn more about these topics.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Laura Ruth Harrier was born on March 28, 1990. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Evanston, Illinois. Her father, Temujin Harrier, is African American. Her mother, Linda, has Polish and English family. Her father works in insurance. Her mother is a speech pathologist. Laura has one younger brother named William. Her great-grandfather was J. Waskom Pickett. He was a famous minister and helper.

As a young child, Laura had a speech impediment. Her mother helped her overcome it by age three. Laura was shy, so her mother put her in acting classes. This helped her gain more confidence. She went to Evanston Township High School. There, she took drama classes and played sports. In high school, she loved fashion. She was even voted "best dressed." She started modeling at 17. Her mother's friend, a location scout, discovered her.

After high school in 2008, Laura moved to New York City. She planned to study art history at New York University. But she decided to focus on her modeling career instead. She worked with top agencies. These included IMG Models and Wilhelmina Models. Laura modeled for magazines like Vogue and Elle. She also appeared in ads for American Eagle and Target. She was the face of Garnier for a while.

Eventually, Laura felt modeling was not enough. She wanted to act. She studied acting for two years at the William Esper Studio. She finished her studies in 2015.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles and First Big Movie

While studying acting, Laura got her first acting job. She played Destiny Evans in the TV show One Life to Live in 2013. This was a main role in the show's reboot. Critics said she fit the character well. They also liked her chemistry with her on-screen boyfriend.

Harrier at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con promoting Spider-Man: Homecoming

Next, Laura appeared in the TV show Unforgettable in 2014. She also made her movie debut in The Last Five Years (2014). She played a young woman in that film. She was cast in a TV pilot called Galyntine in 2014. A pilot is a test episode for a new show. This pilot was filmed but the show was not made. In 2015, she was in the movie 4th Man Out. She also got a role in an HBO miniseries pilot called Codes of Conduct. Laura sees this as her "first real job." This pilot was also filmed but never aired.

In 2016, Laura starred in a short film for the fashion brand Kenzo. It was called The Realest Real. She also modeled for Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton. She became an ambassador for Louis Vuitton and Bulgari. An ambassador represents a brand.

In 2016, she also got the role of Liz Allan in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Liz was Peter Parker's love interest. Laura had two auditions and a screen test with Tom Holland. She got the role six weeks later. Her character was based on a Marvel Comics character. Laura had freedom to make Liz a modern character. Spider-Man: Homecoming was Laura's first big movie. It made over $880 million worldwide. The movie made Laura more famous. Some critics liked her role. They said she was not a "damsel in distress." They also praised her for being the first love interest of color.

BlacKkKlansman and Hollywood

Harrier at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for BlacKkKlansman

Laura co-starred in the movie BlacKkKlansman (2018). She played Patrice Dumas, a civil rights activist. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018. It won a major award there. The director, Spike Lee, chose Laura for the role. He saw an audition tape she had made. To prepare, Laura met with real activists. She also learned about the Black Power movement. She talked to her father about his experiences with racism. Her father's ancestors were slaves. Laura also attended Spike Lee's film classes. Her performance in BlacKkKlansman received good reviews. She was nominated for a Black Reel Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 2019, Laura played Caitlyn Walker in the film Balance, Not Symmetry. Caitlyn is an art student dealing with her father's death. Laura liked that the film was mostly improvised.

She starred in the Netflix miniseries Hollywood (2020). She played Camille Washington. Camille is a black actress facing challenges in old Hollywood. Laura was inspired by actress Dorothy Dandridge. She also studied Halle Berry's Oscar speech. The show and Laura's acting got mixed reviews. Some critics felt her character was not fully developed. However, one reviewer called her performance "heartbreakingly convincing." In July 2020, Laura was in a music video. It was for the song "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Kygo. Laura was also cast in The Starling (2021) with Melissa McCarthy.

In 2022, Laura appeared in the Hulu show Mike. This show was about boxer Mike Tyson. She also lent her voice to the Netflix animated special Entergalactic. In May 2022, Laura was cast in a remake of the 1992 film White Men Can't Jump. This movie was released on May 13, 2023.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Laura Harrier has been a vegetarian since she was eight years old. After high school, she moved to New York City in 2008. In 2019, she moved to Los Angeles. She said she moved to help her acting career. Laura also loves art. She collects art to decorate her home.

Laura supports civil rights. She speaks up for issues like intersectional feminism and transgender rights. She also supports gun control and gender equality. She wants more representation for Black people and people of color in media. She often uses her Instagram to talk about unfairness. She has supported the American Civil Liberties Union. She also signed on to the Time's Up movement. She donated money to help their cause.

Laura was in a relationship with basketball player Klay Thompson. This was from 2018 to early 2020.

Filmography

Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Film Roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2014	The Last Five Years	Manuscript Woman
2015	4th Man Out	Dorothy Cuda
2016	The Realest Real	Abby	Short film
2017	Spider-Man: Homecoming	Liz Allan
2018	BlacKkKlansman	Patrice Dumas
	Fahrenheit 451	Mildred Montag
2019	Balance, Not Symmetry	Caitlin Walker
2021	The Starling	Sherri
2023	White Men Can't Jump	Tatiana
2025	Michael	Suzanne de Passe	Post-production
TBA	Strobe		Post-production

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Laura Harrier para niños