Heather Joan Graham was born on January 29, 1970. She is an American actress, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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, Heather 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" [1]. 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).
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
- "Emily's Reasons Why Not" (2006) TV Series .... Emily Sanders
- Broken (2006) .... Hope
- Cake (2005)
- Mary (2005)
- Gray Matters (2005) .... Gray
- EverQuest II (2004) (VG) (voice) .... Antonia Bayle, Queen of Qeynos
- Blessed (2004) .... Samantha Howard
- Hope Springs (2003) .... Mandy
- Anger Management (2003) .... Kendra
- The Guru (2002) .... Sharonna
... aka Gourou et les femmes, Le (France)
- Killing Me Softly (2002) .... Alice
- Alien Love Triangle (2002) .... Elizabeth
- From Hell (2001) .... Mary Kelly
- Sidewalks of New York (2001) .... Annie Matthews
- Say It Isn't So (2001) .... Josephine Wingfield
- Committed (2000) .... Joline
... aka Non Stop Girl
- Bowfinger (1999) .... Daisy
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) .... Felicity Shagwell
... aka Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (USA: video title)
- Lost in Space (1998) .... Judy Robinson
... aka LS (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- Scream 2 (1997) .... 'Stab' Casey
- Boogie Nights (1997) .... Rollergirl/Brandy
- Two Girls and a Guy (1997) .... Carla Bennett
- Nowhere (1997) .... Lilith, Shad's Girlfriend
- Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996) .... Maggie Bowen
... aka Entertaining Angels
- Swingers (1996) .... Lorraine
- Terrified (1996) .... Olive
... aka Evil Never Sleeps (UK: DVD title)
... aka Tough Guy
... aka Toughguy
- Kiss & Tell (1996) .... Suzan
- Let It Be Me (1995) .... Perfumery Saleswoman
... aka Love Dance (UK)
- Desert Winds (1995) .... Jackie
- Don't Do It (1994) .... Suzanna
- Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) .... Mary Kennedy Taylor
... aka Mrs. Parker and the Round Table
- Six Degrees of Separation (1993) .... Elizabeth
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) .... Cowgirl Heather
- The Ballad of Little Jo (1993) .... Mary Addie
- Diggstown (1992) .... Emily Forrester
... aka Midnight Sting
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) .... Annie Blackburn
O Pioneers! (1992) (TV) .... Young Alexandra Bergson
- Shout (1991) .... Sara Benedict
- Guilty as Charged (1991) .... Kimberly
- I Love You to Death (1990) .... Bridget
- Drugstore Cowboy (1989) .... Nadine
- Twins (1988) (uncredited) .... Young Mary Ann Benedict
- License to Drive (1988) .... Mercedes
- Student Exchange (1987) (TV) .... Dorrie
- Mrs. Soffel (1984) (uncredited) .... Factory Girl
