Actors - Heather Graham

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	Actors - Heather Graham

Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American film and television actress.

Childhood and early career

Graham was brought up in a traditional Catholic family of Irish descent. She's since estranged herself from the Catholic Church she grew up in, saying it is, "made up of closed-minded men who believe a woman's sexuality is evil... Why do I have to do what all these men are saying?" She's practiced transcendental meditation since 1991.

Her 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. Growing up in Virginia, Heather attended North Springfield Elementary School in Springfield, Virginia. Her family then moved to the Conejo Valley in California where she attended Sumac Elementary School, Lindero Canyon Middle School, and finally, Agoura High School.

Initially, Graham's parents were very supportive of her budding acting career; her mother drove Graham to her auditions. However, her father and mother were adamant that she should not appear in any movie featuring sex. This 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 would appear fully nude in several scenes in her breakout role in Boogie Nights. Graham is currently estranged from her parents, though they are reportedly seeking a reconciliation. Though her parents still observe the Catholic faith, Graham 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.

Film and television career

As a supporting actress, Graham was cast in a number of parts that brought her critical notice, including Nadine in Drugstore Cowboy
1989. However, her breakthrough role was that of Roller Girl in Boogie Nights
(1997), for which she received several award nominations. Her first starring role was 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.

Although Graham has been prominently featured in mainstream films, she has also been cast in a number of independent films. Many of those films, like 2002's The Guru, have brought her critical praise.

She was named by People Magazine as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World 2001" . 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.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Heather Graham ]

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Actors - Heather Graham

Childhood and early career

Film and television career

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