Heather Joan Graham is an American actress. Following early roles in License to Drive, Drugstore Cowboy and Twin Peaks, she won critical acclaim for her role as Rollergirl in 1997's Boogie Nights, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.She has since become known as a Hollywood sex symbol and has appeared in films such as Lost In Space, Bowfinger, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, From Hell, Anger Management, Bobby and The Hangover.
Background
Heather Graham was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the older of two children. Her family is of "three quarters Irish" descent, with her father's side from County Cork. Her younger sister, Aimee Graham, is also an actress and writer. Their mother, Joan (née Bransfield), is a teacher and author of children's books.Their father, James Graham, is a retired FBI agent.The girls were raised with traditional Catholic values. Her family relocated repeatedly before settling down in Agoura Hills, California when she was nine years old.
Education
She was introduced to acting during a school production of The Wizard of Oz. Graham graduated from Agoura High School in California in 1988.
After high school, Graham enrolled in extension classes of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and studied English for two years. There she met actor James Woods. They became romantically involved during filming of the movie Diggstown, where Woods had landed the starring role and Graham a featured role. After two years Graham withdrew from UCLA to pursue acting full time, despite her parents' objections.