Career
As a model, Hinshaw has appeared in an advertising campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch. Her experience as a model led to her judging a beauty pageant on the Music Television reality television series Made in 2008. A year later Hinshaw pursued an acting career and landed a guest stint on The CW Teen Drama series Gossip Girl as herself.
Hinshaw auditioned for a role in the proposed spin-off series to Gossip Girl, Valley Girls which The CW did not pick up.
Hinshaw has since appeared in guest roles on Fringe and The Glades. In June 2010, Hinshaw was confirmed to star in the high school comedy film LOL, an American remake of the 2008 French film LOL (Laughing Out Loud).
Production began in August 2010 in Paris and Grosse Pointe. The film was released in May 2012 on a limited release in the United States.
The film received mixed reviews and was a financial disaster.
In November 2010, Hinshaw was announced as a star in the independent thriller film Rites of Passage alongside Christian Slater. The film was released straight to Digital Video Disc on 16 October 2012. In May 2011, Hinshaw was cast as the lead in the independent drama film About Cherry alongside Heather Graham, James Franco and Development Patel.
Hinshaw portrays Angelina, a troubled young woman who comes to San Francisco and joins the porn industry.
Filming began in July 2011. The film premiered at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival.
In 2011, Hinshaw joined the cast of the superhero film Chronicle. She was cast as Casey Letter, a blogger who regularly carries her camera with her.
Filming began in May 2011 and continued for eighteen weeks, ending in August 2011.
The film was released in February 2012 and grossed $126,266,180 worldwide, surpassing its $15 million budget. Critical reception was positive, with an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel has been announced, but it is unknown whether Hinshaw will return.
Hinshaw started dating actor Topher Grace in January 2014, and became engaged in January 2015.