- Born
- Birth nameHeather Joan Graham
- Height1.71 m
- Heather Joan Graham was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Joan, a schoolteacher and children's book author, and James Graham, an FBI agent. Because of her father's career, the family moved frequently, which gave Heather a broad perspective from an early age. Though naturally shy, she found joy and confidence in performing, discovering a love for acting that grew stronger throughout her childhood.
Encouraged by her creative interests, Heather became active in school plays and local theater productions. She was voted Most Talented by her senior class, a testament to her early dedication and natural ability. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, while also attending the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied English. After two years, she left UCLA to focus fully on her acting career. Early roles in films like Drugstore Cowboy (1989), Six degrés de séparation (1993), and Swingers (1996) paved the way for her breakout performances in Boogie Nights (1997) and Austin Powers : L'Espion qui m'a tirée (1999), establishing her as a prominent figure in Hollywood.
Over the years, Heather has built a diverse filmography, including notable roles in From Hell (2001), Bowfinger, roi d'Hollywood (1999), Very Bad Trip (2009), Judy Moody et son été pas raté (2011), Le Reste de Nous (2019), The Last Son (2021) and On A Wing and A Prayer (2023). Her television appearances include roles in Scrubs (2001), Californication (2007) and Mystères à Twin Peaks (1990).
Beyond acting, Heather has ventured into writing, directing, and producing. She made her directorial debut with Half Magic (2018) in 2018, a comedy she also wrote and starred in. In 2024, she wrote, directed, and starred in Chosen Family (2024), a romantic dramedy that explores the concept of finding family among friends. The film premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and was released on October 11, 2024.
Heather stars alongside Nicolas Cage in the action-packed western Gunslingers (2025). The film showcases her versatility in a gritty, high-stakes adventure set against the backdrop of the American frontier.
She's also set to appear in the upcoming horror thriller They Will Kill You, produced by Skydance's Nocturna Pictures and co-financed by New Line Cinema. Directed by Kirill Sokolov, the film features Heather alongside Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, and Myha'la, and began production in late 2024.- IMDb mini biography by: 2PM Sharp
- ChildrenNo Children
- ParentsJoan Graham (Bransfield)James Graham
- RelativesAimee Graham(Sibling)Chloe Graham(Niece or Nephew)
- Blonde hair
- Has not spoken to her parents since the release of Boogie Nights (1997).
- Was forced to turn down the lead role in Fatal Games (1989), because her parents thought the language was too risque.
- Was among over 80 women who accused Harvey Weinstein in sexual harassment or assault in October 2017.
- She subscribed to BBC America so she could study the accents of the characters in the popular British soap opera EastEnders (1985) for her role as "Mary Kelly" in the "Ripper" thriller From Hell (2001) in 2001. She particularly focused on "Kat Slater"'s cockney "East End" intonation.
- Originally auditioned to play "Amber Waves" in Boogie Nights (1997) but ultimately ended up playing the Roller Girl.
- I love telling dirty jokes. Sex is funny.
- [on sex] It's an aspect of my personality. Sex is a part of who I am and it took me a long time to feel good about it. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad to be a person who really enjoys sex.
- I always wanted to be the pretty girl, but I thought I wasn't. When I started acting and getting pretty girl roles, I felt like I was just pretending, and nobody saw I was just this big nerd.
- I sleep as much as I want. I'll sleep like 11 hours, unless I'm working. Sometimes I do feel like - this is weird, I should just get up so I can fit into the world. Then I'm like - why? I don't have a nine-to-five job.
- I'm not the kind of person who needs to be a mother no matter what. Life brings you people. Maybe I'll nurture someone who's not my child, like a friend, or an actor I'm working with who needs some love.
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