Callies moved toHonolulu, Hawaii with her family when she was one year old. Throughout her youth, she expressed an interest in acting through participating in various school plays at the independentPunahou School. After graduating from high school, Callies enteredDartmouth College where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama in 1999, with a minor in women's studies and a senior fellowship in Indigenous theology.[2][3] In conjunction with her studies, Callies remained involved in theatre. She continued her education at theNational Theatre Conservatory, where she obtained aMaster of Fine Arts degree in 2002.[1]
Callies moved to New York in 2003 and then quickly landed her first television role as Kate O'Malley, a recurring part on the short-livedCBS showQueens Supreme.[4]
After making various guest appearances onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,Dragnet (2003), andNUMB3RS, Callies gained a starring role onFox'sPrison Break as Sara Tancredi. She played the role in the first two seasons, but her character was killed off for the third season before being brought back for the fourth season. According toPrison Break's executive producerMatt Olmstead, although the writers, the network, Callies herself, and he all wanted her to stay on the show, the character was written out due to contract disputes.[5] She stated through a spokesperson toTV Guide in fall 2007:
As hard as we all tried, thePrison Break powers that be and I were unable to find a way to meet both the needs of the story and the needs of my family. We parted wishing each other well. I had a wonderful time working with the creative team and have a world of respect for all of them; they took great care of Sara. I'm also enormously grateful to the fans. They've been so gracious and supportive, and I hope they continue to enjoy the show.[5]
Callies at the Edmonton Expo 2013
However, in March 2008, Olmstead stated that the character of Sara is still alive and would return in season four. Though the character Sara Tancredi appeared to have a violent death, Olmstead stated "...we realized that there was actually a way she could still be alive."[6] Executive Producer Matt Olmstead admitted the fans' overwhelming response to her death had influenced the decision to bring the character, and Callies, back to the show.[7]
Callies starred in her first feature, the independent filmThe Celestine Prophecy, in 2006.[11] She also starred in the horror filmWhisper alongsideJosh Holloway the following year.[12] In April 2010, she appeared on the Fox Television dramaHouse as a patient of the week, whose open marriage fascinates House and the team.[13] In August 2010, Callies' first screenplay, an adaptation of Campbell Geeslin's children's bookElena's Serenade, wasoptioned by French production company Fulldawa Films.[14]
Callies is married to Josh Winterhalt, whom she met atDartmouth College.[17] On January 23, 2007, her publicist announced that the couple were expecting their first child.[18] Their daughter was born in July 2007.[19] Their second child, an adopted son, was born in 2013.[20]
