Woodley was discovered by an agent while she was taking a local theater class,[5] which was part of a $700 program she begged her parents to enroll her in after accompanying her cousin to a theater class in her hometown.[4] At the age of five, she began working in commercials, including advertisements forLeapfrog,Hertz and aHonda minivan, appearing in more than sixtyTV spots before she turned eleven years old. She toldThe Hollywood Reporter that her parents only agreed to allow her to work professionally if she promised to adhere to three rules: "I had to stay the person they knew I was; have fun; and do good in school". Woodley was a4.0 student, who tookAP classes and graduated atSimi Valley High School.
At fifteen, she was diagnosed withscoliosis and was put in a chest-to-hips plastic brace for two years. Woodley toldUs Weekly that "It's like wearing a tacky, disgusting, plasticcorset for 18 hours a day. In the beginning, it was hard to eat or breathe. And I had to give upcross-country running. But I needed to have it to realign my spine".[10] Her condition did not affect her work on set as she "would [just] take the brace off during filming and put it back on during breaks".[11]
Woodley was cast as the main character,Amy Juergens, in the ABC Family seriesThe Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–2013), about a 15-year-old girl who learns she is pregnant. The show explores the effects of her pregnancy on her family, friends and herself, as well as life atGrant High School.Ken Tucker ofEntertainment Weekly praised her performance, stating, "[It] lifts a well-meaning, rather brave, but ramshackle show a notch."[14] Popular among viewers, the show became one ofABC Family's most-watched telecasts throughout its five-season run, spanning over 121 episodes.
In 2011, Woodley made her feature film debut inAlexander Payne'sThe Descendants, where she played Alex, the troubled elder daughter of Matt King (played byGeorge Clooney). Her performance received positive reviews from critics.A. O. Scott fromThe New York Times said, "Ms. Woodley [gives] one of the toughest, smartest, most credible adolescent performances in recent memory."[15] Peter Debruge fromVariety said that her performance is a "revelation" and that "in the role of Alex, [she is] displaying both the edge and depth the role demands."[16]
Woodley starred in thefilm adaptation of Tim Tharp's novel,The Spectacular Now, as Aimee Finecky, an innocent, bookish teenager who begins dating the charming, freewheeling high-school senior Sutter Keely (Miles Teller).[22] The film premiered atSundance on January 18, 2013.[23] Her portrayal of Aimee garnered much praise;Los Angeles Times' critic Betsy Sharkey said that Woodley and Teller "bring such an authentic face of confidence and questioning, indifference and need, pain and denial, friendship and first love",[24] while another critic fromThe Guardian said that they gave "remarkably strong performances" that "display a depth of feeling that's breathtaking in its simplicity and honest[y]."[25] Additionally, Woodley won theSpecial Jury Award for Acting, alongside Teller, at the2013 Sundance Film Festival and received a nomination for theIndependent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.
In October 2012, Woodley was offered the role ofMary Jane Watson inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2.[26] On June 19, 2013, she was cut from the film. DirectorMarc Webb toldThe Hollywood Reporter that the cut was "a creative decision to streamline the story and focus onPeter andGwen and their relationship," and that everyone loved working with Woodley.[27] She had also signed on to star inWhite Bird in a Blizzard, directed byGregg Araki. Although filming took place in October 2012, the film was not released until January 20, 2014, at theSundance Film Festival[28] and then on October 24, 2014, to wider audiences, where it received mixed reviews. In the film, she plays teenager Katrina "Kat" Connors, whose life is thrown into chaos when her mother disappears. Critic Moira MacDonald commended her by saying, "Woodley's depiction of Kat is low-key, natural, and utterly unaffected; as she has in every role, she makes the character her own, with her scratchy little voice and level gaze."[29]
In 2014, Woodley starred asBeatrice "Tris" Prior in the filmDivergent, an adaptation ofVeronica Roth's best-sellingyoung-adult novel of the same name, and the first installment inThe Divergent Series.[30] Woodley was the first and only actress considered for the role of Tris.[31][32] To prepare for the role, Woodley trained three to five days a week for four weeks inChicago before shooting for the film began. She had sessions of fight training, gun training, and knife training with stunt coordinator Garrett Warren.[33] Set in adystopian andpostapocalypticChicago, the film received mixed reviews, but Woodley's performance as Tris received a positive reception; Sam Allard fromOrlando Weekly said, "with her performance as Tris Prior inDivergent, Woodley rescues and then raises up a film that could have been an utter disaster."[34]Divergent reached the number-one spot at the box office during its opening weekend, and was a financial success.[35] Woodley received the 2014CinemaCon's Female Star of Tomorrow Award.[36]
Also in 2014, Woodley starred asHazel Grace Lancaster inThe Fault in Our Stars, the film adaptation ofJohn Green'snovel of the same name. She portrayed a 16-year-old cancer patient who meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort, who also played her brother in theDivergent series), a similarly affected teen from her cancer support group. Green said viaTwitter about Woodley; "There were so many amazing auditions for the role of Hazel, but Shailene's love for the book and her understanding of Hazel blew me away."[37] The film was a blockbuster success, grossing over $307 million worldwide.[38] Woodley's performance received critical acclaim;Peter Travers inRolling Stone called her a "sublime actress with a résumé that pretty much proves she's incapable of making a false move on camera",[39] andRichard Roeper ofChicago Sun-Times called her performance as Hazel Oscar-worthy, adding, "she's that memorable".[40] On November 14, 2014, she receivedThe Hollywood Film Award for Hollywood Breakout Performance – Actress for her depiction of Hazel.
Given her career breakthrough and continuing success since her film debut, she earned a nomination for theBAFTA Rising Star Award in 2015.[41][42]
In 2015, Woodley reprised her role as Tris inThe Divergent Series: Insurgent, the second installment inThe Divergent Series. Her performance once again received critical acclaim, with Daniel M. Kimmel ofNew England Movies Weekly writing, "Woodley does solid work here as she's done elsewhere, and continues to be someone to watch." Despite a more negative critical reception than the previous film,Insurgent was commercially successful, making nearly $100 million in its worldwide debut and grossed $295.2 million worldwide.[43] She also reprised her role again in the penultimate film of the seriesAllegiant (2016). The film, however, was poorly reviewed by critics[44] and abox-office bomb.[45] Lionsgate had planned for the final film in the series, namedAscendant, to be made for television, but Woodley announced that she would not be a part of it.[46] In an interview withMTV, Woodley clarified that she had every intention of doing the finalDivergent installment but she wanted to see its rightful end, and to her, that meant finishing what she, the cast and crew set out to do from the beginning and that is makingAscendant a full-length feature film. She added, "I want to do justice to everybody who believes in the character of Tris as much as I believe in the character of Tris".[47]
Starting in 2015,[51] Woodley took a break from filming for nearly a year and considered quitting as an actor, stating in a later interview that she "had hit a wall with acting" and "felt it was time to do something different". But she eventually "fell in love" with acting again throughBig Little Lies.[52] In 2017, Woodley starred as a sexual assault survivor, alongsideNicole Kidman andReese Witherspoon, in theHBO critically acclaimed drama seriesBig Little Lies directed byJean-Marc Vallée.[53] Sarah Rense ofEsquire called Woodley's performance "underrated" and "brought a quiet complexity", adding that "she was the most realistic character" and her "cool demeanor interrupted by sudden, short outbursts - just seemed so real to anyone who thinks more than they talk".[54] She was nominated for anEmmy andGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television respectively for her role.[55][56] She reprised her role as Jane Chapman for the second season in 2019.[57][58]
She also starred in and produced the biographical filmAdrift (2018), withBaltasar Kormákur as director.[59] Woodley learnedsailing and did her own stunts on the film, ninety percent of which was shot on the open ocean offFiji.[60] Daniel Feingold fromWSVN called her performance asTami Oldham Ashcraft, a real-life sailor who was stranded at sea after a storm, "Oscar-worthy".[61]Owen Gleiberman ofVariety called her "a sensual actress", stating that she "has the gift of making sensuality dramatic; there's a beautiful severity to her features that allows you to feel the things she's showing you. That's a talent, but it's also an instinct".[62] Woodley was awarded the Rising Star Award during the 2018Deauville Film Festival.[63]
In 2019, Woodley starred in the romantic dramaEndings, Beginnings alongsideSebastian Stan,Jamie Dornan, andMatthew Gray Gubler.[64] The film premiered at theToronto International Film Festival and was introduced as semi-improvised, relying on an 80-page outline. Woodley played Daphne, a contemporary character attempting to get her life on track through self-realization.[65][66] The film was poorly received with a critical consensus that reads, "Endings, Beginnings smothers its talented ensemble cast's committed work in a carelessly constructed, aimlessly dawdling story".[67]Peter Travers ofRollingStone said that "it's the performances that carry the day with Woodley raising the bar in every scene".[68]
In 2021, Woodley had a supporting role inKevin Macdonald's real-lifeGuantanamo Bay drama filmThe Mauritanian alongsideJodie Foster,Tahar Rahim andBenedict Cumberbatch. She portrayed Teri Duncan, the junior associate ofdefense lawyerNancy Hollander (played by Foster).[69] David Ehrlich ofIndieWire described Woodley as "overqualified for a role that requires her to do little more than smile and sweat".[70] She had a small role in the critically acclaimed filmThe Fallout.[71] The appearance was a dedication to her longtime friendship with the film's directorMegan Park, her co-star inThe Secret Life of the American Teenager.[72] She next starred in and executive produced the romantic dramaThe Last Letter from Your Lover alongsideFelicity Jones, based on the bestselling book byJojo Moyes.[73] She played Jennifer Stirling, a 1960s married woman caught in an illicit love affair, leading her to discover her place in the society and who she truly loves.[74] Sophie Kaufman ofTimeOut said, "Woodley has such raw intensity as a performer that she shows up any tired elements of a film production, just as silk shows up polyester".[75]
In 2023, Woodley starred in and produced the crime thriller filmTo Catch a Killer. Directed and co-written byArgentine filmmakerDamián Szifron in his English-language debut, the film is centered on Woodley's character, Eleanor Falco, a talented but troubled cop who is recruited by the FBI to help profile and track down a mass murderer.[76]Rex Reed ofObserver said, "Woodley plays it on the verge of mental and physical exhaustion, rubbing the pain from her eye, giving every scene a little something extra" and further stated that she "adds another laurel to her already impressive resume".[77]
She next starred oppositeJack Whitehall in the sci-fi comedyRobots, which is a film directorial debut of the screenwriting duo Anthony Hines andCasper Christensen. Based onRobert Sheckley's 1973 short storyThe Robot Who Looked Like Me, the film follows a womanizer, Charles (Whitehall), and a gold digger, Elaine (Woodley), who learn humanity when forced to team up and pursue their robot doubles, who have fallen in love and run away together.[78] Woodley toldCollider that what made her accept the role of Elaine was "having the opportunity to do a comedy for the first time. But underneath all of the comedy, was this really beautiful message of love".[79] She next appeared inCraig Gillespie'sDumb Money.[80] She portrayed Lina Lardi, mistress ofFerrari founderEnzo Ferrari, inMichael Mann's biopicFerrari.[81]
Earlier in her career, she admitted to being uneducated about the film and TV industry, particularly in terms of directors, producers, actors and good films.[88][89] According to her, she is drawn to "human scripts" which "are raw, and real, and risky" with her playing "vulnerable scary" characters.[90] She stated, "I'm such a happy, optimistic person in real life for some reason, I have a great time taking out my alter-ego, dark side on screen".[91]
Acting since the age of five, Woodley is not amethod[92] nor aclassically trained actor.[93] She insisted, "I'm not a good actor, just a professional listener".[94] Over the years, Woodley has altered her acting style[95] by incorporating the method of whoever she's working with.[96]
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Woodley said: "I fall in love with human beings based on who they are, not based on what they do or what sex they are".[97] In 2018, she confirmed she was dating Australian-Fijianrugby union playerBen Volavola.[98][99] In April 2020, Woodley's relationship with Volavola reportedly ended.[100]
Woodley was reported to be in a relationship with NFLquarterbackAaron Rodgers in 2020.[101][102] In February 2021, Rodgers referred to his "fiancée" during his acceptance speech for the league'sMVP award at theNFL Honors ceremony, confirming that he was engaged, but not to whom.[103] Woodley confirmed she was engaged to Rodgers in a February 22, 2021 appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[104] In February 2022, it was reported that Woodley and Rodgers had ended their engagement.[105]Woodley and actorLucas Bravo dated and broke up in 2025.[106]
Woodley is an avidenvironmental activist[107] and climate advocate.[108] In 2010, she and her mother co-founded thenonprofit organization All it Takes, a youth leadership program that aims to educate young people to practice empathy, compassion, responsibility, and purpose in hopes to foster sustainable, positive change for themselves, others and the environment.[109][110][111]
Woodley organized theUp to Us movement, a cross country caravan to theDemocratic National Convention. Its goal is to unite Americans, in an act of solidarity, to raise awareness on the political, social and environmental issues political candidates need to address leading up to the elections.[112][113]
Woodley atWeb Summit 2016 - Future Societies, November 2016
In 2016, Woodleyprotested against the Dakota Access Pipeline, an underground petroleum transport pipeline. She was arrested for criminal trespassing inSaint Anthony, North Dakota.[114][115][116][117] The arrest was broadcast as it happened, as Woodley was about to end her two-hour-longFacebook livestream of the protest. This generated increased media attention and public awareness on theDAPL situation. Her mugshot circulated exponentially onsocial media platforms along with thehashtags #FreeShailene, #NoDAPL, and #IStandWithStandingRock. Consequently, Woodley gained support from fellow celebrities which created further DAPL discourse.[118][119][120][121] She reportedly postedbail for her and the 26 other protestors and was, subsequently, released.[122][123] Ten days after her arrest, she authored a piece forTime, titled "The Truth About My Arrest", detailing her experience and raising awareness for the environmental and social issues surrounding the cause.[124] She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of probation.[125][126]
Woodley received the Philanthropy Award atVariety's fourth Annual Power of Youth event for the significant contributions made by All it Takes.[127]
In mid-2016, Woodley joined the board ofOur Revolution, a political organization aimed to educate voters about issues,[128][129] get people involved in the political process, support progressive policies such asMedicare for All, and work to organize and electprogressive leaders.[130][131] As a member of the organization and a known environmental activist, Woodley became one of the speakers at a NationalTown Hall in 2018, titled "Solving Our Climate Crisis", hosted byOur Revolution founderBernie Sanders. The event addressed the global threat ofclimate change and explored possible solutions to save theEarth and create good-paying jobs.[132][133]
On September 29, 2016, Woodley was honored at the 20th Anniversary Global Green Environmental Awards, receiving the Entertainment Industry Environmental Leadership Award for co-founding All it Takes. In October 2016, she was given the Female EMA Futures Award during the 26th AnnualEnvironmental Media Association (EMA) Awards.[134] She also received the Advocate Award at the 2016InStyle Awards, for her work in uplifting others and championing those in need.[135] In 2017, the environmental organizationSierra Club honored Woodley at their 125th Anniversary Trail Blazers Ball, for hergrassroots activism.[136]
Woodley has expressed her insistence on clean andrenewable energy. In 2017, she wrote anopinion piece forThe Hill, titled "US Should Run on Renewable Energy by 2050", encouraging Americans to support the technology and the need to transition to an economy powered by 100% clean energy sources. It ultimately gave her the opportunity to introduce the100 by '50 Act, abill that calls for theUnited States to aggressively reduce carbon pollution and achieve 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050, sponsored bySenator Jeff Merkley.[108][139]
Woodley has lent her voice to several environmental campaigns such as theConservation International'sNature Is Speaking series, focusing on its goal to reframe why conservation is important and personify different aspects of nature.[143] She is a member of Conservation International's Leadership Council, dedicated to advancing the organization's mission through each member's expertise, community connections, and philanthropic support.[144] She teamed up withAmerican Express, together withParley for the Oceans, on their#BackourOceans initiative to combat marineplastic pollution.[145][146] She also joinedOcean Unite's30x30 mission to protect at least 30% of the Earth's oceans by 2030[147] and the WILDOCEANS'sOcean Impact, promoting the conservation ofSouth Africa's oceans.[148][149]
In July 2019, Woodley became an Oceans Ambassador forGreenpeace and embarked on a three-week-long expedition to theSargasso Sea to study the impact of plastics andmicroplastics on marine life, and to document the importance of this unique ecosystem for protection under a new global oceantreaty that is being negotiated at theUnited Nations.[150][151] She wrote a piece forTime, titled "How I'm Changing My Life to Help Save the Seas", chronicling the time she spent on theGreenpeace ship and the actions to take to save the marine life.[152] The expedition reached its desired outcome in March 2023 as theUN Ocean Treaty had finally been agreed at the United Nations. The agreement keeps the 30x30 target –protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 – alive.[153]
In 2022, Woodley became inaugural member ofGoodLeap's Advisory Council, which brings renowned experience from a variety of sectors, to help GoodLeap continue its exponential growth and mission to connect a world where everyone can live moresustainably.[154] In 2023, Woodley joinedGreenpeace inParis, demanding theUnited Nations create a strong and ambitious Global Treaty that will effectively end plastic pollution. This coincided with theUNEP's second round of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting, in Paris, which aims to secure a legally bindingGlobal Plastics Treaty.[155]
In 2020, Woodley partnered withKarün, a certifiedB Corp that creates high-quality eyewear using recycled waste like fishing nets, ropes, and metals collected by local rural entrepreneurs. Their collaboration created the product lineKarün by Shailene Woodley, building its identity around the connection of product design with nature protection.[158][159] It was awarded The Most Sustainable Eyewear Brand in 2021- 2023 by Global Brands Magazine Awards.[160][161][162]
^Dickinson, Jennifer (June 1, 2018)."Second Nature".Porter magazine. YNAP Corporation.Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. RetrievedJune 1, 2018.
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped_2).jpg)
