Erika Christensen | |
|---|---|
 Christensen in March 2013 | |
| Born | Erika Jane Christensen (1982-08-19)August 19, 1982 (age 42) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Erika Jane Christensen (born August 19, 1982)[1] is an American actress. Her filmography includes roles inTraffic (2000),Swimfan (2002),The Banger Sisters (2002),The Perfect Score (2004),Flightplan (2005),How to Rob a Bank (2007),The Tortured (2010), andThe Case for Christ (2017). For her performance inTraffic, she won theMTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance and theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture along with her co-stars.
In 2006, she starred on the short-lived drama seriesSix Degrees onABC. From 2010 until its ending in 2015, Christensen starred asJulia Braverman-Graham on theNBC family drama seriesParenthood. In 2014, she won aGracie Award for her performance in the role. In 2015, Christensen portrayed Betty Beaumontaine on ABC's short-lived crime drama seriesWicked City and in 2017, she portrayed Ali Petrovich on another short-lived ABC crime drama series,Ten Days in the Valley.
Since 2023, she has been appearing as Angie Polaski in ABC'sWill Trent.
Christensen was born inSeattle,Washington,[1] the daughter of Kathy (née Hendricks), a construction manager, and Steven Christensen, an insurance worker and human resources executive.[2] She has an older half-brother, Nick, and two younger twin brothers, Dane (who appeared in the 2005 filmThe Upside of Anger) and Brando.[3]
Christensen lived in Seattle until age four, when her family relocated to suburbanLos Angeles,California.[4][5] She started out acting on television in commercials forMcDonald's[6] andVolvo.[7] Christensen is a member of theChurch of Scientology.[8] Her parents became Scientologists in their 20s while living in Seattle, and raised her as a Scientologist. Her parents also decided tohome school her.[9]
Christensen began her professional career with a supporting role in the comedy filmLeave It to Beaver, and a one-episode guest appearance on the drama seriesNothing Sacred, both of which were released/aired in 1997.[10] She went on to guest star in numerous other television series in the late 1990s, includingFrasier,The Practice,3rd Rock from the Sun, andTouched by an Angel.[3][6] She also starred in theDisney Channel original movieCan of Worms in 1999.[11] Also in 1999, she starred as Abigail Winthrop on the short-livedCBS sitcomThanks.[12] That same year, she featured inMichael Jackson's music video for his song "Childhood", alongside actressJena Malone.[13]
For her performance ascocaine user Caroline Wakefield inSteven Soderbergh's crime drama filmTraffic (2000),[14] she received the awards forBreakthrough Female Performance at theMTV Movie Awards,[6] Standout Performance – Female at theYoung Hollywood Awards, andOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at theScreen Actors Guild Awards.[15] Also in 2000, Christensen guest starred in single episodes ofTime of Your Life,Movie Stars,FreakyLinks, andThe Pretender. In 2001, she had a recurring role on the sitcomThe Geena Davis Show. She also appeared in an episode of theFox sitcomThat '70s Show, reuniting her with herTraffic co-starTopher Grace. She was named one ofPeople's "Breakthrough Stars of 2001". The following year, Christensen starred in three feature films: the teen thrillerSwimfan,[16] the crime dramaHome Room,[17] and the comedyThe Banger Sisters.[18]
In 2003, Christensen starred inMTV's television film adaptation ofWuthering Heights, based on theEmily Brontënovel of the same name. She also recorded multiple songs for the film's soundtrack.[19] In 2004, she starred in the teen heist filmThe Perfect Score,[9] and the horror filmRiding the Bullet.[20] In 2005, Christensen recorded a version of "Let's Fall in Love" withJohn Stevens for his debut albumRed.[21][22] Also in 2005, Christensen co-starred in the filmsThe Upside of Anger as Andy Wolfmeyer, co-starringKevin Costner andJoan Allen;[23]The Sisters as Irene Prior, withMaria Bello andElizabeth Banks;[24] andFlightplan as Fiona, starringJodie Foster.[25] The following year, she starred in the seriesSix Degrees, which debuted on theABC fall schedule on September 21, 2006.[26] Low ratings caused its cancellation after one season, leaving five episodes unaired.[27]
In 2007, she appeared in the comedy-drama filmGardener of Eden,[28] and the independent crime comedyHow to Rob a Bank.[29] In 2008 and 2009, she guest starred as a special agent onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, a college student withdissociative identity disorder onLie to Me,[30] and a victim of domestic abuse onMercy. Christensen made a cameo in theJoaquin Phoenix-directed music video "Tired of Being Sorry" forBalthazar Getty's bandRingside.[31] In 2009, she was part of the cast of the film adaptation ofVeronika Decides to Die,[32] and starred in the romantic dramaMercy alongsideJames Caan andDylan McDermott.[33] In 2010, Christensen co-starred withJesse Metcalfe in the horror-thriller filmThe Tortured.[34]
Christensen was a regular cast member on theNBC drama television seriesParenthood, which debuted on March 2, 2010, and concluded on January 29, 2015.[35] She portrayed the role of Julia Braverman-Graham, the youngest daughter of the Braverman family.[36] She won the 2014Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series for her performance in the series.[37] In 2013, she starred in the musical filmHow Sweet It Is, directed byBrian Herzlinger,[38] and was a guest judge on 2 episodes of the cooking competition seriesKnife Fight.[39] The following year, she appeared on the celebrity game showHollywood Game Night,[40] and lead the cast of theHallmark Channel television filmMy Boyfriends' Dogs, based on theDandi Daley Mackall novel of the same name.[41]
In February 2015, she was cast in the short-lived ABC crime drama seriesWicked City as Betty Beaumontaine, a single mother who becomes romantically involved with a serial killer.[42] Also in 2015, she partnered with food companyLean Cuisine to launch their brand overhaul.[43] In September 2015, Christensen was among several celebrities to appear in the music video "Love" forDash Mihok's band Diz and the Fam.
Christensen led the cast of the Hallmark Channel television filmAnything for Love co-starring withPaul Greene. The film was released on February 14, 2016.[44] The following month, she starred in the music video "All Is Forgiven" forSal Masekela's band Alekesam.[45] Christensen next appeared as part of the all-star cast ofHBO's courtroom drama filmConfirmation, directed byRick Famuyiwa and co-starringKerry Washington,Wendell Pierce, andGreg Kinnear.[46] The same year, Christensen starred inJon Abrahams' directorial debut filmTwo for One,[47] which had its world premiere at the Napa Valley Film Festival.[48]
In 2017, she co-starred withMike Vogel andRobert Forster in theLee Strobel biopicThe Case for Christ, in the role of Strobel's wife Leslie. That same year, Christensen began starring as Ali Petrovich in the ABC drama seriesTen Days in the Valley, alongsideKyra Sedgwick.[49] She starred in Jon Abrahams' second film, the comedy mob thrillerClover, alongsideMark Webber,Julia Jones, andRon Perlman.[50]
In November 2014, Christensen became engaged to cyclist Cole Maness.[51] They married on September 5, 2015, inPalm Springs, California,[52] and reside inLos Feliz, Los Angeles.[53] The couple have two daughters.[54][55]
On May 17, 2023, Christensen received theMark of Excellence award at the Annual Medinova NY Dinner Gala, hosted by MC Ciano Joasil, a non-profit organization raising funds for hospitals in underserved areas of Haiti.[56]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Leave It to Beaver | Karen L. Connelly | |
| 2000 | Traffic | Caroline Wakefield | |
| 2002 | Home Room | Deanna Cartwright | |
| 2002 | Swimfan | Madison Bell | |
| 2002 | The Banger Sisters | Hannah Kingsley | |
| 2004 | The Perfect Score | Anna Ross | |
| 2004 | Riding the Bullet | Jessica Hadley | |
| 2005 | The Upside of Anger | Andy Wolfmeyer | |
| 2005 | The Sisters | Irene Prior | |
| 2005 | Flightplan | Fiona | |
| 2007 | Gardener of Eden | Mona Huxley | |
| 2007 | How to Rob a Bank | Jessica | |
| 2008 | Struck | Bus Stop Girl | Short film |
| 2009 | Mercy | Robin | |
| 2009 | Veronika Decides to Die | Claire | |
| 2010 | Melon | Catherine | Video short |
| 2010 | The Tortured | Elise Landry | |
| 2013 | How Sweet It Is | Sarah Cosmo | |
| 2016 | All at Once | Tiffany Fontinella | Working title:Two for One |
| 2017 | The Case for Christ | Leslie Strobel | |
| 2020 | Clover | Gertie | |
| 2022 | Kimi | Samantha Gerrity | |
| 2022 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Kate |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Nothing Sacred | Romy Carrol | Episode: "House of Rage" |
| 1998 | The Practice | Melissa | Episode: "The Pursuit of Dignity" |
| 1998 | Frasier | Teenager | Episode: "Frasier's Curse" |
| 1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Brianna | Episode: "Collect Call for Dick" |
| 1999 | Can of Worms | Katelyn Sandman | TV movie |
| 1999 | Thanks | Abigail Winthrop | Main cast |
| 1999 | Touched by an Angel | Ivy | Episode: "Voice of an Angel" |
| 2000 | Time of Your Life | Flynn Halloway | Episode: "The Time She Turned 21" |
| 2000 | Movie Stars | Tawny | Episode: "La Vida Loca" |
| 2000 | The Pretender | Leigh Wright | Episode: "Corn Man" |
| 2000 | FreakyLinks | Cassie | Episode: "Subject: Coelacanth This!" |
| 2001 | The Geena Davis Show | Isabel | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | That '70s Show | Stacey | Episode: "Red and Stacey" |
| 2003 | Wuthering Heights | Cate Earnshaw | TV movie |
| 2005–2009 | Robot Chicken | Various characters | 3 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Six Degrees | Mae Anderson | Main cast |
| 2007 | I'm In Hell | Jennifer | TV movie |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | SA Lauren Cooper | Episode: "Signature" |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Sophie Howell | Episode: "The Core of It" |
| 2009 | Mercy | Dana Harper McPhearson | Episode: "Destiny, Meet My Daughter, Veronica" |
| 2010–2015 | Parenthood | Julia Braverman-Graham | Main cast |
| 2014 | My Boyfriends' Dogs | Bailey Daley | TV movie |
| 2015 | Wicked City | Betty Beaumontaine | Main cast |
| 2016 | Anything for Love | Katherine Benson | TV movie |
| 2016 | Confirmation | Shirley Weigand | TV movie |
| 2016 | The Follower | Chelsea Angel | TV movie |
| 2017 | Ten Days in the Valley | Ali Petrovich | Main cast |
| 2018 | Adopted | Rebekah | Episode: "Julie's New Husband" |
| 2019 | To Have and to Hold | Alice | TV movie |
| 2023–present | Will Trent | Angie Polaski | Main cast |
| Year | Title | Role | Artist | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Childhood" | Girl | Michael Jackson | Nicholas Brandt |
| 2004 | "Everything" (original/The Perfect Score version) | — | Fefe Dobson | Chris Robinson |
| 2010 | "Tired of Being Sorry" | Bridesmaid | Ringside | Joaquin Phoenix |
| 2015 | "Love" | Woman | Diz and the Fam | Dash Mihok |
| 2016 | "All Is Forgiven" | Woman | Alekesam | Toby Louie |
| 2016 | "Where's the Love?" | Herself | Black Eyed Peas featuring The World | Michael Jurkovac |
| 2019 | "Whenever You're Around" | Woman | Bootstraps | Sam Jaeger |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | YoungStar Awards | Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Series | Nothing Sacred | Nominated |
| 2001 | Young Hollywood Awards | Standout Performance – Female | Traffic | Won |
| 2001 | Teen Choice Awards | Film – Choice Breakout Performance | Traffic | Nominated |
| 2001 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Traffic | Won |
| 2001 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Youth Performance | Traffic | Nominated |
| 2001 | MTV Movie Awards | Breakthrough Female Performance | Traffic | Won |
| 2014 | Gracie Awards | Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series | Parenthood | Won |
