Erika Christensen

Erika Jane Christensen (born August 19, 1982) is an American actress.

She went on to guest star in numerous other television series in the late 1990s, including Frasier, The Practice, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Touched by an Angel.

Christensen began her professional career with a supporting role in the comedy film Leave It to Beaver, and a one-episode guest appearance on the drama series Nothing Sacred, both of which were released/aired in 1997.

She also starred in the Disney Channel original movie Can of Worms in 1999.

Also in 1999, she starred as Abigail Winthrop on the short-lived CBS sitcom Thanks.

That same year, she featured in Michael Jackson's music video for his song "Childhood", alongside actress Jena Malone.

Her filmography includes roles in Traffic (2000), Swimfan (2002), The Banger Sisters (2002), The Perfect Score (2004), Flightplan (2005), How to Rob a Bank (2007), The Tortured (2010), and The Case for Christ (2017).

For her performance in Traffic, she won the MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture along with her co-stars.

For her performance as cocaine user Caroline Wakefield in Steven Soderbergh's crime drama film Traffic (2000), she received the awards for Breakthrough Female Performance at the MTV Movie Awards, Standout Performance – Female at the Young Hollywood Awards, and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Also in 2000, Christensen guest starred in single episodes of Time of Your Life, Movie Stars, FreakyLinks, and The Pretender.

In 2001, she had a recurring role on the sitcom The Geena Davis Show.

She also appeared in an episode of the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, reuniting her with her Traffic co-star Topher Grace.

She was named one of People "Breakthrough Stars of 2001".

The following year, Christensen starred in three feature films: the teen thriller Swimfan, the crime drama Home Room, and the comedy The Banger Sisters.

In 2003, Christensen starred in MTV's television film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, based on the Emily Brontë novel of the same name.

She also recorded multiple songs for the film's soundtrack.

In 2004, she starred in the teen heist film The Perfect Score, and the horror film Riding the Bullet.

She has an older half-brother, Nick, and two younger twin brothers, Dane (who appeared in the 2005 film The Upside of Anger) and Brando.

She has Danish, Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Welsh, and Irish ancestry.

Christensen lived in Seattle until age four, when her family relocated to suburban Los Angeles, California.

She started out acting on television in commercials for McDonald's and Volvo.

Christensen is a member of the Church of Scientology.

Her parents became Scientologists in their 20s while living in Seattle, and raised her as a Scientologist.

Her parents also decided to home school her.

In 2005, Christensen recorded a version of "Let's Fall in Love" with John Stevens for his debut album Red.

Also in 2005, Christensen co-starred in the films The Upside of Anger as Andy Wolfmeyer, co-starring Kevin Costner and Joan Allen; The Sisters as Irene Prior, with Maria Bello and Elizabeth Banks; and Flightplan as Fiona, starring Jodie Foster.

In 2006, she starred on the short-lived drama series Six Degrees on ABC.

The following year, she starred in the series Six Degrees, which debuted on the ABC fall schedule on September 21, 2006.

Low ratings caused its cancellation after one season, leaving five episodes unaired.

In 2007, she appeared in the comedy-drama film Gardener of Eden, and the independent crime comedy How to Rob a Bank.

In 2008 and 2009, she guest starred as a special agent on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a college student with dissociative identity disorder on Lie to Me, and a victim of domestic abuse on Mercy.

Christensen made a cameo in the Joaquin Phoenix-directed music video "Tired of Being Sorry" for Balthazar Getty's band Ringside.

In 2009, she was part of the cast of the film adaptation of Veronika Decides to Die, and starred in the romantic drama Mercy alongside James Caan and Dylan McDermott.

From 2010 until its ending in 2015, Christensen starred as Julia Braverman-Graham on the NBC family drama series Parenthood.

In 2010, Christensen co-starred with Jesse Metcalfe in the horror-thriller film The Tortured.

Christensen was a regular cast member on the NBC drama television series Parenthood, which debuted on March 2, 2010, and concluded on January 29, 2015.

She portrayed the role of Julia Braverman-Graham, the youngest daughter of the Braverman family.

In 2014, she won a Gracie Award for her performance in the role.

Christensen portrayed Betty Beaumontaine on ABC's short-lived crime drama series Wicked City.

Christensen was born in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Kathy (née Hendricks), a construction manager, and Steven Christensen, an insurance worker and human resources executive.