Laura Allen

Last updated

Laura Allen
Born (1974-03-21) March 21, 1974 (age 50)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater Wellesley College
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present
Spouse
Bruce Weyman
​
(m. 2006)​
Children2

Laura Allen (born March 21, 1974) [1] is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on the ABC Daytime soap opera All My Children (as Laura Kirk-English, 2000 to 2002) and the USA Network television series The 4400 (as Lily Tyler, 2004 to 2005, 2007). She has also been a regular cast member on Dirt (2007 to 2008), Terriers (2010), and Awake (2012).

Contents

Early life

Allen was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. [1] She is the middle child of three sisters. [2] She attended Wellesley College as a sociology major and graduated in 1996. She worked with the NYPD as a domestic violence counselor before pursuing acting. [3]

Career

1997-2002

While pursuing her career in social work, Allen became drawn to the theatre. She took a job as a crew member for the Blue Man Group, then won a role as Maid Marion in a touring production of Robin Hood. Despite the grueling experience of the Robin Hood tour, Allen decided she wanted to focus on acting. [4]

Allen began working as a waitress while interning at the MCC Theater, where she met Robert LuPone. He mentored her, teaching her the Meisner technique and introducing her to her first agent. [4] Allen turned down a role on Sex and the City when she learned that it would require nudity. She won a guest starring role on The Street. [2]

She auditioned unsuccessfully for the roles of Michelle Bauer on Guiding Light and Melanie MacIver on One Life to Live before being cast as Laura Kirk-English on All My Children . The role had previously been played by Lauren Roman. Allen played Laura from October 2000 to January 2002. [2]

2003-2008

After departing AMC, Allen went on to play Susan Delacorte in Mike Newell's Mona Lisa Smile . [5] On television, she guest starred on Cold Case , North Shore , House, and Criminal Minds. [2] [6] In 2004, Allen was cast as Samantha Wade in Sucker Free City, a Showtime film directed by Spike Lee. [7] This was followed by a leading role as Jane Carol Webb in the film How You Look to Me. [4] [8]

She landed a starring role on USA Network's hit series, The 4400, playing the role of Lily Tyler. [4] However, her character was written out of the show before its third season. She reprised the role of Lily Tyler in 2007 in the fourth season of The 4400 for one episode. [9] [10]

In 2007, Allen was cast in a regular role on the FX drama series Dirt, playing Julia Mallory. [10] She guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and appeared in the films From Within [10] and The Collective . [11] [2] [12]

2009-2012

Allen played a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy in 2009 as the ex-lover of Owen (Kevin McKidd). [13] She guest starred on CSI: Miami and appeared in the films Hysteria and Old Dogs . [12] [2]

She played Linda in the 2010 comedy film Cherry, co-starring with Kyle Gallner. [14] Allen then had a regular role as Katie Nichols on the short-lived FX series Terriers in 2010. [15] In 2012, she was initially cast in a supporting role on the NBC series Awake (then titled REM), but was promoted to a leading role as Hannah Britten. [16] [17]

Allen was cast in a Lifetime pilot, The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, in 2012. [18] In early 2013, it was announced that the project wasn't going forward. [19]

2014-2017

In 2014, Allen had a recurring role as Rochelle Matheson on Ravenswood, a spinoff of Pretty Little Liars. [20] She portrayed Meg in the horror film Clown [12] [21] [22] [23] and Linda Kessler in the Lifetime movie Nanny Cam. [24] [20] She also had a guest starring role on NCIS: New Orleans. [6]

Allen was cast as Olivia in Marvel's Most Wanted, a proposed spinoff of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2016. [25] The project was dropped before it could air. In May 2016, Allen guest starred on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. [12] She had a recurring role as Rosie on American Horror Story:Cult in 2017. [26]

2018-present

In the 2018 film The Tale, a drama about sexual abuse, Allen played a younger version of Ellen Burstyn's character. [27] She continued to take on dramatic roles, appearing in the short film Unspeakable, directed by Milena Govich. [28] On television, she had a regular role as Officer Reynolds in the third season of Hap and Leonard. [29]

Allen had recurring roles on 9-1-1 and Suits in 2019. [6] [30] In 2024, she began appearing in the recurring role of Chief Robinson on Chicago Fire . [30]

Personal life

After leaving All My Children in 2002, Allen took a ten week training course to become an Emergency Medical Technician. [4]

Allen began dating model and cyclist Bruce Weyman in 2004. They were married at Relais Palazzo del Capitano in Pienza, Italy on September 23, 2006. They have two sons. [31] Their first son was born on September 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. [32]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003A Tale of TwoLimo GirlShort film
Mona Lisa Smile Susan Delacorte
2005 How You Look to Me Jane Carol Webb
2008 From Within Trish
The Collective Clare
2009 Old Dogs Kelly
2010 Cherry Linda
HysteriaErin
2013Red CarMarilynShort film
2014 Clown Meg McCoy
2017 Tulip Fever Buxom Wench
2018 The Tale Young Nettie
UnspeakableMarie DeguireShort film
2019One Foot in FrontThe MomShort film
2020Last LooksFriendShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 The Street JenniferEpisode: "Pilot"
2000–2002 All My Children Laura Kirk-EnglishContract role
2004 Cold Case Vanessa ProsserEpisode: "Late Returns"
North Shore MoniqueEpisode: "More"
Sucker Free City Samantha WadeTelevision film
2004–2005; 2007 The 4400 Lily Tyler Main cast (seasons 1–2)
2006 House Sarah AlstonEpisode: "All In"
2007 Criminal Minds Bobbi BairdEpisode: "Open Season"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Cass MagnallEpisode: "Alternate"
2007–2008 Dirt Julia MalloryMain cast
2009 Grey's Anatomy Beth WhitmanEpisodes: "Beat Your Heart Out", "Before and After"
CSI: Miami Sondra MooreEpisode: "Dissolved"
2010 Terriers Katie NicholsMain cast
2012 Awake Hannah Britten Main cast
2013Secret Lives of Husbands and WivesAlison DunnUnaired pilot
2013–2014 Ravenswood Rochelle Matheson6 episodes
2014 NCIS: New Orleans Katherine WilsonEpisode: "Watch Over Me"
Nanny CamLinda KesslerTelevision film
2015; 2019 Suits Lily SpecterEpisodes: "Hitting Home", "Faith", "Thunder Away"
2016 Marvel's Most Wanted OliviaUnaired pilot
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Emily WagnerEpisode: "Paper Orphans"
2017 American Horror Story: Cult RosieEpisodes: "Neighbors from Hell", "Holes"
Wisdom of the Crowd Shelly WalshEpisode: "Clear History"
2018 9-1-1 Marcy NashEpisodes: "Point of Origin", "Bobby Begins Again"
Hap and Leonard Officer Reynolds5 episodes
2019-2021 Truth Be Told Alana Cave5 episodes
2024 Chicago Fire Chief Robinson4 episodes

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  3. ↑ "Bio". Lauraallen.net. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
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  9. ↑ Lee, Patrick. "What Happened To 4400's Lily?". Archived from the original on July 15, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2006.
  10. 1 2 3 Webb Mitovich, Matt (August 17, 2007). "Laura Allen Has the Dirt on The 4400's Surprising Reunion". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  11. ↑ "The Collective". Brooklyn Film Festival. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Interview: Laura Allen (Clown)". Gruesome Magazine. August 16, 2016. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ Cellura, Regan (January 14, 2009). "AMC's Laura Allen Cast on Grey's Anatomy". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  14. ↑ Hale, Mike (November 4, 2010). "A Freshman Year to Remember". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ Bellafante, Gina (September 7, 2010). "In a Golden Land, but Grateful for Brass Rings". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  16. ↑ Stanley, Alessandra (February 29, 2012). "Choose a Reality? If Only He Could". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  17. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 21, 2011). "Pilot Rarity: Laura Allen Promoted To Female Lead On NBC's 'REM'". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ Kerr, Luke (October 15, 2012). "Laura Allen Uncovers The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  19. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (January 16, 2013). "Lifetime's Kim Raver Starrer 'Secret Lives of Wives' Not Moving Forward". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  20. 1 2 Kay, Ariel (December 28, 2014). "'Nanny Cam's Star Used To Work with the NYPD". Bustle. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  21. ↑ Miska, Brad (March 7, 2015). "'Clown' Clip Enters a Jungle Gym of Terror". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
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  29. ↑ Keene, Allison (March 14, 2018). "'Hap and Leonard' EP on Florida's Journey & Balancing Humor with Serious Darkness". Collider. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  30. 1 2 Poisuo, Pauli (April 5, 2024). "Why Chicago Fire's Chief Robinson Looks So Familiar". Looper. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  31. ↑ West, Frances (March 18, 2024). "Everything You Need to Know About Dirt Star Laura Allen's Husband, Bruce Weyman!". Married Biography. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Laura Allen Welcomes Son Harper Edward". People. September 5, 2008. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
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