Lauren Graham

Born: March 16 1967
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

The Golden Globe-nominated actress is best known in America as Lorelia in the hit TV series Gilmore Girls.

On the big screen roles have included Rene Zellwegger's best friend and confidant in One True Thing and the girlfriend of Billy Bob Thornton's Bad Santa.

Raised by her father since the age of five after he mother left home to pursue a singing career, Graham originally wanted to be a jockey.

However, she was too tall and, instead, followed an acting career after gaining an interest while at elementary school.

Shortly after leaving Southern Methodist University with an actor's degree she moved to Los Angeles and landed a role in the sitcom Caroline in the City.

She went on to play an efficiency expert hoping to downside staff on Newsradio and a studio executive in Law and Order.

Graham made his big screen debut in the 1997 thriller Nightwatch with Ewan McGregor and followed this up with Confessions of a Sexist Pig and One True Thing.

After being cast in Gilmore Girls, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe, she appeared in the romantic drama Sweet November with Keanu Reeves and opposite Casper Van Dien in Chasing Destiny.

Recent work includes Sue in the non-PC comedy Bad Santa and the Vin Diesel comedy vehicle The Pacifier.