Alison Folland

Born: August 10 1978
Where: Boston, Massachussetts, USA

The actress made her big screen debut in Gus Van Sant's black comedy To Die For after attending a mass audition.

Industry rumour has it she had to be tracked down in the Bahamas where she was on holiday with her family to be told she'd got the part.

The daughter of a cardiologist and travel agent, Folland was encouraged to attend the audition by an enthusiastic school drama teacher.

Subsequent appearances included the Meryl Streep thriller Before and After and as the lead in the drama All of Me in 1997.

She had a small part in Van Sant's Good Will Hunting and also appeared in the gender drama Boys Don't Cry with Hilary Swank.

Reteaming with Van Sant, she made Finding Forrester alongside Sean Connery and in Allan Mindel's off-kilter debut feature Milwaukee, Minnesota.

In 2004, Folland had a minor role in Spike Lee's satire She Hate Me.