Erika Christensen

ERIKA CHRISTENSEN

Date of Birth: August 19, 1982

Born in Seattle, Washington, Erika Christensen started performing on stage at age 11 with professional children's theater groups in Los Angeles, where her family had moved when she was four years old. She gained experience singing, acting and dancing, and by the time she was 12, Erika knew she wanted to be an actor.

Her parents helped her get an agent, who helped get her a McDonald's commercial and a part in Michael Jackson's music video "Childhood." She also sang backup on a Neil Diamond Christmas album. She then began landing roles on various series such as Frasier, 3rd Rock From the Sun, The Pretender, The Practice, and Touched By An Angel.

At 13, Christensen landed her first large screen role as Wally Cleaver's girlfriend, Karen, in Leave It To Beaver (1997). The role provided her with the exposure she needed and soon she had regular gigs on the television series Thanks, and a starring role in the telefilm Can of Worms.

Her big break came in 2000 after playing the role of Michael Douglas' messed-up teen daughter in the multi-Oscar winning film Traffic (2000). Critical acclaim garnered her a Young Hollywood Award, an MTV Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, which she shared with the rest of the cast.

Following Traffic, Christensen went into full-throttle, landing starring roles in films such as Swimfan and The Banger Sisters (both 2002). In the summer of 2002 Erika joined other top young performers to film The Perfect Score (2004).

Erika lives in Los Angeles with her father, mother and twin brothers, Dane and Brando.

Filmography:

The Sisters (2005)
Flightplan (2005)
The Upside of Anger (2005)
Riding the Bullet (2004)
The Perfect Score (2004)
The Banger Sisters (2002)
Swimfan (2002)
Home Room (2002)
Traffic (2000)
Leave It to Beaver (1997)