Born in Palm Springs, California on September 18, 1979, Alison Lohman was not influenced by an artsy family; she was simply magnetically drawn to theater. By age 9, she had a leading role in a production of The Sound of Music, and by 11, she had won the Desert Theater League's Most Outstanding Actress in a Musical Award. Although she had appeared in 12 productions by the age of 17, Lohman was not just relying on her acting skills to get by. She was an accomplished singer as well, having joined Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope on stage. Her future in acting received a positive push when, as a senior in high school, she won yet another award, this time from the National Foundation of the Advancement of the Arts.
As a result, Lohman was offered a scholarship from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She turned it down, however, in order to pursue her dream of going to Hollywood. Though some deemed her impatient and unwilling to work on her craft in a stimulating environment, the quick move paid off.
After taking in a session at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, she received one-time roles in 7th Heaven and Pacific Blue in 1998. Her first notable film role came in 1999's The Thirteenth Floor, and after doing four episodes of Safe Harbor, she returned to the big screen for The Auteur Theory, Planet Patrol and The Million Dollar Kid.
In 2001, she garnered a lead role in FOX's Pasadena. Though the drama lasted only one season, it helped propel her to an even more significant lead role -- that of Astrid Magnussen in White Oleander. Her streak of hits continued in 2003 with Matchstick Men and Big Fish.
In 2005, she appeared in Atom Egoyan's Where the Truth Lies and opposite Robin Williams in The Big White. The up-and-coming actress appears next in Flicka with Maria Bello and Beowulf with Angelina Jolie.
As a result, Lohman was offered a scholarship from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She turned it down, however, in order to pursue her dream of going to Hollywood. Though some deemed her impatient and unwilling to work on her craft in a stimulating environment, the quick move paid off.
After taking in a session at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, she received one-time roles in 7th Heaven and Pacific Blue in 1998. Her first notable film role came in 1999's The Thirteenth Floor, and after doing four episodes of Safe Harbor, she returned to the big screen for The Auteur Theory, Planet Patrol and The Million Dollar Kid.
In 2001, she garnered a lead role in FOX's Pasadena. Though the drama lasted only one season, it helped propel her to an even more significant lead role -- that of Astrid Magnussen in White Oleander. Her streak of hits continued in 2003 with Matchstick Men and Big Fish.
In 2005, she appeared in Atom Egoyan's Where the Truth Lies and opposite Robin Williams in The Big White. The up-and-coming actress appears next in Flicka with Maria Bello and Beowulf with Angelina Jolie.
