Erika Jane Christensen (born August 19, 1982) is an American actress whose film appearances include Traffic (2000), Swimfan (2002), How to Rob a Bank (2007), and The Perfect Score (2004), among others. She also co-starred in the short-lived drama Six Degrees on ABC. She is currently co-starring in the 2010 television series Parenthood as Julia Braverman-Graham. She is often confused as being Julia Stiles in films.

Career

Christensen had several small roles in various television programs before starting her movie career. These include The Geena Davis Show, Frasier, The Practice, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Touched by an Angel. She was named one of People magazine’s “Breakthrough Stars of 2001.” For her performance as a heroin addict in Traffic she received the awards for Female Breakthrough Performance at the MTV Movie Awards, Female Standout Performance at the Young Hollywood Awards, and Outstanding Performance by a Cast Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2005, she briefly went into music as she recorded a version of “Let’s Fall In Love” with John Stevens for his debut album Red. In 2006, she starred in the series Six Degrees, which debuted on the ABC fall schedule in 2006 but low ratings caused its cancellation after one season. She made a cameo in the Joaquin Phoenix-directed video “Tired of Being Sorry” for Balthazar Getty’s band Ringside.[9] She is part of the cast of the film adaptation of Veronika Decides to Die. Christensen is also a regular in the new NBC series Parenthood, based on the Ron Howard film. It debuted on Mar. 2, 2010.

Personal life

Christensen was born in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Kathy, a construction manager, and Steven, an insurance worker/human-resources executive. She has an older half-brother, Nick, two younger twin brothers, Dane (who appeared in the film The Upside of Anger) and Brando. She has Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Welsh, and Irish ancestry. Christensen was raised in Los Angeles, California and started out on television in commercials for McDonald’s.

Christensen is a member of the Church of Scientology. Her parents became Scientologists during their 20s and raised her to be a Scientologist as well as home-schooling her.

1) Erika stars on the new Sarah Michelle Gellar movie, Veronika Decides to Die, an adaptation of a Paulo Coelho book, that would premiere this year 2009.

2) Erika’s other TV movie and film credits include Can of Worms (1999), Wuthering Heights (2003), The Sisters (2005), I’m in Hell (2007), and Gardener of Eden (2007).

3) Erika ranked No.68 in Maxim’s Hot 100 List of 2002.

4) In 1997, Erika did TV commercials for Payless Shoe Source.

5) When she is off from work, Erika loves to watch movies, sing, dance, go to the gym, and travel. She also tries to visit her family in Seattle whenever she can.

6) In filming her swimming pool love scene with Jesse Bradford in Swimfan, Erika asked the sound guy to play “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye to keep the atmosphere light on the set.

7) in Swimfan, Erika originally auditioned for the Ben’s girlfriend Amy but instead was handed the role of Madison, Ben’s stalker who seduced him to cheat on his girlfriend.

8 ) Erika has her own production company called Endless Entertainment.

9) Erika also made a cameo in the award-winning music video called UNITED by Taron Lexton in 2004. She also appeared in Fefe Dobson’s music video of “Everything” that year.
10) Erika supports the following charity organizations and events: Mothers Against Violence in America, Ronald McDonald House for children with cancer, Narconon, Save the Music Foundation, Students Against Violence, and Kids on Stage for a Better World.

11) Erika has been living in Los Angeles, California.

12) As a kid, Erika was involved with the theater groups Serendipity Theatre Company and Pasadena Dance Theatre.

14) In 2008, Marisol was part of the critically-acclaimed short film Struck directed by Taron Lexton. The cast also includes Kelly Preston, Marisol Nichols, Jason Dohring, and Jenna Elfman among others.

15) Erika did backup vocals for Christmas Album II by Neil Diamond.

16) Erika’s theatrical credits include Ramona Quimby, The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Night on Broadway, and Kids on Stage.

17) Erika attended Delphi Academy in Los Angeles, California for a while before continuing her schooling at home or on set due to her acting career.

18) Erika is a member of the Church of Scientology. She, along with Church officials, opened the Scientology Life Improvement Center in Plant City, Florida in May 2007.

19) Erika has Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Welsh, and Irish ancestry.

20) Erika’s parents are Steven, a human resource executive, and Kathy, a construction manager. She has twin brothers, Dane and Brando, and a half-brother Nick. One of them, Dane, has appeared in a couple of movies.

21) Her height is 5′ 5″ (1.65 m).

22) Erika received the MTV Breakthrough Performance Female Award for her role in the movie Traffic. She also shared a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture with her Traffic castmates in 2000.

23) In May 2007, Erika posed naked for photographer Marc Baptiste’s book Nudes.

24) Erika was named one of People magazine’s Breakthrough Stars of 2001.

1) Erika: (about her role in the movie “Traffic”) I’m a goody two-shoes who’s never taken anything stronger than Tylenol… So I played her like a bored girl blessed with everything except parents actually involved in her life.

2) Erika: I’m more proud of my upper body. Let’s just say I’m a typical female in that way.

3) Erika: I tend to choose roles in films that say something that I can get behind, something that I agree with, something that I can relate to [and] something that I think is good to say. Because if you’re putting it out there, it’s got to be something worth it.

4) Erika: (on being home-schooled) I think it was right for my life, making a movie is a little bit like high school. Because everybody lives together and you see each other every day and word travels fast around there.

5) Erika: At about twelve I just knew, something clicked, and I knew I wanted to be an actor and my parents, to their credit, granted this 12 year old girl a chance to give it a try.

6) Erika: (in a 2006 interview) I take things on a day to day basis when it gets really hectic. But I do think long term and I’m looking forward to the next couple of years when I do start producing my own films with my production company and playing some characters that are older and that’s really exciting to me.

7) Erika: (on working in “Traffic”) Here I was able to work with a cast, director and story that I could really put myself behind, and drug rehabilitation, education and prevention is something that I really feel passionately about now. But, after Traffic, I was offered a lot of these roles, and I was just like a kid in a candy store, so I got to snap some of these up.

8 ) Erika: I don’t know if my agent will be upset but I quoted him saying that he would jump out a window if I turn down another project.

9) Erika: (comparing her character in “The Upside of Anger” to herself) We’re alike in that I am ambitious, I don’t want to do things, and I’ve been attracted to older men. I think I have a much better relationship with my mother.

10) Erika: (about “Flightplan”) I love it. It’s a great ride. Even knowing what was going to happen, I was caught up in it.

11) Erika: To be entirely honest, I am an extremely confident person, and I don’t think I would have gotten into this business if I felt that I wasn’t going to succeed and I intend to be in this business, for the rest of my life.