Shailene Woodley
Encyclopedia
Shailene Diann Woodley is an American actress. Woodley is known for portraying Amy Juergens in the ABC Family
series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager
, and for co-starring with George Clooney
in the 2011 drama film The Descendants
.
. When she was 15 and a freshman, her parents divorced and she was also diagnosed with scoliosis
. She went to the doctors and was told 2% of the population has it, but not all cases require surgery. She was instead put in a chest-to-hips plastic brace to straighten her spine.
and The District
. In 2005, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award (YAA) in the Category: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special—Leading Young Actress for her role in A Place Called Home as California Ford. She also originally played Kaitlin Cooper
in The O.C. She appeared as Felicity Merriman, in Felicity: An American Girl Adventure
for which she received a Young Artists award nomination in the Category: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama). This is one of two TV specials that Woodley appeared in with John Schneider
. She appeared on Crossing Jordan
as a young Jordan, as well as other television series including, Everybody Loves Raymond
, My Name is Earl
, CSI: NY
, and Close to Home. In 2007, Woodley appeared in Cold Case as Sarah Gunden, the murder victim's younger Amish sister, who originally brought the case to the investigators' attention. Woodley currently stars in the ABC Family
series The Secret Life of the American Teenager
as Amy Juergens, a 15 year old who discovers she is pregnant. The show explores the effects of her pregnancy on her family, friends and herself as well as life at Ulysses S. Grant High School in California.
Woodley also appeared in the 2011 music video for "Our Deal" by Indie Rock band, Best Coast
, directed by Drew Barrymore
.
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009...
, and for co-starring with George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
in the 2011 drama film The Descendants
The Descendants (film)
The Descendants is a 2011 comedy-drama film based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Shailene Woodley and it was released in the United States on November 18, 2011. It is directed by Alexander Payne, with a screenplay by Payne, Nat...
.
Early life
Woodley was born in Simi Valley, California. Her mother, Lori (Victor), is a middle school counselor, and her father, Lonnie, is a school principal. She also has a younger brother, Tanner. Woodley had her first audition at the age of five years, and she attended Simi Valley High SchoolSimi Valley High School
Simi Valley High School is a secondary school located in Simi Valley, California, nestling in the shadow of the Santa Susana Mountains, adjacent to the San Fernando Valley. It was established in 1920 as the valley's first high school. Simi Valley High School has undergone several configurations...
. When she was 15 and a freshman, her parents divorced and she was also diagnosed with scoliosis
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line...
. She went to the doctors and was told 2% of the population has it, but not all cases require surgery. She was instead put in a chest-to-hips plastic brace to straighten her spine.
Acting career
In 2002, she appeared in small television roles on Without a TraceWithout a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
and The District
The District
The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:...
. In 2005, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award (YAA) in the Category: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special—Leading Young Actress for her role in A Place Called Home as California Ford. She also originally played Kaitlin Cooper
Kaitlin Cooper
Kaitlin Cooper is a fictional character on the Fox television series The O.C., played by Willa Holland. She was originally played by Shailene Woodley.-Season 1:...
in The O.C. She appeared as Felicity Merriman, in Felicity: An American Girl Adventure
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure
An American Girl Adventure is the second in the series of An American Girl films. It is a television film that is based on the American Girl children's books written by Valerie Tripp, and was released in 2005.-Plot:...
for which she received a Young Artists award nomination in the Category: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama). This is one of two TV specials that Woodley appeared in with John Schneider
John Schneider (television actor)
John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
. She appeared on Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
as a young Jordan, as well as other television series including, Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff...
, My Name is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
, CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
, and Close to Home. In 2007, Woodley appeared in Cold Case as Sarah Gunden, the murder victim's younger Amish sister, who originally brought the case to the investigators' attention. Woodley currently stars in the ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
series The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009...
as Amy Juergens, a 15 year old who discovers she is pregnant. The show explores the effects of her pregnancy on her family, friends and herself as well as life at Ulysses S. Grant High School in California.
Woodley also appeared in the 2011 music video for "Our Deal" by Indie Rock band, Best Coast
Best Coast
Best Coast is an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California, and is often categorized under the subgenres of garage rock, surf pop, and lo-fi. The band currently consists of Bethany Cosentino, who writes all of the band's songs and fronts the group, multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, ...
, directed by Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore
Drew Blyth Barrymore is an American actress, film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was 11 months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Replacing Dad Replacing Dad Replacing Dad is a 1999 television film directed by Joyce Chopra. Based on a Shelley Fraser Mickle novel, the film stars Mary McDonnell, William Russ, and Jack Coleman.- Plot :... |
Little Girl | TV-movie |
| 2001 | Not Another Teen Movie Not Another Teen Movie Not Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades... |
Young Janey Briggs | Deleted Scene; uncredited |
| 2001–2003 | The District | Kristin Debreno | 3 Episodes |
| 2003 | Without A Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Young Claire Metcalf | Episode: "Clare de Lune" |
| 2003-2004 | The O.C. The O.C. The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons... |
Kaitlin Cooper Kaitlin Cooper Kaitlin Cooper is a fictional character on the Fox television series The O.C., played by Willa Holland. She was originally played by Shailene Woodley.-Season 1:... |
6 Episodes |
| 2004 | Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of lead actor Ray Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff... |
Snotty Girl #2 | Episode: "Party Dress" |
| A Place Called Home | California 'Cali' Ford | Nominated - Young Artist Award Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special: Leading Actress |
|
| 2001–2004 | Crossing Jordan Crossing Jordan Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office... |
Young Jordan Cavanaugh | 4 Episodes |
| 2004–2005 | Jack & Bobby Jack & Bobby Jack & Bobby is an American television series that aired on The WB network. It featured two brothers, one of whom would become President of the United States, serving from 2041 to 2049... |
Chloe Benedict | 2 Episodes |
| 2005 | Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Felicity: An American Girl Adventure An American Girl Adventure is the second in the series of An American Girl films. It is a television film that is based on the American Girl children's books written by Valerie Tripp, and was released in 2005.-Plot:... |
Felicity Merriman | TV movie Nominated - Young Aritst Award for Best Performance in a TV Moive, Miniseries, or Special (Comedy or Drama): Leading Actress |
| Once Upon a Mattress Once Upon a Mattress Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. It opened off-Broadway in May 1959, and then moved to Broadway... |
Molly | TV movie | |
| 2006 | My Name Is Earl My Name Is Earl My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States... |
Young Gwen Waters | Episode: "BB" |
| 2007 | Close to Home | Gaby Tursi | Episode: "Getting In" |
| CSI: NY CSI: NY CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes... |
Evie Pierpont | Episode: "A Daze of Wine and Roaches" | |
| Moola | Ashley | ||
| Final Approach Final Approach (2007 film) Final Approach is an action/thriller TV movie that premiered on Hallmark Channel on May 24, 2008. The ensemble cast is led by Dean Cain as disgraced FBI hostage negotiator Jack Bender.-Plot summary:... |
Maya Bender | TV movie | |
| Cold Case | Sarah Gunden | Episode: "Running Around" | |
| 2008–present | The Secret Life of the American Teenager The Secret Life of the American Teenager The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009... |
Amy Juergens | TV Series, Lead Role Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Rising Star in a Drama Series Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance (Comedy or Drama): Leading Actress Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Drama (2009), (2010), (2011) Nominated - Teen Choice Summer TV Star: Female (2010) |
| 2011 | The Descendants The Descendants (film) The Descendants is a 2011 comedy-drama film based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard and Shailene Woodley and it was released in the United States on November 18, 2011. It is directed by Alexander Payne, with a screenplay by Payne, Nat... |
Alexandra King | Hollywood Spotlight Award Hollywood Film Festival The Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington.... National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress The National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress is one of the annual film awards given by the National Board of Review.-1950s:-1960s:-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:... Nominated - Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor Pending - Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female |
Awards
| Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Nominated Work |
| 2005 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special: Leading Actress | A Place Called Home | |
| 2006 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special (Comedy or Drama): Leading Actress | Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Felicity: An American Girl Adventure An American Girl Adventure is the second in the series of An American Girl films. It is a television film that is based on the American Girl children's books written by Valerie Tripp, and was released in 2005.-Plot:... |
|
| 2009 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance (Comedy or Drama): Leading Actress | The Secret Life of the American Teenager The Secret Life of the American Teenager The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009... |
|
| Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Choice TV Actress: Drama | |||
| 2010 | Gracie Award | Outstanding Female Rising Star in a Drama Series | ||
| Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Choice TV Actress: Drama | |||
| Choice Summer TV Star: Female | ||||
| 2011 | Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Choice TV Actress: Drama | ||
| Hollywood Film Festival Hollywood Film Festival The Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington.... |
Spotlight Award | The Descendants | ||
| Gotham Awards Gotham Awards The Gotham Awards is an annual ceremony of awards presented to the makers of independent films which takes place in New York City... |
Breakthrough Actor | |||
| Best Ensemble Performance | ||||
| National Board of Review | Best Supporting Actress | |||
| Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit... |
Best Supporting Female | |||