Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley

Woodley in March 2016
Born Shailene Diann Woodley
(1991-11-15) November 15, 1991
Simi Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1999–present

Shailene Diann Woodley (born November 15, 1991)[1] is an American actress. She is known for roles such as Amy Juergens in the ABC Family television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–13), Beatrice Prior in The Divergent Series, Hazel Grace Lancaster in The Fault in Our Stars (2014), and Alexandra "Alex" King in The Descendants (2011), for which she won an Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Early life

Woodley was born in San Bernardino County, California,[1] but grew up in Simi Valley, California. Her mother, Lori (née Victor),[1] is a school counselor, and her father, Lonnie Woodley, is a school principal.[2] She has a younger brother.[3] Shailene modeled at the age of four. At the age of fifteen, she was diagnosed with scoliosis[4] and was put in a chest-to-hips plastic brace to stop her spine from curving further.[5]

Woodley attended Simi Valley High School.[6] Before landing a role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Woodley considered studying interior design at New York University.[7]

Career

2002–12: Early roles and film debut

Woodley attending the 19th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival Baume & Mercier Party in October 2011

In 2002, Woodley appeared in small television roles on Without a Trace and The District. In 2005, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special for her role in A Place Called Home as California Ford.[8] She also originally played Kaitlin Cooper in The O.C.[4] 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 did some acting classes with Anthony Meindl.[9] 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, a murder victim's younger Amish sister, who originally brings the case to the investigators' attention. Woodley starred in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Amy Juergens, a 15-year-old who learns 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.

In 2011, Woodley made her feature film debut in The Descendants, where she played Alex, the troubled elder daughter of Matt King (played by George Clooney). Her performance received positive reviews from critics. A.O. Scott from The New York Times said, "Ms. Woodley..[gives]..one of the toughest, smartest, most credible adolescent performances in recent memory".[10] Peter Debruge from Variety said that her performance is a "revelation" and that "in the role of Alex, [she is] displaying both the edge and depth the role demands".[11] Receiving accolades for her performance, Woodley received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture,[12] and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.[13] People named her one of 2012 "Most Beautiful at Every Age."[14] Woodley was also considered one of the 55 faces of the future by Nylon Magazine's "Young Hollywood Issue".[13]

2013–present: The Divergent Series

Woodley starred in the film adaptation of Tim Tharp's novel, The Spectacular Now, as Aimee Finecky.[15] The film premiered at Sundance on January 18, 2013.[16] Her portrayal of Aimee gained praise from critics and she won the Special Jury Award for Acting, alongside Miles Teller, at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. She had also signed on to star in White Bird in a Blizzard, directed by Gregg Araki. Although filming took place in October 2012, the film was not released until January 20, 2014 at the Sundance Film Festival[17] and then on October 24, 2014 to wider audiences. In October 2012, it was announced that Woodley was offered the role of Mary Jane Watson in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.[18] On June 19, 2013, it was announced that she was cut from the film. Director Marc Webb told The Hollywood Reporter that the cut was "a creative decision to streamline the story and focus on Peter and Gwen and their relationship," and that everyone loved working with Woodley.[19]

Shailene Woodley at the Divergent premiere in Los Angeles on March 18, 2014

In 2014, Woodley starred as Tris Prior in the film Divergent, an adaptation of Veronica Roth's best-selling young adult novel of the same name, and the first installment in The Divergent Series.[20] The film received mixed reviews, but Woodley's performance as Tris received a positive reception; Sam Allard from Orlando Weekly said that, "with her performance as Tris Prior in Divergent, Woodley rescues and then raises up a film that could have been an utter disaster".[21] Divergent was also a financial success as the film reached the No. 1 spot at the box-office during its opening weekend, and has since grossed US$288.7 million at the international box-office.[22]

Afterwards in 2014, Woodley starred as Hazel Grace Lancaster in The Fault in Our Stars, the film adaptation of John Green's novel of the same name. Green added via Twitter about Woodley; "There were so many amazing auditions for the role of Hazel, but Shailene's love for the book and her understanding of Hazel blew me away."[23] The film was a block-buster success, grossing over US$307 million worldwide.[24] Woodley's performance received critical acclaim from critics; Peter Travers from Rolling Stone called her a, "sublime actress with a résumé that pretty much proves she's incapable of making a false move on camera",[25] and Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times stated that her performance as Hazel is Oscar-worthy; and added, "she's that memorable"[26] On November 14, 2014, she received The Hollywood Film Award for Hollywood Breakout Performance – Actress for her performance as Hazel.[27]

In 2015, Woodley reprised her role as Tris in The Divergent Series: Insurgent, the second installment in The Divergent Series. The film was commercially successful, making nearly US$100 million in its worldwide debut and grossed US$295.2 million worldwide.[28] Her performance once again received critical acclaim, with Daniel M. Kimmel of New England Movies Weekly writing that, "Woodley does solid work here as she's done elsewhere, and continues to be someone to watch."[29]

Woodley was reported to be in talks to star in an Oliver Stone film, Snowden, alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt.[30] Filming began on February 16, 2015 and is set to be released in 2016.[31] She reprised her role as Tris in the final two films of The Divergent Series, The Divergent Series: Allegiant, released on March 18, 2016, and The Divergent Series: Ascendant, scheduled for June 9, 2017.[32][33] Nicole Kidman confirmed in an interview that Woodley will return to TV to star in the HBO limited series Big Little Lies, which Kidman and Reese Witherspoon will star in and produce.[34]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Descendants Alexandra "Alex" King
2013 The Spectacular Now Aimee Finecky
2014 White Bird in a Blizzard Katrina "Kat" Connor
2014 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Mary Jane Watson Deleted scene[35][36]
2014 Divergent Beatrice "Tris" Prior
2014 The Fault in Our Stars Hazel Grace Lancaster
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent Beatrice "Tris" Prior
2016 The Divergent Series: Allegiant
2016 Snowden Lindsay Mills In post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Replacing Dad Little Girl Television film
2001–03 District, TheThe District Kristin Debreno 3 episodes
2001–04 Crossing Jordan Young Jordan Cavanaugh 4 episodes
2003 Without a Trace Young Clare Metcalf Episode: "Clare de Lune"
2003–04 O.C., TheThe O.C. Young Kaitlin Cooper 6 episodes
2004 Everybody Loves Raymond Snotty Girl #2 Episode: "Party Dress"
2004 Place Called Home, AA Place Called Home California "Cali" Ford Television film
2004–05 Jack & Bobby Chloe Benedict 2 episodes
2005 Felicity: An American Girl Adventure Felicity Merriman Television film
2005 Once Upon a Mattress Molly Television film
2006 My Name Is Earl Young Gwen Episode: "BB"
2007 CSI: NY Evie Pierpont Episode: "A Daze of Wine and Roaches"
2007 Close to Home Gaby Tursi Episode: "Getting In"
2007 Cold Case Sarah Gunden Episode: "Running Around"
2007 Final Approach Maya Bender Television film
2008–13 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Amy Juergens Main role (121 episodes)
2016 Big Little Lies Jane Chapman Upcoming series; filming

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shailene Diann Woodley, Born 11/15/1991". California Birth Index. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Shailene Woodley of Simi Valley stars with George Clooney in 'The Descendants' » Ventura County Star Mobile". M. vcstar.com. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  3. ↑ Biography Today. Detroit, Michigan: Omnigraphics. 2009. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7808-1052-5.
  4. 1 2 Zimmerman, Danielle (21 March 2014). "Fifteen fun facts about Shailene Woodley and Theo James". Hypable.
  5. ↑ "Biography Today", pp.161–162
  6. ↑ Strauss, Bob (July 29, 2013). "Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller experience the coming of age without stereotypes in 'The Spectacular Now'". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  7. ↑ Stone, Emma (July 2013). "Shailene Woodley — Page — Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ "26th Annual Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Anthony Meindl Actor's Workshop — Los Angeles Actors Testimonials". Anthonymeindl.com. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
  10. ↑ "The Descendants (2011)". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Review: ‘The Descendants’". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Golden Globes 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 January 2012.
  13. 1 2 Wexler, Sarah (16 November 2011). "Shailene Woodley on The Descendants, Crying Underwater, and George Clooney’s Fart Machine". Vulture. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Quan, Karen J. (April 20, 2012). "2012 Most Beautiful at Every Age – Shailene Woodley". People. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Shailene Woodley Living In ‘The Spectacular Now’ With ‘Smashed’ Director James Ponsoldt". Thefilmstage.com. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  16. ↑ McCarthy, Todd. "The Spectacular Now: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (2012-06-28). "Woodley flies to 'White Bird' – Entertainment News, Top News, Media". Variety (magazine). Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  18. ↑ "The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Has Minor Role For Mary Jane". CinemaBlend.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  19. ↑ "Shailene Woodley Cut From 'Amazing Spider-Man 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  20. ↑ Kit, Boyrs (October 18, 2012). "Shailene Woodley Closing in on Deal to Star in 'Divergent'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Divergent". Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Divergent (2014)". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. June 23, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  23. ↑ Vilkomerson, Sara (March 19, 2013). "Shailene Woodley offered lead role for 'The Fault in Our Stars'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  24. ↑ "The Fault In Our Stars (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  25. ↑ "'The Fault in Our Stars' Movie Review". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  26. ↑ "'The Fault in Our Stars': A lovely work led by the transcendent Shailene Woodley". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Hollywood Breakout Performance Award: Shailene Woodley". Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Box Office: 'Insurgent' Opens to $101M Globally; Sean Penn Latest Actor to Fizzle". Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Review – Insurgent". Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Shailene Woodley in Talks to Star in Oliver Stone's Snowden Film (Exclusive)". Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  31. ↑ "On The Set For 2/16/15: David O. Russell Starts Lensing ‘Joy’, ‘Maze Runner 2′ Wraps & More". ssninsider.com. February 16, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  32. ↑ "'Allegiant' movie release date set for March 2016". Hypable. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
  33. ↑ McNary, Dave (11 April 2014). "Lionsgate Splitting Third ‘Divergent’ Book ‘Allegiant’ into Two Films". Variety.
  34. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (December 5, 2015). "Shailene Woodley Joins HBO's Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  35. ↑ "The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Has Minor Role For Mary Jane". CinemaBlend.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  36. ↑ "Shailene Woodley Cut From 'Amazing Spider-Man 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2013-06-19.

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