Erika Christensen Biography
One of the clearest illustrations of Erika Christensen’s talent as an actress is the fact that when she played a teenage drug addict to perfection, complete with heavy lids and desperate eyes, she had never so much as puffed a cigarette. Though she was only 17 when she landed her breakout role in the movie “Traffic” in 2000, Christensen had been doggedly pursuing her acting dream for over 5 years.
With her round face and full lips, questioning eyes and flawless complexion, Christensen found acting work easily in her younger years. Growing up outside Los Angeles, she also had access to training and auditions. She had made up her mind by the age of 12 that she wanted to act for the rest of her life. Her mother helped her realize her goal by being supportive but was careful not to try and push Christensen into a life she wasn’t sure she wanted. But she was absolutely sure of her calling and eventually her parents came to see that their daughter was very serious about her dream. She was trained in dance, singing and acting and was schooled at home. She received her G.E.D at the age of 16 to free her up to pursue acting full time.