Max: Best Friend, Hero, Marine (PT. 2)
This week’s episode is the second of two dedicated to the new Warner Bros./MGM film Max! Up first, Robin chats with actress Lauren Graham about her role in the film and her love of animals. Later, Robin records interviews live at the Washington, DC premiere for the film with Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Congressman Richard Hudson, and asks some kids in attendance their thoughts on the film!
BIO:
Lauren Helen Graham was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Lawrence Graham and Donna Grant on March 16, 1967, one day before “St. Patrick’s Day”.
The family soon moved to West Virginia and when Lauren was five, her parents divorced and she was then raised by her father in a single-parent household.
Donna, Lauren’s mother, had moved to England where Lauren would visit her and her half sister Shade during vacations. Donna passed away in 2005.
Lawrence Graham, a lawyer, worked as such at various jobs and also as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He later became President of the National Confectioners Association, a position he holds to this day. When Lauren talks about her childhood, being raised by her father, her feelings of admiration and love for him are always evident.
As a kid, Lauren was a real tomboy. She also describes herself as being a quiet and shy kid – a bit bookish. She could sit in her room all day and let her imagination run wild.
Lauren attended Langley High school in McLean, Virginia and started acting in several theatre groups. While in high school, her father re-married and he and his wife, Karen, had two children – Chris and Maggie, who are also Lauren’s half-siblings.
Lauren graduated from high school in 1985 and decided to make her way to New York. She enrolled in a performing arts program at NYU but soon left for Columbia University’s women’s college, Barnard College in Manhattan. There, Lauren majored and received her BA in American literature.
After difficulty in finding an agent and not landing any substantial acting roles, Lauren applied for and was granted a full scholarship to Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) graduate program at its School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas. There, she received an M.F.A. degree (Master of Fine Arts) and has since returned to her alma mater to conduct acting workshops for current students.
Lauren GrahamAfter graduating from SMU, Lauren moved to Los Angeles in the mid 1990’s in hopes of establishing an acting career. Appearing in several successful TV series as a guest star (3rd Rock from the Sun; Caroline in the City; Law and Order; Seinfeld) and as a regular cast in some short-lived others (Good Company; Townies; Conrad Bloom; M.Y.O.B.), Lauren had become an actress familiar and respected by casting agents and producers.
But, it wasn’t until 2000 that Lauren finally really made a name for herself in Hollywood, when she landed the lead role of “Lorelai Gilmore” in the critically acclaimed WB hit TV show “Gilmore Girls”. The series, which ran for seven seasons and aired 154 episodes, ended in 2007.
In addition to TV, Lauren has appeared in several movies throughout the years: “One true thing”, “Seeing other people”, “Bad Santa”, “The Pacifier”, “Because I said so”, “Evan Almighty”, “Flash Of Genius” and “The Answer Man” to name a few. Next, Lauren is set to play in the movie: A Friggin’ Christmas Miracle, alongside Robin Williams and Joel McHale. As of February 2013, the movie is still in its pre-production phase.
In October 2008, Lauren was cast as “Miss Adelaide” for her Broadway debut as part of the revival cast for the popular musical “Guys and Dolls”. The show opened at the Nederlander Theater on March 1st, 2009 and ran until June 2009.
In October 2009, Lauren replaced ailing Maura Tierney to play the role of Sarah Braverman in the upcoming NBC drama “Parenthood. The show’s pilot aired in 2010 and it has just ended its fourth season in February 2013. The show awaits news of a fifth season renewal for a 2013 fall comeback.
Always an avid reader, Lauren’s latest endeavor involves delving into the literary world herself; She is scheduled to release her debut novel – “Someday, Someday, Maybe” published by Ballantine Books Random House, on April 30th, 2013.