Full Name: Alison Marion Lohman
Birth Place: Palm Springs, California, USA
Date of Birth: September 18, 1979
Breakthrough: Her role as Astrid in ‘White Oleander’ (2002)

In Palm Springs, California, Alison Marion Lohman was born on September 18, 1979 to parents Gary (Architect) and Diane (Bakery owner) Lohman. Alhough she was raised in a family with no connection to the entertainment industry, Alison always wanted to perform.

At the age of 9, Alison started her acting career at a local theater when she played the youngest daughter, Gretyl, in a production of “The Sound of Music” (1988) at Palm Desert’s McCallum Theater, and went on to perform in a number of other productions.

On stage, young Lohman garnered praised after portraying the title character in a production of “Annie” (1991). Due to her bright performance, she took home the Desert Theater League’s award. By the time she was 17 appeared in 12 different stage productions.

An accomplished singer, she performed as a solo vocalist at Bob Hope’s ‘Classic Ball’ in 1995 along with Bob & Dolores Hope, Robert Goulet, Scott Record, Rich Little, Tom Dreesen, Les Brown and his Band of Renownas. She sung “The Trolley Song”. In the audience? Frank Sinatra! She says “I’ll never forget looking at Frank Sinatra. Just looking at his blue eyes. I think it’s probably the most petrified I’ve ever been onstage.”

In her senior year of high school (1997), Alison won an award from the National Foundation of the Advancement of the Arts and received a scholarship to the New York University School of the Arts (Tisch). Upon graduation, however, she turned down the scholarship and relocated to Los Angeles for an acting career. She attended a session of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

1998 was Lohman’s breakaway year. After guest starring roles in the television series “Pacific Blue” and “7th Heaven,” she landed her feature-acting debut in the unremarkable alien film Kraa! The Sea Monster (1998). The following year, Lohman played bit parts in The Thirteenth Floor (1999) [where she earnt her screen actors guild card], The Auteur Theory (1999) and Planet Patrol (1999), and had a recurring role in “Safe Harbor” (1999).

Lohman moved on to a more prominent role when she was cast as lead Beth Moss, a teenager suffering from anorexia, in the made-for-TV film Sharing the Secret (2000). She next was seen as a series regular in the short-lived NBC sitcom “Tucker” (2000) after portraying Courtney Hunter in the motion picture The Million Dollar Kid (2000).

In the year 2001, Lohman was involved in the festival screened films Delivering Milo (2001) and Alex in Wonder (2001, as Camelia). The same year saw her costarring as young daughter Lily McAllister in the Fox television series ” Pasadena” (2001).

After a role in the forgettable White Boy (2002), Lohman’s big break eventually arrived with White Oleander (2002). Allison portrayed Michelle Pfeiffer’s troubled daughter, Astrid Magnussen. Her turn as a teenager who sees her mom arrested for murder and lives through a series of foster homes, attracted the heart of audiences.

In 2002 she found herself in London performing in Kenneth Lonergan’s play, “This Is Our Youth”, at London’s West End. Lohman followed her success with a costarring role, opposite Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell, in Ridley Scott’s Matchstick Men (2003). In the film, she portrayed 14-year-old Angela who wants to meet the father she never knew. She next portrayed the young version of Jessica Lange in director Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2003).

Disappearing from the screen for almost two years, Lohman made her return in 2005 with a starring role, opposite Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth and Rachel Blanchard, in the adaptation of Rupert Holmes’ novel Where the Truth Lies (2005). She also played the lead of Tiffany in The Big White (2005, also starring Robin Williams and Giovanni Ribisi). The actress will soon star in the upcoming Flicka (2006, plays Katie).

Alison currently resides in Los Angeles and lives with her boyfriend, but travels home frequently to visit her family in Palm Springs. In her free time, she enjoys such hobbies as ballet, horseback riding and playing guitar.