Shailene Woodley

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1 Mar 2024

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Diann Woodley, born on November 15, 1991, is an American actress known for her diverse roles on both television and film. Raised in Simi Valley, California, Woodley began her career in the entertainment industry at a young age, starting with modeling at the age of five and later transitioning to acting with minor television roles.

Woodley rose to prominence with her starring role as Amy Juergens in the ABC Family teen drama series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," which aired from 2008 to 2013. She gained critical acclaim for her performances in the films "The Descendants" (2011) and "The Spectacular Now" (2013), earning her a Golden Globe Award nomination for the former.
However, it was her role as a teenaged cancer patient in the romantic drama "The Fault in Our Stars" (2014) that catapulted Woodley to wider recognition. She further solidified her status as a leading actress with her portrayal of Beatrice Prior in the science-fiction trilogy "The Divergent Series" (2014–2016).

Woodley's talent extends beyond acting, as she has also made significant contributions as an environmental activist. She serves as a Greenpeace Oceans Ambassador and has been actively involved in advocating for environmental policy proposals such as the High Seas Treaty and the Global Plastic Pollution Treaty. Additionally, she is a member of Conservation International's Leadership Council and GoodLeap's Advisory Council. Woodley is also involved in youth development through her co-founding of the nonprofit organization All it Takes and her role as a board member of the political action committee Our Revolution.

Shailene Woodley, raised in Simi Valley, California, comes from a family with both parents working as psychologists. Her mother, Lori, is a middle school counselor, while her father, Lonnie, is a former school principal and family therapist. She has a younger brother named Tanner. Woodley's parents separated when she was fourteen years old.
Woodley's journey into acting began when she was discovered by an agent while attending a local theater class. At the age of five, she started working in commercials, appearing in advertisements for various brands. Despite her early success in acting, her parents set strict rules for her, emphasizing the importance of maintaining her identity, having fun, and excelling in school. Woodley, a dedicated student with a 4.0 GPA, took AP classes and graduated from Simi Valley High School. She managed her academic commitments alongside her acting career, with a teacher visiting her weekly to provide schoolwork during breaks from filming.

Although Woodley initially considered studying Interior Design at New York University (NYU), her acting career took precedence, particularly after landing a role in "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." During a hiatus from the show, she briefly worked at American Apparel in New York City before transitioning full-time into acting. Despite facing challenges like being diagnosed with scoliosis at fifteen and having to wear a plastic brace for two years, Woodley remained dedicated to her craft, removing the brace during filming and persevering through her treatments.
Woodley's resilience and commitment to her work have been evident throughout her career, as she continues to pursue acting roles while also advocating for environmental causes and youth development initiatives.

Shailene Woodley began her acting career in 1999 with a minor role in the television film "Replacing Dad." She then appeared in minor television roles in series such as "The District" and "Crossing Jordan," where she portrayed the 10-year-old version of Jill Hennessy's character.
In 2004, Woodley landed a leading role in the television film "A Place Called Home" as California Ford, earning her a nomination for a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special. She also originally played the young Kaitlin Cooper in "The O.C." Additionally, she portrayed the titular character Felicity Merriman in the television film "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" in 2005, garnering another Young Artist Award nomination.

Woodley continued to make guest appearances in various television series, including "Everybody Loves Raymond," "My Name is Earl," "CSI: NY," "Close to Home," and "Cold Case."
In 2008, Woodley was cast as the main character, Amy Juergens, in the ABC Family series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." The show revolves around a 15-year-old girl who discovers she is pregnant and explores the effects of her pregnancy on her family, friends, and herself, as well as life at Grant High School. Woodley's performance received praise from critics, with Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly commending her performance for lifting the show to a higher level. "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" became one of ABC Family's most-watched telecasts during its five-season run, spanning over 121 episodes.

In 2011, Shailene Woodley made her feature film debut in Alexander Payne's "The Descendants," portraying Alex, the troubled elder daughter of Matt King, played by George Clooney. Her performance received widespread acclaim from critics. A. O. Scott of The New York Times praised Woodley's portrayal, describing it as one of the toughest, smartest, and most credible adolescent performances in recent memory. Peter Debruge of Variety hailed her performance as a revelation, noting the edge and depth she brought to the role.

As a result of her performance in "The Descendants," Woodley received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. She was also honored with the Trophée Chopard at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and the Virtuoso Award at the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Woodley was recognized by People magazine as one of 2012's "Most Beautiful at Every Age" and was named one of the 55 faces of the future by Nylon's "Young Hollywood Issue." Additionally, she received the Emerging Star Spotlight Award at Elle's 20th Annual "Women In Hollywood" event.

In 2013, Woodley starred in "The Spectacular Now," based on Tim Tharp's novel, portraying Aimee Finecky, an innocent, bookish teenager who becomes involved with a charming high-school senior, played by Miles Teller. Her performance received critical acclaim, with critics praising her authenticity and depth of feeling. Woodley and Teller jointly won the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and Woodley received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

Woodley's career continued to gain momentum, and she was offered the role of Mary Jane Watson in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in 2012. However, her scenes were ultimately cut from the film due to creative decisions to focus on the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. She also starred in Gregg Araki's "White Bird in a Blizzard" and the film adaptation of Veronica Roth's novel "Divergent," where she played the lead role of Beatrice "Tris" Prior. Woodley's portrayal of Tris received positive reviews, and she was honored with the 2014 CinemaCon's Female Star of Tomorrow Award.

In the same year, Woodley starred as Hazel Grace Lancaster in "The Fault in Our Stars," based on John Green's novel. Her performance as a teenage cancer patient garnered widespread acclaim, with critics praising her authenticity and emotional depth. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $307 million worldwide, and Woodley received The Hollywood Film Award for Hollywood Breakout Performance – Actress.
Given her impressive performances and rising prominence in Hollywood, Woodley earned a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2015, solidifying her status as one of the industry's most promising talents.