Laura Allen (born March 21, 1974) is an American actress. She is known for her roles on the ABC Daytime soap opera All My Children (2000–2002) and the USA Network television series The 4400 (2004–2005, 2007). She has also been a regular cast member on Dirt (2007 to 2008), Terriers (2010), and Awake (2012).

Early life Allen was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. She is the middle child of three sisters. She attended Wellesley College as a sociology major and graduated in 1996. She worked with the NYPD as a domestic violence counselor before pursuing acting.

Career

1997–2002: Early work and All My Children While pursuing her career in social work, Allen became drawn to the theatre. She took a job as a crew member for the Blue Man Group, then won a role as Maid Marion in a touring production of Robin Hood. Despite the grueling experience of the Robin Hood tour, Allen decided she wanted to focus on acting.

Allen began working as a waitress while interning at the MCC Theater, where she met Robert LuPone. He mentored her, teaching her the Meisner technique and introducing her to her first agent. Allen turned down a role on Sex and the City when she learned that it would require nudity. She won a guest starring role on The Street.

She auditioned unsuccessfully for the roles of Michelle Bauer on Guiding Light and Melanie MacIver on One Life to Live before being cast as Laura Kirk-English on All My Children. The role had previously been played by Lauren Roman. Allen played Laura from October 2000 to January 2002.

2003–2008: The 4400 and Dirt After departing AMC, Allen went on to play Susan Delacorte in Mike Newell's Mona Lisa Smile. On television, she guest starred on Cold Case, North Shore, House, and Criminal Minds. In 2004, Allen was cast as Samantha Wade in Sucker Free City, a Showtime film directed by Spike Lee. This was followed by a leading role as Jane Carol Webb in the film How You Look to Me.

She landed a starring role on USA Network's hit series, The 4400, playing the role of Lily Tyler. However, her character was written out of the show before its third season. She reprised the role of Lily Tyler in 2007 in the fourth season of The 4400 for one episode.

In 2007, Allen was cast in a regular role on the FX drama series Dirt, playing Julia Mallory. She guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and appeared in the films From Within and The Collective.

2009–2012: Terriers and Awake Allen played a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy in 2009 as the ex-lover of Owen (Kevin McKidd). She guest starred on CSI: Miami and appeared in the films Hysteria and Old Dogs.

She played Linda in the 2010 comedy film Cherry, co-starring with Kyle Gallner. Allen then had a regular role as Katie Nichols on the short-lived FX series Terriers in 2010. In 2012, she was initially cast in a supporting role on the NBC series Awake (then titled REM), but was promoted to a leading role as Hannah Britten.

Allen was cast in a Lifetime pilot, The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, in 2012. In early 2013, it was announced that the project wasn't going forward.

2014–present In 2014, Allen had a recurring role as Rochelle Matheson on Ravenswood, a spinoff of Pretty Little Liars. She portrayed Meg in the horror film Clown. Allen starred as Linda Kessler in the Lifetime movie Nanny Cam.Nanny Cam – MarVista Entertainment She also had a guest starring role on NCIS: New Orleans.

Allen was cast as Olivia in Marvel's Most Wanted, a proposed spinoff of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2016. The project was dropped before it could air. In May 2016, Allen guest starred on Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. She had a recurring role as Rosie on American Horror Story: Cult in 2017.

In the 2018 film The Tale, a drama about sexual abuse, Allen played a younger version of Ellen Burstyn's character. She continued to take on dramatic roles, appearing in the short film Unspeakable, directed by Milena Govich. On television, she had a regular role as Officer Reynolds in the third season of Hap and Leonard.

Allen had recurring roles on 9-1-1 and Suits in 2019. In 2024, she began appearing in the recurring role of Chief Robinson on Chicago Fire.

Personal life After leaving All My Children in 2002, Allen took a ten week training course to become an emergency medical technician.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes2003 A Tale of TwoLimo GirlShort filmMona Lisa SmileSusan Delacorte2005How You Look to MeJane Carol Webb2008From WithinTrishThe CollectiveClare2009Old DogsKelly2010CherryLindaHysteriaErin2013Red CarMarilynShort film2014ClownMeg McCoy2017Tulip FeverBuxom Wench2018 The TaleYoung NettieUnspeakableMarie DeguireShort film2019One Foot in FrontThe MomShort film2020Last LooksFriendShort film

Television Year Title Role Notes2000 The StreetJenniferEpisode: "Pilot"2000–2002All My ChildrenLaura Kirk-EnglishContract role2004Cold CaseVanessa ProsserEpisode: "Late Returns"North ShoreMoniqueEpisode: "More"Sucker Free CitySamantha WadeTelevision film2004–2005; 2007 The 4400Lily TylerMain cast (seasons 1–2)2006HouseSarah AlstonEpisode: "All In"2007Criminal MindsBobbi BairdEpisode: "Open Season"Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCass MagnallEpisode: "Alternate"2007–2008DirtJulia MalloryMain cast2009Grey's AnatomyBeth WhitmanEpisodes: "Beat Your Heart Out", "Before and After"CSI: MiamiSondra MooreEpisode: "Dissolved"2010TerriersKatie NicholsMain cast2012AwakeHannah BrittenMain cast2013Secret Lives of Husbands and WivesAlison DunnUnaired pilot2013–2014RavenswoodRochelle Matheson6 episodes2014NCIS: New OrleansKatherine WilsonEpisode: "Watch Over Me"Nanny CamLinda KesslerTelevision film2015; 2019SuitsLily SpecterEpisodes: "Hitting Home", "Faith", "Thunder Away"2016Marvel's Most WantedOliviaUnaired pilotCriminal Minds: Beyond BordersEmily WagnerEpisode: "Paper Orphans"2017American Horror Story: CultRosieEpisodes: "Neighbors from Hell", "Holes"Wisdom of the CrowdShelly WalshEpisode: "Clear History"2018 9-1-1Marcy NashEpisodes: "Point of Origin", "Bobby Begins Again"Hap and LeonardOfficer Reynolds5 episodes2019–2021Truth Be ToldAlana Cave5 episodes2024Chicago FireChief Danya Robinson7 episodes2025FBI: InternationalMarlena KlineEpisode: "A Winged Lion for Protection"

References

External links

Laura Allen at AllMovie