On the 29th day of January1970, Heather Graham was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While her strict- Catholic father was busy learning anti-terrorist techniques for the FBI, Heather would attend her very first elementary school in Virginia, where she had very fond memories, particularly of the landscape and people. Later, she would attend Sumac Elementary School, followed by Lindero Canyon Middle School, and finally, Agoura High School, where she would spend some of her worst years.

While studying there, she always felt that she didn't really know how to talk to people. Boys would have no time for her. People would tease her. She was even considered a sort of ''theater geek'' by her classmates. Heather was never considered part of the 'popular' crowd. Her family life didn't seem very comfortable either, as Heather and her parents did not get along. After High School she began landing various roles such as License to Drive and the critically acclaimed Drugstore Cowboy, and appearing on the popular television series Twin Peaks. She eventually decided to enroll at the University of California at Los Angeles. There, she majored in English, but dropped out after only two years. It was, however, at UCLA where she first read one of her favorite books, The Brothers Karamazov. Little did she know that Dostoevsky would indirectly play a part in her love life.

For the next few years, she would go on to play various roles in films like Six Degrees of Separation, Don't Do It, and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Throughout this time, she won the admiration of several filmmakers, including James Toback and Jon Favreau. One night, as legend has it, Favreau took Graham to go swing dancing, and 18 months later, she played Lorraine in the critically-acclaimed Favreau vehicle, Swingers. Toback eventually got his chance and cast her in the upcoming film, Two Girls and a Guy. In 1997 her mesmerizing performance as Roller Girl in Boogie Nights launched her into the stardom that was long overdue.