Laura Allen (born March 21, 1974)[1] 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).
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.[4]
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.[4] 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.[2]
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.[2]
She landed a starring role on USA Network's hit series, The 4400, playing the role of Lily Tyler.[4] 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.[9][10]
She played Linda in the 2010 comedy film Cherry, co-starring with Kyle Gallner.[14] Allen then had a regular role as Katie Nichols on the short-lived FX series Terriers in 2010.[15] 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.[16][17]
Allen was cast in a Lifetime pilot, The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, in 2012.[18] In early 2013, it was announced that the project wasn't going forward.[19]
In the 2018 film The Tale, a drama about sexual abuse, Allen played a younger version of Ellen Burstyn's character.[27] She continued to take on dramatic roles, appearing in the short film Unspeakable, directed by Milena Govich.[28] On television, she had a regular role as Officer Reynolds in the third season of Hap and Leonard.[29]
Allen had recurring roles on 9-1-1 and Suits in 2019.[6][30] In 2024, she began appearing in the recurring role of Chief Robinson on Chicago Fire.[30]
Allen began dating model and cyclist Bruce Weyman in 2004. They were married at Relais Palazzo del Capitano in Pienza, Italy on September 23, 2006. They have two sons.[31] Their first son was born on September 3, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.[32]
