Erika Jane Christensen was born in 1982 in Seattle, Washington, to Kathy Hendricks, a construction manager, and Steven Christensen, a human resources executive and insurance worker. Her upbringing took place in the suburban outskirts of Los Angeles, California.
At the tender age of 12, Erika knew she was destined to become an actress. With her exceptional talents in acting, singing, and dance, she was determined to succeed, not just relying on luck. Her big break came soon after, landing her first job as a commercial model for the national advertising giant, McDonald's.
This was followed by a part in Michael Jackson's music video for "Childhood" and a lead role in Universal's Leave It to Beaver (1997). Critics acclaimed her performance, praising her "chemistry" and "radiant self-assurance." Her early success led to guest spots on various television shows, including prime-time heavy hitters like Frasier (1993),Nothing Sacred (1997),The Practice (1997),3rd Rock from the Sun (1996),and Touched by an Angel (1994).
Erika received a nomination by the Hollywood Reporter for the 1998 Young Star Award (Best Performance By A Young Actress in a TV Drama Series) for her outstanding performance in Nothing Sacred (1997). She also continued to make her mark on the big screen, starring in a Disney made-for-tv movie called Can of Worms (1999) and later, in the award-winning Steven Soderbergh film, Traffic (2000).
In Traffic, Erika played the gritty role of Caroline Wakefield, a teenage daughter of the White House Drug Czar who struggles with drug addiction. Her performance earned critical acclaim, and she received multiple awards, including Female Breakthrough Performance at the MTV Movie Awards, Female Standout Performance at the Young Hollywood Awards, and Outstanding Performance by a Cast Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Erika's ancestry is a unique blend of Norwegian (from her paternal grandmother),Danish, English, German, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish descent.
