# Megan Park

Megan Park (born July 24, 1986) is a Canadian actress and director. She is known for her portrayal of Grace Bowman in the television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager. In 2021, Park made her feature directorial debut with The Fallout, which won three awards at South by Southwest and was later released on HBO Max. Her second film as director, My Old Ass, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was released by Amazon MGM Studios.

## Early life

Born in Lindsay, Ontario, Park began her acting career with small parts starting at age 6. She attended Oakridge Secondary School, in London, Ontario. She was also a part of the Original Kids Theatre program.

## Career
### Acting

Park's first major roles came with a guest spot on the Lifetime series Angela's Eyes and a minor role in the indie movie Charlie Bartlett. Park completed a guest starring role on the Disney Channel show Life with Derek as Amy, a love interest of Derek and head cheerleader ex-girlfriend to Max. In the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, she played one of the main characters, Grace Bowman, a conservative Christian teen and cheerleader who, along with her boyfriend, struggle with her purity vow until marriage.
In 2013, Park lost the role of Nicki in the sitcom Undateable to Briga Heelan. Heelan had originally been cast in the role but was believed to be unable to continue when her sitcom Ground Floor was renewed for a second season. The part was recast with Park, however when Heelan's schedule was adjusted to allow her to appear on both shows, Heelan took back the role.
In 2014, Park portrayed Jules in the horror-thriller film Demonic, directed by Will Canon. In 2015, Park portrayed Lindsay in the Hallmark Channel movie A Wish Come True, directed by Mark Rosman.

### Music

In 2009, Park, Codi Caraco and Brandi Cyrus formed the band Frank + Derol, in which she sang and played bass guitar. In 2010, Park left the band to focus on her acting career. Park also appeared, together with Tyler Hilton, in a music video called "(Kissed You) Good Night" recorded by American country music group Gloriana.

### Directing

Park's first feature film as writer-director, The Fallout, premiered at South by Southwest on March 17, 2021, and was released on January 27, 2022, on HBO Max by New Line Cinema. Her second feature film as writer-director, My Old Ass, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024, was given a limited theatrical release in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on September 13, 2024. Both films star young, independent, female actresses, with their stories addressing important issues such as PTSD, gun violence, girlhood, sexuality, and their effects on young women.

## Personal life

In 2006, Park started dating American actor and singer Tyler Hilton after meeting him on the set of Charlie Bartlett. They became engaged in December 2013 and married on October 10, 2015. On December 20, 2019, they welcomed a daughter. Their second child, a son, was born in 2024.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Some Things That Stay | Brenda Murphy | |
| 2007 | Kaw | Gretchen | |
| 2007 | Charlie Bartlett | Whitney Drummond | |
| 2007 | Diary of the Dead | Francine Shane | |
| 2011 | A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song | Beverly "Bev" Van Ravensway | Direct-to-video |
| 2012 | "(Kissed You) Good Night" | Love interest | Gloriana music video |
| 2012 | Guns, Girls and Gambling | Cindy, The Girl Next Door | |
| 2012 | So Undercover | Cotton Roberts | |
| 2013 | The F Word | Dalia | Also known as What If |
| 2015 | Demonic | Jules | |
| 2015 | Room | Laura | Uncredited role |
| 2016 | Central Intelligence | Lexi | |
| 2018 | Did I Kill My Mother? | Natalie Romero | |
| 2018 | Dog Days | Kelli | |
| 2020 | Deported | Harper | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | This Time Around | Young Cara Cabot | Television film |
| 2004 | She's Too Young | Becca White | Television film |
| 2004 | Dark Oracle | Ainsley | Episode: "It Happened at the Dance" |
| 2004 | Ace Lightning | Jessica Fisgus | Recurring role |
| 2006 | The Road to Christmas | Hilly Pullman | Television film |
| 2006 | Angela's Eyes | Zoe | Episode: "Undercover Eyes" |
| 2007 | Life with Derek | Amy | Episode: "Cheerleader Casey" |
| 2007 | The Dark Room | Zoe | Television film |
| 2007 | Kaw | Gretchen | Television film |
| 2008–2013 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Grace Bowman | Main role |
| 2010 | Entourage | Girl Being Interviewed | Episode: "Buzzed" |
| 2010 | The Perfect Teacher | Devon Burke | Television film |
| 2011 | Happy Endings | Chloe | Episode: "Baby Steps" |
| 2012 | The Newsroom | Gwen Valley | Episode: "News Night 2.0" |
| 2013–2014 | The Neighbors | Jane | Recurring role |
| 2014 | The Lottery | Rose | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Jane the Virgin | Dr. Damprey | Episode: "Chapter Thirty" |
| 2015 | A Wish Come True | Lindsay Corwin | Television film |
| 2015 | Ungodly Acts | Melissa Cooper | Television film |
| 2016 | My Christmas Love | Janet | Television film |
| 2017 | Imposters | Gaby | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | 9JKL | Sara | Episode: "Nanny Wars" |
| 2018 | Once Upon a Prince | Susanna Truitt | Hallmark Television film |
| 2018 | Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas | Cara Hill | Hallmark Television film |
| 2019 | A Christmas Wish | Maddie | Television film |
| 2019 | Young Sheldon | Francine Walker | Episode: "A Math Emergency and Perky Palms" |
| 2021 | A Royal Queens Christmas | Dee Dee | Hallmark Television film |

### Director

Music videos :
| Year | Title | Artist |
| 2017 | "Rich White Girls" | Mansionz |
| 2017 | "Watch" | Billie Eilish |
| 2018 | "Buzzin" | Alina Baraz |
| 2018 | "I Wanna Know" | RL Grime featuring Daya |
| 2018 | "City on Fire" | Tyler Hilton |
Film :
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Executive producer | Notes |
| 2017 | Lucy in My Eyes | Yes | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2018 | A Beautiful Future: Goodnight | Yes | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2021 | The Fallout | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2024 | My Old Ass | Yes | Yes | Yes | |