 erika jane christensen (born august 19, 1982) is an american actress whose film appearances include traffic (2000), swimfan (2002), the banger sisters (2002), the perfect score (2004) and how to rob a bank (2007), among others. she also co-starred in the short-lived drama six degrees (september 21, 2006 â march 30, 2007) on abc. she is currently co-starring in the 2010 television series parenthood as julia braverman-graham. ==personal life== christensen was born in seattle, washington, the daughter of kathy, a construction manager, and steven, an insurance worker/human-resources executive. she has an older half-brother, nick, and two younger twin brothers, dane (who appeared in the 2005 film the upside of anger) and brando. she has swedish, danish, norwegian, welsh, and irish ancestry. christensen was raised in los angeles, california and started out on television in commercials for mcdonald's. christensen is a member of the church of scientology.erika christensen praises scientology her parents became scientologists in their 20s and raised her to be a scientologist as well as home-schooling her.erika christensen interview â public servant lifestyle ==career== christensen had several small roles in various television programs before starting her movie career in 1997. these include the geena davis show, frasier, the practice, 3rd rock from the sun, and touched by an angel. she was named one of people magazine's "breakthrough stars of 2001". for her performance as a cocaine addict in traffic (2000) she received the awards for female breakthrough performance at the mtv movie awards, female standout 
1982_births 20th-century_American_actresses 21st-century_American_actresses Actresses_from_Los_Angeles,_California Actresses_from_Washington_(state) American_Scientologists American_child_actresses American_film_actresses American_people_of_Danish_descent American_people_of_Irish_descent American_people_of_Norwegian_descent American_people_of_Swedish_descent American_people_of_Welsh_descent American_television_actresses Living_people Outstanding_Performance_by_a_Cast_in_a_Motion_Picture_Screen_Actors_Guild_Award_winners People_from_Seattle,_Washington