Actress Heather Graham bounces into the Capitol boutique at the Brentwood Country Mart with the same charm and charisma that people have come to know for decades. Eternally youthful and luminous, with bright blonde hair and a smile that lights up the room, she feels instantly recognizable—yet refreshingly present. Wearing barely any makeup and no jewelry (she doesn’t even have her ears pierced), Graham is a rare example of natural beauty and genuine warmth in Hollywood, someone whose ease can’t be styled or staged.
The setting feels particularly fitting for this moment in her life. The Country Mart—equal parts neighborhood hub and polished westside destination—mirrors a new chapter that Graham has quietly stepped into, both personally and professionally. After more than 20 years living in Beachwood Canyon, right underneath the Hollywood sign, she recently moved to Brentwood, settling into a mid-century modern home with idyllic ocean views in the historic Crestwood Hills neighborhood. “I always had this dream of living in a mid-century house with a view of the ocean—I even wrote affirmations about it,” she says. “Now here I am. Every day the view is different. Some mornings it’s completely foggy, some days it’s crystal clear and I can see Catalina. It never gets old.”
This period of grounding coincides with an exciting creative resurgence. This March, Graham returns to theaters in They Will Kill You, a genre-blending thriller starring Zazie Beetz, with Patricia Arquette and Tom Felton joining in supporting roles. “When I read the script, I thought wow—this is really special,” Graham says. “It’s almost like Kill Bill meets Get Out meets Rosemary’s Baby.” The role required intense preparation and stunt training. “I always wanted to do more action, and this movie definitely gave me that,” she says. “But it also has a really strong sense of humor.”
She also appears in Mike Flanagan’s highly anticipated Carrie series for Amazon, likely slated for release in fall 2027. A longtime fan of the original Sissy Spacek film—based on the Stephen King novel—Graham says the story has always resonated with her. “I loved Carrie so much growing up,” she says. “It’s so psychological and well-written.” Most recently, she wrapped production on Oz Perkins’ The Young People, another thriller with an eclectic cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Lola Tung, Nico Parker and Johnny Knoxville. Though she never intended to reinvent herself as a modern-day scream queen, the roles keep finding her. “I’ve somehow been doing a lot of horror lately,” she says. “I didn’t set out to, but I really love the scripts and the people.”
Of course, Graham’s career has long been defined by unforgettable roles. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to a teacher and an FBI agent, she spent much of her childhood moving around before settling in Agoura Hills, where her interest in acting took hold. She began going on auditions while still in high school, landing her first film role at 17 in License to Drive, followed by her breakout performance in Gus Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy at 18. “That movie really exposed me to a whole artistic world I hadn’t grown up around,” she says. “It opened a lot of doors.” From there, her career expanded into a string of iconic roles that helped define both independent cinema and mainstream pop culture—from Boogie Nights and Austin Powers to The Hangover, Twin Peaks and Bowfinger. Along the way, Graham became an enduring Hollywood bombshell, a label
she approaches with openness and self-assurance. “I like to enjoy my femininity and just feel good about myself,” she says. “I feel like women nowadays are enjoying it more.” She’s keenly aware of how her characters continue to resonate. “People remember different roles—Roller Girl, Felicity Shagwell, The Hangover, Twin Peaks,” she adds. “It’s interesting how different characters stay with people.”
Yet of Graham’s most meaningful projects to date is 2024’s Chosen Family, which she wrote, directed, produced and starred in. “I wanted to explore the idea of how sometimes the dysfunctional dynamics in your family of origin can show up again in your romantic relationships,” she says, “and this idea of your friends being your chosen family.” Inspired by her own life and relationships—like her character, Graham has never been married or had kids—the project proved deeply fulfilling. “I’ve always been drawn to watching stories about women that were made by women and from a female perspective,” she adds, “and I wanted to be involved in making something like that as well.”
A deep love of the craft has also helped sustain her long career. “I really love what I do,” Graham says. “It still feels joyful.” Her approach remains intentional and immersive. “I do a lot of preparation. Even if the role is small, I create a full backstory for the character,” she explains. “I like to be fully in it. I give it my all.”
In Brentwood, that same intention shapes her daily life. Wellness is central to her routine, with most days beginning outdoors. “Some of my rituals are going to the beach, taking a walk and going to yoga,” she says. “Yoga is such a great balance to the entertainment business. A really hard class gives you this incredible release—it brings you back into your body.”
Her home reflects that sense of calm. Graham worked with longtime friend Gillian Lefkowitz— who served as a still photographer on Boogie Nights—on the interiors. “She did my New York apartment and my new house,” Graham says. “She has great style—she always has the coolest stuff.” The result is relaxed and inviting. “It’s very simple and warm—sheepskin pillows, fluffy white rugs,” she says. “It has a very cozy, beachy vibe.”
Food and entertaining are another defining part of this chapter. “I’m a total foodie,” Graham says. “I really love cooking and traveling.” She often hosts friends at home, preparing everything from vibrant salads and vegan dishes to steak, fish and roast chicken, along with a breakfast oatmeal recipe that she jokes has become a cult favorite. The kitchen has also sparked new creative ideas. “I’m actually thinking about pitching a cooking show,” she shares. “I’m doing little videos of some of my favorite recipes that I might post on Instagram over the next few months.”
Standing in Capitol, laughing easily between outfit changes, Graham feels both timeless and fully present. Her move to Brentwood, the momentum in her career and the rituals she’s built into her everyday life all point to a woman stepping confidently into what’s next.
“I try to go out on my deck every day and just be grateful that I get to live here,” she says. “I truly feel so lucky.”