Shailene Woodley

2.1. Childhood and Education

Born on November 15, 1991, in Simi Valley, California, Woodley grew up in a family that prioritized a balanced life for her and her younger brother, Tanner. She was discovered by an agent at the age of five while attending a local theater class, which her parents had reluctantly enrolled her in after she begged them, inspired by accompanying a cousin to a similar class. Her parents agreed to let her pursue acting professionally under three strict conditions: she had to remain true to herself, have fun, and maintain good academic performance. Woodley committed to these rules, participating in over sixty television commercials for brands like Leapfrog, Hertz, and Honda minivans before she turned eleven.

Despite her burgeoning acting career, Woodley excelled academically, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average and taking Advanced Placement classes. She graduated from Simi Valley High School. To accommodate her demanding schedule, especially after booking her starring role in the ABC Family television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager during her junior year, a teacher would visit her home once a week to provide her with missed schoolwork, which she completed either at home or between takes on set. Before her acting career became too demanding, Woodley considered studying Interior Design at New York University. During a hiatus from her TV show, she even took a job at American Apparel in New York City, a position she had to quit just two days in after receiving a call to meet director Alexander Payne for The Descendants. She also honed her craft by taking acting classes from Anthony Meindl.

2.2. Family Background

Woodley's parents, both psychologists, played a significant role in her upbringing. Her mother, Lori (née Victor), worked as a middle school counselor, and her father, Lonnie, was a former school principal and a family therapist. The family dynamics shifted when her parents separated when she was fourteen, a personal experience that contributed to her journey. Her ethnicity includes English heritage from her father's side, and African-American, Creole, English, and Swiss ancestry from her mother's side.

2.3. Health and Personal Experiences

At the age of fifteen, Woodley faced a significant health challenge when she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition involving a sideways curvature of the spine. For two years, she was required to wear a chest-to-hips plastic brace for eighteen hours a day to realign her spine. She described the brace as "a tacky, disgusting, plastic corset," noting that it initially made it difficult to eat or breathe and forced her to give up cross-country running, a sport she enjoyed. However, her condition did not impede her professional work, as she would simply remove the brace during filming and put it back on during breaks. This period of personal adversity fostered resilience and adaptability in her life.

3.1. Career Beginnings and Breakthrough

Woodley began her acting journey in 1999 with a minor role in the television film Replacing Dad. She steadily built her resume with various minor television appearances, including roles in The District and Crossing Jordan, where she notably portrayed the 10-year-old version of Jill Hennessy's titular character. In 2004, she secured a leading role as California Ford in the television film A Place Called Home, earning a nomination for a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special. She also originally played the young Kaitlin Cooper in The O.C. before appearing as the titular character Felicity Merriman in the 2005 television film Felicity: An American Girl Adventure, which garnered her another Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, or Special (Comedy or Drama). Following these roles, Woodley made guest appearances in several other television series, including Everybody Loves Raymond, My Name Is Earl, CSI: NY, Close to Home, and Cold Case.

Her significant breakthrough came with her casting as the main character, Amy Juergens, in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013). The show centered on a 15-year-old girl dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, exploring its effects on her family, friends, and herself. Her performance received praise from critics like Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly, who stated that it "lifts a well-meaning, rather brave, but ramshackle show a notch." The series proved to be a popular success, becoming one of ABC Family's most-watched telecasts throughout its five-season run, comprising over 121 episodes.

In 2011, Woodley made her feature film debut in Alexander Payne's The Descendants, playing Alex, the troubled elder daughter of Matt King, portrayed by George Clooney. Her performance garnered widespread positive reviews. A. O. Scott of The New York Times lauded her for delivering "one of the toughest, smartest, most credible adolescent performances in recent memory," while Peter Debruge from Variety described her portrayal of Alex as a "revelation," showcasing both the "edge and depth the role demands." This critically acclaimed role led to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture and a win for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. Her success continued with the Trophée Chopard at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award. People magazine included her in their "Most Beautiful at Every Age" list in 2012, and Nylon recognized her as one of the 55 faces of the future in its "Young Hollywood Issue." She also received the Emerging Star Spotlight Award at Elle's 20th Annual "Women In Hollywood."

3.2. Film Career

Shailene Woodley's film career expanded significantly after her breakthrough, encompassing a diverse range of roles in independent dramas and major blockbusters.

In 2013, she starred as Aimee Finecky in The Spectacular Now, a film adaptation of Tim Tharp's novel. Her portrayal of an innocent, bookish teenager who begins dating the charming high-school senior Sutter Keely (played by Miles Teller) earned significant praise. Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times noted that Woodley and Teller conveyed "such an authentic face of confidence and questioning, indifference and need, pain and denial, friendship and first love." Another critic from The Guardian commented on their "remarkably strong performances" that "display a depth of feeling that's breathtaking in its simplicity and honesty." Woodley and Teller were jointly awarded the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and she received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

Woodley was initially offered the role of Mary Jane Watson in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in October 2012, but her scenes were ultimately cut from the film in June 2013. Director Marc Webb explained that this was "a creative decision to streamline the story and focus on Peter and Gwen and their relationship." She also starred in White Bird in a Blizzard, directed by Gregg Araki, playing teenager Katrina "Kat" Connors, whose life is disrupted by her mother's disappearance. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival before a wider release in October 2014. Moira MacDonald praised Woodley's "low-key, natural, and utterly unaffected" depiction of Kat, stating she "makes the character her own, with her scratchy little voice and level gaze."

In 2014, Woodley starred as Beatrice "Tris" Prior in Divergent, the first installment of The Divergent Series, adapted from Veronica Roth's best-selling young-adult novel. She was the first and only actress considered for the role. To prepare, Woodley underwent four weeks of intensive training in Chicago, including fight, gun, and knife training with stunt coordinator Garrett Warren. Set in a dystopian and postapocalyptic Chicago, the film received mixed reviews, but Woodley's performance as Tris was widely praised. Sam Allard of Orlando Weekly noted that "with her performance as Tris Prior in Divergent, Woodley rescues and then raises up a film that could have been an utter disaster." Divergent was a financial success, reaching the number-one spot at the box office during its opening weekend. Woodley was honored with CinemaCon's Female Star of Tomorrow Award.

The same year, Woodley starred as Hazel Grace Lancaster in The Fault in Our Stars, the film adaptation of John Green's novel. She portrayed a 16-year-old cancer patient who falls in love with Augustus Waters, played by Ansel Elgort. John Green expressed his admiration on Twitter, stating, "There were so many amazing auditions for the role of Hazel, but Shailene's love for the book and her understanding of Hazel blew me away." The film became a blockbuster, grossing over 307.00 M USD worldwide. Woodley's performance garnered critical acclaim, with Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calling her a "sublime actress" and Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times deeming her portrayal Oscar-worthy. She received The Hollywood Film Award for Hollywood Breakout Performance - Actress for her role as Hazel. Recognizing her continued success, she received a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2015.

In 2015, Woodley reprised her role as Tris in The Divergent Series: Insurgent, the second film in The Divergent Series. Her performance again received critical acclaim, with Daniel M. Kimmel of New England Movies Weekly stating, "Woodley does solid work here as she's done elsewhere, and continues to be someone to watch." Despite a more negative critical reception for the film itself, Insurgent was commercially successful, grossing nearly 100.00 M USD in its worldwide debut and a total of 295.20 M USD globally. She continued her role as Tris in the penultimate film of the series, Allegiant (2016). However, this film was poorly reviewed by critics and proved to be a box-office bomb. Lionsgate's plans to make the final film, Ascendant, for television were met with Woodley's announcement that she would not participate, explaining that she desired to complete the series as a full-length feature film to "do justice to everybody who believes in the character of Tris as much as I believe in the character of Tris."

She next starred opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Oliver Stone's biographical thriller Snowden (2016), portraying Lindsay Mills, Edward Snowden's girlfriend. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Owen Gleiberman praised Woodley for "a performance of breathtaking dimension: As the movie goes on, she makes Lindsay supportive and selfish, loving and stricken."

After taking a nearly year-long break from filming starting in 2015, during which she considered quitting acting due to hitting "a wall," Woodley "fell in love" with the craft again through her role in Big Little Lies. In 2018, she starred in and produced the biographical film Adrift, directed by Baltasar Kormákur. For the film, Woodley learned sailing and performed her own stunts, with ninety percent of the movie shot on the open ocean off Fiji. Daniel Feingold from WSVN deemed her portrayal of Tami Oldham Ashcraft, a real-life sailor stranded at sea after a storm, "Oscar-worthy." Owen Gleiberman of Variety lauded her as "a sensual actress" with the "gift of making sensuality dramatic," noting the "beautiful severity to her features that allows you to feel the things she's showing you." Woodley was honored with the Rising Star Award at the 2018 Deauville Film Festival.

In 2019, Woodley starred in the romantic drama Endings, Beginnings alongside Sebastian Stan, Jamie Dornan, and Matthew Gray Gubler. The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, was largely semi-improvised, based on an 80-page outline. Woodley played Daphne, a contemporary character striving for self-realization. Despite mixed critical reception, with some calling the story "carelessly constructed," Peter Travers of Rolling Stone highlighted that "it's the performances that carry the day with Woodley raising the bar in every scene."

In 2021, Woodley took on a supporting role as Teri Duncan, a junior associate to defense lawyer Nancy Hollander (played by Jodie Foster), in Kevin Macdonald's The Mauritanian, a real-life drama set in Guantanamo Bay. David Ehrlich of IndieWire remarked that Woodley was "overqualified for a role that requires her to do little more than smile and sweat." She also had a small role in the critically acclaimed film The Fallout, an appearance she made as a dedication to her long-time friendship with the film's director, Megan Park, her former co-star from The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She then starred in and executive produced the romantic drama The Last Letter from Your Lover alongside Felicity Jones, based on the bestselling novel by Jojo Moyes. Woodley portrayed Jennifer Stirling, a married woman in the 1960s caught in an illicit love affair that leads her to discover her true self. Sophie Kaufman of Time Out praised her, stating, "Woodley has such raw intensity as a performer that she shows up any tired elements of a film production, just as silk shows up polyester."

In 2023, Woodley starred in and produced the crime thriller film To Catch a Killer, directed and co-written by Argentinian filmmaker Damián Szifron in his English-language debut. Woodley played Eleanor Falco, a talented but troubled cop recruited by the FBI to track down a mass murderer. Rex Reed of Observer commended her performance, saying, "Woodley plays it on the verge of mental and physical exhaustion, rubbing the pain from her eye, giving every scene a little something extra" and that she "adds another laurel to her already impressive resume." She also starred opposite Jack Whitehall in the sci-fi comedy Robots, which was the film directorial debut of screenwriting duo Anthony Hines and Casper Christensen. Based on Robert Sheckley's 1973 short story The Robot Who Looked Like Me, the film follows a womanizer, Charles, and a gold digger, Elaine, who must team up to pursue their runaway robot doubles. Woodley shared with Collider that she accepted the role for the opportunity to do a comedy for the first time, appreciating the "beautiful message of love" beneath the humor. She next appeared in Craig Gillespie's Dumb Money, and portrayed Lina Lardi, mistress of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, in Michael Mann's biopic Ferrari.

3.3. Television Career

Woodley's television career has been marked by several impactful roles, demonstrating her ability to captivate audiences on the small screen. Her main role as Amy Juergens in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013) solidified her status as a young talent, appearing in 121 episodes.

Her most significant television role post-teen drama came in 2017 when she starred as Jane Chapman, a sexual assault survivor, alongside Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon in the HBO drama series Big Little Lies, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Sarah Rense of Esquire praised Woodley's performance as "underrated" and bringing "a quiet complexity," calling her "the most realistic character." Her nuanced portrayal, characterized by a "cool demeanor interrupted by sudden, short outbursts," felt incredibly authentic. For this role, she received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. She reprised her role as Jane Chapman for the second season of Big Little Lies in 2019.

In 2024, Woodley starred as Gia Lombardi, a fictionalized version of author Lisa Taddeo, in the drama series Three Women, which is based on Taddeo's non-fiction book of the same name. She is also slated to appear as herself in the upcoming docuseries Hope in the Water.

3.4. Acting Style and Philosophy

Early in her career, Shailene Woodley admitted to being largely unfamiliar with the intricacies of the film and television industry, including prominent directors, producers, actors, or classic films. Despite this, she developed a distinct acting philosophy and approach. She is drawn to what she describes as "human scripts"-those that are "raw, and real, and risky." Woodley often seeks roles where she can play "vulnerable scary" characters, finding satisfaction in embodying her "alter-ego, dark side on screen" because she is a naturally "happy, optimistic person in real life."

Woodley does not consider herself a method actor nor is she classically trained. She famously stated, "I'm not a good actor, just a professional listener." Over the years, she has adapted her acting style, incorporating the methods of her co-stars and directors, indicating a flexible and collaborative approach to her craft. This openness allows her to continuously evolve and integrate various influences into her performances.

3.5. Upcoming Projects

Shailene Woodley has several projects currently in production or development. She is set to appear in Motor City, which is currently filming. Additionally, she has joined the voice cast for the animated feature Girl in the Clouds, based on the novel by Romain Puértolas.

4.1. Environmental Activism

Woodley is an avid environmental activist and climate advocate, passionately insisting on clean and renewable energy sources. In 2010, she co-founded the non-profit organization All it Takes with her mother, Lori. This youth leadership program focuses on educating young people to practice empathy, compassion, responsibility, and purpose, aiming to foster sustainable, positive change for themselves, others, and the environment. For her significant contributions through All it Takes, she received the Philanthropy Award at Variety's fourth Annual Power of Youth event.

In 2017, she authored an opinion piece for The Hill, titled "US Should Run on Renewable Energy by 2050," advocating for the transition to an economy powered by 100% clean energy by 2050. This piece led to her opportunity to introduce the 100 by '50 Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley that calls for the United States to aggressively reduce carbon pollution and achieve 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050. In 2019, she supported Indigenized Energy, a local non-profit that brings solar energy and jobs to Native Americans, founded by her fellow Dakota Access Pipeline Protest activist, Cody Two Bears.

Woodley has lent her voice to several environmental campaigns. She is a member of Conservation International's Leadership Council and has contributed to their Nature Is Speaking series, which aims to reframe the importance of conservation by personifying different aspects of nature. She partnered with American Express and Parley for the Oceans on their #BackourOceans initiative to combat marine plastic pollution. She also joined Ocean Unite's 30x30 mission, advocating for the protection of at least 30% of the Earth's oceans by 2030, and supported WILDOCEANS's Ocean Impact campaign, promoting the conservation of South Africa's oceans.

In July 2019, Woodley became an Oceans Ambassador for Greenpeace. She undertook a three-week expedition to the Sargasso Sea to study the impact of plastics and microplastics on marine life and to highlight the ecosystem's importance for protection under a new global ocean treaty. She chronicled her experience on the Greenpeace ship and detailed actions to save marine life in a Time piece titled "How I'm Changing My Life to Help Save the Seas." Her efforts contributed to a significant outcome in March 2023 when the UN Ocean Treaty was finally agreed upon at the United Nations, maintaining the 30x30 target for ocean protection.

In 2020, Woodley partnered with Karün, a certified B Corp that produces high-quality eyewear from recycled waste like fishing nets and ropes. Their "Karün by Shailene Woodley" product line emphasizes the connection between product design and nature protection, and Karün was recognized as The Most Sustainable Eyewear Brand by Global Brands Magazine Awards from 2021 to 2023. In 2022, she became an inaugural member of GoodLeap's Advisory Council, which seeks to connect individuals with sustainable living solutions. In 2023, Woodley joined Greenpeace in Paris to demand a robust Global Treaty to end plastic pollution, coinciding with the UNEP's second round of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meetings aimed at securing a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. She also appeared alongside Susan Sarandon in the Italian docufilm Materia Viva, which focuses on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), discussing their environmental activism.

4.2. Political and Social Activism

Woodley has actively engaged in political and social causes, demonstrating a strong commitment to progressive movements. During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, she supported and campaigned for Bernie Sanders, admiring his policies, honesty, and ethical stance. She organized the Up to Us movement, a cross-country caravan to the Democratic National Convention, aiming to unite Americans in solidarity and raise awareness about political, social, and environmental issues for candidates to address.

In 2016, Woodley notably protested against the Dakota Access Pipeline. In October, after more than a month of active participation alongside other protesters, she was arrested for criminal trespassing in Saint Anthony, North Dakota, south of Mandan. Her arrest, which occurred during a two-hour Facebook Livestream, significantly amplified media attention and public awareness of the DAPL situation. Her mugshot went viral on social media, accompanied by hashtags like #FreeShailene, #NoDAPL, and #IStandWithStandingRock, generating widespread support from fellow celebrities and further public discourse on the issue. She reportedly posted bail for herself and 26 other protesters. Ten days after her arrest, she authored an op-ed for Time titled "The Truth About My Arrest," detailing her experience and raising awareness about the environmental and social concerns surrounding the pipeline. She later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of probation.

In mid-2016, Woodley joined the board of Our Revolution, a political organization founded by Bernie Sanders that aims to educate voters, encourage political participation, support progressive policies such as Medicare for All, and help elect progressive leaders. As a board member and environmental activist, Woodley was a speaker at a National Town Hall in 2018 titled "Solving Our Climate Crisis," hosted by Bernie Sanders, which addressed the global threat of climate change and explored solutions.

Her activism has been recognized with several awards. On September 29, 2016, she received the Entertainment Industry Environmental Leadership Award at the 20th Anniversary Global Green Environmental Awards for co-founding All it Takes. In October 2016, she was given the Female EMA Futures Award during the 26th Annual Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards. She also received the Advocate Award at the 2016 InStyle Awards for her work in uplifting others. In 2017, the environmental organization Sierra Club honored her at their 125th Anniversary Trail Blazers Ball for her grassroots activism. In 2018, Woodley brought activist Calina Lawrence as her guest to the 75th Golden Globe Awards; they had met while protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock. Woodley is also a signatory to the Artists4Ceasefire letter, advocating for peace.

5.1. Relationships

Woodley maintains an open perspective on relationships, stating that she falls in love with "human beings based on who they are, not based on what they do or what sex they are." In 2018, she confirmed her relationship with Australian-Fijian rugby union player Ben Volavola. However, their relationship reportedly concluded in April 2020.

In 2020, reports surfaced of her relationship with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers subtly confirmed their engagement in February 2021 during his acceptance speech for the league's MVP award at the 10th NFL Honors ceremony, referring to his "fiancée." Woodley later publicly confirmed their engagement during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 22, 2021. However, in February 2022, it was reported that Woodley and Rodgers had ended their engagement.

5.2. Personal Views

Woodley's personal views on lifestyle are deeply connected to nature and sustainability. She has expressed a passion for natural foods, engaging in practices such as self-collecting water from mountains, foraging for herbs, and occasionally consuming clay for bodily detoxification. She prefers to avoid fast food and incorporates bone broth into her diet. Reflecting her "hippie" style, she often goes without makeup, reserving it only for formal events or major public appearances. Woodley has a distinctive approach to social interaction, preferring to hug people upon meeting them rather than shaking hands or merely greeting them, fostering a more direct and affectionate connection. She is known for her aversion to social media and technology, favoring face-to-face interactions over digital communication. Her parents instilled three core rules for her acting career: she must remain true to herself, always have fun, and maintain good academic performance. These principles have guided her choices and approach to life, contributing to her grounded and conscious way of living.

6.1. Film

6.2. Television

6.3. Theater

6.4. Other Media

Woodley has also appeared in various other media formats, including music videos and video games.