Shailene Woodley was born in Simi Valley, California to Lori, a middle school counselor, and Loni, a school principal. She also has a younger brother, Tanner. Although her parents are divorced, she claims they still spend the holidays together. Woodley had her first audition at the age of five, when her model cousin brought her to a talent-call audition. Her mother asked her it she felt like acting one day, and of course Shailene was up for it. After that, things just kind of fell into place.
In 2002, she appeared in small television roles on Without a Trace and The District. In 2005, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the Category: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Special Leading Young Actress for her role in A Place Called Home as California Ford. In 2003, she appeared as Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C. television series. She appeared as Felicity Merriman, in Felicity: An American Girl Adventure for which she received a Young Artists award nomination in the Category: Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special. This is one of two TV specials that Woodley appeared in with John Schneider. She appeared on Crossing Jordan as a young Jordan, as well as other television series including, Everybody Loves Raymond, My Name is Earl, CSI: NY, and Close to Home. In 2007, Woodley appeared in Cold Case as Sarah Gunden, the murder victim's younger Amish sister, who originally brought the case to the investigators' attention. Woodley currently stars in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Amy Juergens, a 15 year old who discovers she is pregnant. The show explores the effects of her pregnancy on her family and friends as well as life at Ulysses S. Grant High School in California.
