Date of Birth:August 19, 1982

Place of Birth:Seattle, Washington, USA

Major Genres: Drama, Comedy

Career Highlights: Traffic, The Upside of Anger, The Sisters

First Major Screen Credit: Traffic (2000)

She was born in Seattle, Washington, to Steve Christensen (an insurance worker) and Kathy (a construction manager), though she was raised in Los Angeles, California. Of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Welsh, and Irish descent, she started out on television in commercials for McDonald's. Erika had several small roles in various television programs before starting her movie career. These shows include The Geena Davis Show, Frasier, The Practice, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Touched by an Angel.

Christensen was named one of People magazine's "Breakthrough Stars of 2001." For her performance in Traffic she received the awards for Female Breakthrough Performance at the MTV Movie Awards, Female Standout Performance at the Young Hollywood Awards, and Outstanding Performance by a Cast Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Christensen is also a member of the Church of Scientology. Her parents raised her in the faith and home-schooled her.

1997 Leave It to Beaver

1999 Can of Worms

1999 Thanks

2000 Traffic

2001 That '70s Show

2002 Home Room

2002 Swimfan

2002 The Banger Sisters

2003 Wuthering Heights

2004 The Perfect Score

2004 Riding the Bullet

2005 The Upside of Anger

2005 The Sisters

2005 Flightplan

2006 Six Degrees

2007 How to Rob a Bank

2007 The Save-Ums