Born in Bristol, Pennsylvania, the daughter of two college professors, Lauren grew up in the upstate New York town of Geneva. Her childhood was split between experiences that contrasted. She was privy to the shelter of growing up in a rural town and also exposed due to the erudite sophistication of her parents' academic careers. Lauren spent time traveling in Europe and lived for a year in London, where she studied languages and flute at the famed Sarah Siddons School. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College in New York, Lauren credits her love of acting to her great-grandmother who bred a family tradition of "treading the boards" on the musical theatre stages of Liverpool and London. Lauren's breakthrough motion picture performance came in the New Line Cinema's box-office smash, _Dumb and Dumber , as a woman whose life in a small seaside community is turned upside down by the reappearance of her ex-boyfriend. Lauren's other film credits include Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday," with Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Fox, Sydney Pollack's "Sabrina," starring Harrison Ford, the action-drama "Turbulence," co-starring Ray Liotta, the Miramax ensemble "Beautiful Girls," a lead role in the Universal production of "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story," "A Smile Like Yours," "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane," the comedy "Down Periscope," starring Kelsey Grammer, "Entropy" and "The Last Producer," starring and directed by Burt Reynolds.In television, Lauren's credits are no less impressive. Lauren recently starred in 2 films for Hallmark. She also boasts three seasons as Director Jenny Shepard in CBS/Paramount Television's top-rated drama series NCIS. Lauren was seen in the TNT movie "King of Texas," an adaptation of Shakespeare's "King Lear," playing opposite Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden and renowned actor Patrick Stewart, and in the NBC miniseries "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot," alongside Jill Hennessy and Leslie Stefanson. Additionally, Lauren starred as plastic surgeon Jeremy Hanlon on David E. Kelley's Emmy Award-nominated CBS drama, "Chicago Hope," marking her second project with Kelley, following their successful collaboration on the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning series, "Picket Fences." Lauren has worked on numerous Independent films. These feature films include the political thriller "Fatwa," in which she not only acted but also served as a producer, the Peter Schwaba penned and directed comedy "Godfather of Green Bay," "The Chumscrubber," an Arie Posen directed, independent film to be released by DreamWorks, "Pleasure Drivers," directed by acclaimed cinematographer Andrej Sekula and co-starring Angus McFadden, a Lifetime movie "Caught in the Act," which she also produced, and "Chasing 3000". Most recently, Lauren starred in "You're So Cupid" with Brian Krause and Jeremy Sumpter. Additional projects contributing to the broad and diverse body of motion picture work Lauren has compiled include the drama "Colored Eggs" with Faye Dunaway, the comedy "Raising Flagg" playing opposite Oscar winner Alan Arkin, the Darrell Roodt directed HBO thriller, "Pavement", co-starring Robert Patrick and Paramount Pictures', and "What Women Want" opposite Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. In addition, Lauren served a lead role in Disney's Oscar winning animated motion picture "Spirited Away" as the voice of Chihiro's Mother. Coming up she will play a lead in "Perfect Age of Rock and Roll," produced by Spike Lee. Lauren currently march, 2014 makes her home in Toronto, Canada with her "three kings", sons Alexander, George, and Henry.
Attended Sarah Lawrence College (graduated 1985 with a degree in English Literature).
She turned down the role played by Courteney Cox in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , but later co-starred with Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber .
Graduated from Geneva High School in Geneva, New York with the class of 1981 where she was a cheerleader.
Her father, Grant Holly , taught English Literature at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York.
Her mother, Michael Ann, taught art history at the University of Rochester and chaired the department.
Ex-husband Francis Greco is an investment banker.
Younger brother, Nick Holly , was a literary agent in Hollywood at Don Buchwald and Assoc. He is now a writing partner with Fred Goss.
Her maid of honor at her March 2001 wedding to Francis Greco was actress Amanda Peet
Shared a dressing room for three years with Robin Christopher and Rosa Nevin when they worked together at "All My Children" .
Ex-daughter-in-law of Anthony Quinn and Jolanda Addolori.
Ex-sister-in-law of Faith Salie , Alex A. Quinn , Melissa Quinn , Francesco Quinn , Lorenzo Quinn and Valentina Quinn.
Became a Canadian citizen in 2008, and now holds dual US/Canadian citizenship.
Ex-stepmother of Jane Carrey.
(August 2005) Has been tapped to join the CBS production of "NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" and will debut in the first episode of the season as "Jenny Shepard", the new boss of the Naval criminal investigative unit where Gibbs works.
Played "Mary Ann", best friend of abused wife, "Wanda" (played by Jane Krakowski ) in The Dixie Chicks 2000 video, "Goodbye Earl", with Dennis Franz as "Earl".
Her acting mentor was Tom Skerritt.
Best known by the public for her role as Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart on "Picket Fences" .
In 2014, she was reunited with her ex- "Picket Fences" series star, Tom Skerritt , to star in the movie Field of Lost Shoes .
Has 3 adopted sons with her ex-husband Francis Greco: Alexander Joseph Greco (b.2001), George Greco (b.2003) and Henry Greco (b.2004).
Has 3 adopted sons she refers to as the 3 kings: Alexander, George and Henry.
She named her adopted son (Alexander Joseph Greco) in honor of her 14-year-old brother Alexander Innes Holly (B. July 11, 1977) who was killed in a fire on April 10, 1992.
Credits Tom Skerritt as her favorite acting mentor/best friend.
