Date of Birth

20 December 1978, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Birth Name

Lauren Anne D'Ambruoso

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Trivia

• Attended Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut, and Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Connecticut, but transferred and graduated from the High School in the Community, a magnet school also in New Haven. She also attended the Educational Center for the Arts, New Haven's performing arts school, and spent summers studying voice at Tanglewood in Massachusetts.
• Classically trained opera singer
• Lives in Manhattan (New York City) with her husband, Sam.
• Her father, Frank, is a caterer, and her mother, Annie, is an interior designer.
• Has a younger brother, John.
• Lauren is taking piano lessons.
• Husband Sam, a photographer, is originally from Boston.
• When she was a kid, she sang at weddings and funerals.
• Her grandmother told her to become a funeral director, because she thought acting was very unpredictable, and funeral director would be a practical profession. As a result, she became an actress who played member of family who have funeral business on "Six Feet Under".
• Her father is of Italian descent while her mother is of German, English, and Irish ancestry.
• She replaced Michelle Williams in Where the Wild Things Are (2009), after it was decided that Williams didn't quite match the filmmakers' vision of how the character should sound.
• Was a big fan of Parker Posey before she worked with her on The Return of Jezebel James (2008). After working on the show, they befriended.
• Did her own singing in Psycho Beach Party (2000).
• Was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, Beauty at Every Age section, for age 29, in May 2007.
• Moved to New York because she wanted more theater in her life. She quickly got a part in the successful play "Exit the King" opposite Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush.
• Has co-starred with Paul Rudd on two films: Diggers (2006) and Wanderlust (2012).
• Alan Ball and she once discussed the possibility of a guest role on True Blood (2008). According to Ambrose it never happened as "the timing didn't work out".
• Was author Audrey Niffenegger's personal choice for the role of Clare Anne Abshire in the adaptation of her novel The Time Traveler's Wife (2009). However, Niffberger was not involved with the production and Rachel McAdams was cast instead.
• Appearing nightly in the Shakespeare in the Park production of "Romeo and Juliet," June 5-July 8, in New York City. Location: the Delacorte Theater (an open-air amphitheater), situated on the SW corner of the Great Lawn in Central Park, closest to the entrance at 81st St. and Central Park West. [June 2007]
• National Theatre, London, making her UK stage debut in a major revival of "Buried Child" by Sam Shepard. [September 2004]
• Stars in the Broadway revival of "Awake and Sing!" at the Belasco Theater. Previews begin March 23, 2006, toward an opening night of April 17. [April 2006]
• The last face seen on "Six Feet Under" is hers.
• Has 2 children with her husband Samuel H. Handel - a son named Orson Halcyon Handel (b. January 16, 2007) and a daughter (b. 2012).

Trademarks:

• Bright red hair
  

Quotes

• Being an actress is similar to trying to fit in with the popular kids in high school. You're expected to drive the right car, wear the right clothes and say the right things.
• Yeah, I've always sung, and I always try to find a way for music to be in my life.
• I think I need a little break. I've got a two-year old. I'll be part of The Leisure Class for a while.
• I saw 'Food, Inc.' last night - it was like a horror movie. I'm definitely thinking about my food supply now and how I want to grow my own.
• I came to L.A. to work and become a better actress, not to be a star.
• We played one warm-up gig at this bar that was kinda like that bar in 'The Blues Brothers' with the chicken wire. This place called The Brick House, in Housatonic. I really can't believe we're going to play for people in New York City. I'm terrified, but it's a small enough room. But it's really just supposed to be for the fun of it.
• The idea is that we're doing it just for the joy of the actual physical experience. We may record something just for the fun of it, but the idea is just to be truly joyful and truly fun, especially for me, because I take myself too seriously all the time.
• Right now I just want to chill for a while. Take a hiatus from all the craziness. To clean my house, see my family. Just see some movies and pick some strawberries.
• I never thought about being on a series before. It seemed like such a big commitment. But I love going to work every day. This is not about ego, it's about work, and that's refreshing in this town.
• Having my son, I mean, I feel already that it makes me a better actress. Just the feeling and the love that expands in my being is more than I ever thought possible.