Born on May 14, 1983, in Santa Monica, California, she is an American actress and writer. She gained early fame as Emily Quartermaine on the soap opera "General Hospital" and later starred in the TV series "Joan of Arcadia," earning critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. She appeared in films like "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "127 Hours." Beyond acting, she is a published poet and an advocate for women's rights and social issues.