Heather Graham first caught the attention of audiences with her breakout role as a wide-eyed drug addict in Drugstore Cowboy (1989), and from there, Heather Graham began carving out a place for herself in Hollywood. After that early success, Heather Graham appeared in several projects that didn’t quite hit the mainstream mark—films like the polarizing Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), which expanded on her brief but memorable appearance in the second season of the cult TV series Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990–91), and the lesser-known boxing drama Diggstown (1992). While these roles kept her working, they didn’t exactly solidify her status as a rising star.
That all changed when Heather Graham delivered a standout performance as Rollergirl, the roller-skating porn actress, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed Boogie Nights (1997). Though much of the spotlight went to co-stars Julianne Moore and Burt Reynolds, Heather Graham’s portrayal was impossible to ignore—bold, unapologetic, and strangely endearing. It was this role that truly put Heather Graham on the map, earning her widespread recognition and cementing an iconic character in late-’90s cinema.
Buoyed by that momentum, Heather Graham transitioned into more high-profile roles, landing spots in major studio releases such as the sci-fi adventure Lost in Space (1998) and the wildly popular comedy Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), where her charm and comedic timing shone through. Yet, despite these successes, Heather Graham’s trajectory hit a lull, and she made a short-lived pivot to television—most notably with a self-titled sitcom that famously aired only one episode before being pulled. It was a setback, but not one that defined her career.
True to form, Heather Graham persevered. Over time, she evolved into a versatile and reliable presence across both film and television. She proved her range by balancing laugh-out-loud moments in hits like The Hangover (2009) with more intense, dramatic turns in indie films such as the supernatural thriller Horns (2013). On the small screen, Heather Graham embraced campy, melodramatic fare, starring in a trilogy of V.C. Andrews adaptations centered around the Flowers in the Attic novels, while also taking on serious dramatic work, including a supporting role in the NBC true crime anthology Law & Order True Crime (2017–). Through it all, Heather Graham has remained a steady, adaptable performer—someone who keeps showing up, doing the work, and quietly commanding attention wherever she appears.
When it comes to Heather Graham’s career highlights, one film that really stands out is Drugstore Cowboy from 1989—it’s widely regarded as Heather Graham’s highest rated movie. Over the years, fans and critics alike have praised her performance in this classic, which helped solidify her place in the industry. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Behaving Badly, released in 2014, which unfortunately ranks as Heather Graham’s lowest rated film to date. While Heather Graham has taken on a wide variety of roles throughout her career, these two titles mark the peak and the low point in terms of critical reception. Still, Heather Graham continues to be a recognizable and respected figure in Hollywood, with a filmography that spans decades.