Lorraine Broussard Nicholson (born April 16, 1990) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Alana Blanchard in the biographical film Soul Surfer (2011).

Lorraine Nicholson
Born
Lorraine Broussard Nicholson

(1990-04-16) April 16, 1990 (age 34)
Alma materBrown University
OccupationActress
Years active2003–2016
Parents

Early life

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Nicholson was born in Los Angeles to actors Jack Nicholson and Rebecca Broussard. She was named after her father's aunt. She has a younger brother, Raymond, as well as two older half-siblings; a half-sister, Jennifer Nicholson and a half-brother, Caleb Goddard. She was four years old when her parents separated.[1] In 2008, she graduated from Brentwood School in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.[2]

Career

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Nicholson's first on-screen appearance was as an extra, at the age of 13, in her father's movie Something's Gotta Give. In 2008, she provided the voice of Katie in the animated film Fly Me to the Moon.[3]

After mostly minor roles as a child actor, Nicholson landed her first major role in Soul Surfer, playing Bethany Hamilton's best friend Alana Blanchard, who was there to help her after a shark attack took her left arm.[4] As Blanchard was a competitive surfer, Nicholson had to take a crash course in wave riding.[5]

Nicholson starred in Anonymous (2016), playing an expert hacker.[6]

Nicholson wrote, produced and directed a 15-minute coming-of-age drama titled The Instant Message.[7] She later directed and wrote a short film titled This Magic Moment. In 2017, Nicholson released her third short film, Life Boat, which premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.[8]

Personal life

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Nicholson served as Miss Golden Globe at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards ceremony.[3]

In May 2012, she graduated from Brown University with a degree in Literary Arts, intending on being a screenwriter. In a 2011 interview, Nicholson stated, "I love to act and I also hope to one day write and direct and create my own projects. I feel that in the film industry, especially as a woman, it's really important to make your own luck – and create projects to give other people really strong opportunities as well as yourself."[9] In 2017, Nicholson was accepted into the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, a mentorship and education program geared towards female filmmaking.[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Something's Gotta Give Young Girl in Market
2004 The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Princess Lorraine
2006 Click Samantha Newman (at 14 years old)
2008 Fly Me to the Moon Katie Voice role
2009 World's Greatest Dad Heather
2011 Soul Surfer Alana Blanchard
2012 The Cottage Vanessa
2014 The Pimp and the Rose Short film
2015 Hacker Kira Whittal
2015 Endings, Inc. Nikki Wheaton Short film
2016 Room 105 Sam

References

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  1. ^ Collins, Nancy (2 April 1994). "Wolf, Man, Jack". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  2. ^ "Lorraine Nicholson Bio". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
  3. ^ a b Berk, Bethany Hamilton with Sheryl; Bundschuh, Rick (2004). Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board (Trade pbk. ed.). New York: MTV Pocket. ISBN 978-1416503460.
  4. ^ Carter, Nicole (3 February 2010). "Jack Nicholson's daughter, Lorraine, set to make splash in Bethany Hamilton biopic 'Soul Surfer'". New York Daily News.
  5. ^ Aftab, Kaleem (15 July 2010). "Lorraine Nicholson".
  6. ^ Jessica Kiang (30 November 2016). "Film Review: 'Anonymous'". Variety. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  7. ^ Beth Anne, Heesen. "2 Nicholson kids and city-born actress shoot local film". Reading Eagle Company.
  8. ^ Saito, Stephen (April 21, 2017). "Tribeca '17 Interview: Lorraine Nicholson on Letting People in With the Buoyant "Life Boat"". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Deena, Bustillo. "Exclusive Interview: 'Soul Surfer' Star Lorraine Nicholson".
  10. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (February 7, 2017). "Paul Feig To Mentor AFI Directing Workshop For Women As Participants Set". Deadline. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
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Awards
Preceded by Miss Golden Globe
2007
Succeeded by
Rumer Willis
(no award given in 2008)