Alyson Lee Hannigan was born on March 24, 1974 in Washington DC, and only two years later, her parents got divorced. When Alyson was 4, she was living in Atlanta and had small roles, working in commercials for a few big names, such as, Oreos, McDonalds, and Six Flags Amusement Parks. In 1985 she moved to Los Angeles and began to pursue her acting career.
Alyson's first film role was in
My Stepmother is an Alien (1988). Before that she had done a little television work, mostly commercials, and she went on to do a good deal more including roles in Almost Home,
Picket Fences,
The Torkelsons,
Roseanne and
Touched by an Angel. However, it wasn't until 1997, when she was chosen to play the part of Willow Rosenberg on
Buffy the Vampire Slayer that she gained true fame. The breakout show helped get the new WB network off the ground and made Alyson Hannigan a household name. She worked on the series for seven seasons, while doing a few movies here and there.
Hannigan's somewhat unstereotypical looks and distinctive acting style have led her, for the most part, to choose somewhat quirky characters. Her best known roles in BtVS and the American Pie series are clear examples of this.
Alyson owns a home in Sacramento, California and married actor
Alexis Denisof (who played Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the Buffy franchise) on October 11, 2003.
She currently stars as Lily, on the new CBS show
How I Met Your Mother, and makes occasional guest appearances on
Veronica Mars playing the role of Trina Echolls.
Movie Credits Include
Date Movie (2006) - Julia
American Wedding (2003) - Michelle
American Pie 2 (2001) - Michelle
Boys And Girls (2000) - Betty
American Pie (1999) - Michelle
Hayley Wagner, Star (1999) - Jenna Jakes
Dead Man on Campus (1998) - Lucy
For My Daughter's Honor (1996) - Kelly
A Case For Life (1996) - Iris
The Stranger Beside Me (1995) - Dana
Switched At Birth (1991) - Gina Twigg (Aged 13-16)
My Stepmother Is An Alien (1988) - Jessie Mills