Age: 27
Birthday: April 29, 1996
Birthplace: Perth, Australia
Breakout Role: Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why
Other Notable Roles: Leah Burke in Love, Simon, Nimue in Cursed
Awards and Nominations: Golden Globe nomination, Emmy nomination, 2x Critics‘ Choice Television Award
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As a long-time fan of Katherine Langford, I‘ve been amazed at watching her meteoric rise to fame over the past few years. The talented Perth-born actress catapulted onto the Hollywood scene in 2017 with her heart-wrenching portrayal of Hannah Baker in Netflix‘s controversial series 13 Reasons Why. Her emotional performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination and instant acclaim. But what I admire most about Katherine is her multidimensional talents and her dedicated advocacy for youth mental health.
Early Life in Australia
Katherine Alexandra Langford was born on April 29, 1996 and raised in the picturesque riverside suburb of Applecross, Western Australia. Her mother Elizabeth is a pediatrician and her father Stephen works for the Royal Flying Doctors Service. Katherine has often spoken fondly of her close-knit family, including older sister Josephine and younger brothers Patrick and Thomas.
As a teen, Katherine attended the selective Perth Modern School where she thrived academically and developed passions for musical theater and competitive swimming. She graduated in 2013 with top marks and an ATAR score of 99.95 out of 100 before enrolling at the University of Western Australia. However, Katherine soon realized her true calling was in acting and made the courageous decision to leave university to pursue her dreams.
Meteoric Rise to Fame
In a fairy-tale start to her career, Katherine landed the pivotal leading role of Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why in 2016 despite having zero prior acting experience. She delivered an utterly captivating breakout performance which earned her a 2018 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
As 13 Reasons Why propelled her into the global spotlight, Katherine continued honing her acting skills in projects like Love, Simon, Roar, and as the voice of S.A.M. in the Netflix anime series Cannon Busters. But her most transformative role came in 2019 as the legendary Lady of the Lake, Nimue, in Netflix‘s fantasy epic Cursed. Katherineimbues the fierce, complex heroine with a poignant balance of vulnerability and courage. Her scene-stealing performance drew 2020 Emmy acclaim and cemented her star status.
Mental Health Advocate
Beyond her meteoric on-screen success, I deeply admire Katherine‘s dedication to advocating for youth mental health and anti-bullying causes. Due to her impactful role on 13 Reasons Why, she became heavily involved with organizations like the JED Foundation, working tirelessly to promote teen suicide prevention and mental health resources.
Katherine also serves as an anti-bullying ambassador for Lady Gaga‘s Born This Way Foundation. She is an outspoken proponent of spreading more kindness and inclusivity among young people. Her charitable efforts have brought greater visibility to these critical issues. It‘s been inspiring to watch Katherine leverage her platform to make such a positive difference in the world.
The Person Behind the Star
While commanding the screen and red carpets with confidence and style, Katherine Langford remains remarkably grounded and gracious. She is very close with her family back home in Australia and returns frequently to visit. Some of Katherine‘s favorite travel destinations include Italy and Hawaii where she unwinds with swimming, yoga, reading, and quality time with loved ones.
An avid reader from a young age, Katherine is a lover of sci-fi and fantasy novels. She enjoys creative writing in her free time and hopes to publish fiction one day. Her literary heroes include Neil Gaiman, P.L. Travers and Madeleine L‘Engle. Katherine also has an angelic singing voice and shares stunning song covers on her YouTube channel.
Fashion Icon in the Making
On red carpets and magazine covers, Katherine exhibits her fabulous sense of style. She favors youthful, feminine silhouettes from designers like Prada, Valentino, and Rodarte. Vogue has taken notice of her chic, tailored looks and engaging media presence. I believe Katherine has all the makings of a fashion icon in the making!
She became an ambassador for L’Oréal Paris in 2018 and her natural beauty radiates through any look. With her flawless porcelain skin, girl-next-door freckles and tousled brown locks, Katherine’s magnetic charm shines both on and off screen.
The Future Shines Bright
At just 27, Katherine Langford has already achieved incredible success thanks to her abundance of talent, work ethic, charisma and character. After heart-wrenching turns in 13 Reasons Why and Cursed, I can’t wait to see what she‘ll take on next! Katherine has a slate of exciting new projects in the works, including Netflix’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Spontaneous. She also plans to make her directorial debut soon – no doubt infusing the project with her artistic vision.
With her combination of creative gifts and motivations to inspire, Katherine Langford has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most promising young talents both in front of and behind the camera. She has said, “I want to make a positive difference to people’s lives.” I know Katherine will continue captivating audiences while bringing more light into the world for years to come.