Hilarie Ross Burton (born July 1, 1982) is an American actress. A former host of MTV's Total Request Live, she portrayed Peyton Sawyer on the WB/CW drama One Tree Hill for six seasons (2003-2009). Burton gained wider recognition with leading roles in the films Our Very Own, Solstice and The List. In 2010, she began starring as Sara Ellis on the USA crime dramedy White Collar, and in a recurring role as Dr. Lauren Boswell on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy in 2013.
Early life
Burton was born on July 1, 1982 in Sterling, Virginia. Her father is a former Green Beret.[2] She is the eldest of four children with three brothers. She graduated from Park View High School in 2000, where she was student council treasurer her sophomore year,[3] vice-president her junior year,[4] and captain of the cheerleading squad, student council president, and homecoming queen her senior year.[5] Burton attended New York University and Fordham University.
Career
Burton's first big break came when working as a VJ for the Total Request Live on MTV.
She was supposed to be a guest commentator for one segment, but
producers decided to offer her a permanent job. Burton went on to
present at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and MTV's Iced Out New Year's Eve. Burton went on to portray herself on The WB teen drama television series Dawson's Creek in 2002, which was marked as her acting debut.
In April 2003, Burton was cast in The WB drama pilot, One Tree Hill. Burton portrayed the role of Peyton Sawyer,
a fiercely independent visual and musical artist and cheerleader. The
series premiered on September 23, 2003 and went on to be the network's
top rated program of the year. The role was considered Burton's breakout
role and is her best-known to date. For her role in the series, Burton
was featured on the cover of Maxim, American Cheerleader Magazine and People. Her performance received critical praise and she earned three Teen Choice Award nominations.[5] In May 2009, The CW
announced Burton would not be returning for the show's seventh season
based on her own decision not to return, contrary to rumors she left due
to salary issues.[6]
In June 2005, Burton made her film debut in the independent drama film Our Very Own. The film centered on five small-town teenagers who dream of a better life. The film starred Allison Janney and Cheryl Hines
and was released to positive reviews from critics. Burton and her
fellow stars in the film received the "Outstanding Ensemble Acting"
award at the prestigious Sarasota Film Festival.[7] In September 2007, Hilarie appeared in the Lifetime drama film Normal Adolescent Behavior.
Hilarie played the role of Ryan and followed a group of friends whom
are in a six-way polyfidelitous relationship. That same year Burton
starred in the supernatural horror film Solstice alongside Amanda Seyfried.
In June 2008, Burton starred in the independent thriller filmThe List. Burton portrayed the role of Jo Johnston and was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina while Burton was on production break for One Tree Hill.
The film was released for a limited release and went on to make
$132,863 in the US alone. That same year Burton had a small role in the Fox Searchlight Pictures drama film The Secret Life of Bees. Burton played Deborah Owens, the deceased mother to Dakota Fanning's character.
In January 2009, Burton was cast in another independent drama, Bloodworth. The film is an adaptation of Provinces of Night by author William Gay. Filming also took place in Wilmington, North Carolina in April and May that same year. The film also starred Hilary Duff and Val Kilmer and premiered at the 2010 Santa Barbara International Film Festival
in February 2010. The film later went on to a limited release on May
20, 2011 to positive reviews from critics and over $12,971 worldwide.
In July 2010 Variety announced Burton would have a recurring arc in the USA Network crime comedy-drama series White Collar.
Burton portrays the role of Sara Ellis, an insurance investigator. In
February 2011, Burton was upgraded to a series regular for the series
third season which premiered on June 7, 2011. The series was renewed for
a fourth season in August 2011 with Burton reprising her role, credited
in the recurring cast.[8]
On January 23, 2012, Burton guest-starred on the ABC police comedy-drama Castle,
in season 4: episode 13 titled "An Embarrassment of Bitches" portraying
a reality television star named Kay Cappuccio who is accused of the
murder of a famous dog trainer.[9] Burton also began a recurring role in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy for the last three episodes of the ninth season in 2013, playing Dr. Lauren Boswell.
Personal life
Burton holding an M4 carbine during a USO visit.
Burton resides in Wilmington, North Carolina, where One Tree Hill is filmed.[1][5] In 2004, Burton married One Tree Hill assistant director Ian Prange, son of executive producer Greg Prange. They divorced in 2009.[1] She has a cat named after writer Edgar Allan Poe, and is close friends with fellow One Tree Hill stars Bethany Joy Galeotti, Sophia Bush, James Lafferty, Chad Michael Murray and Elisabeth Harnois.
In May 2007, Burton ranked #77 in the Maxim Hot 100 List of 2007.[10] She also appeared on the cover of the November 2006 edition of Maxim with One Tree Hill co-stars Sophia Bush and Danneel Harris. In previous years, Burton ranked #2 on Femme Fatales: The 50 Sexiest Women of 2005 and #12 on Much Music's 20 Hottest Women of 2003.
In 2007, Burton created her own production company called Southern
Gothic Production (SoGoPro) along with Nick Gray, Kelly Tenney, James
Burton and Meg Mortimer.[11][12][13][14][15] Burton is also on the North Carolina Film Council.[16] Burton has been in a relationship with fellow actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan since 2009. The couple welcomed a son Augustus "Gus" in March 2010.[17][18]
Discography
Soundtracks
- The Road Mix: Music from the Television Series One Tree Hill, Volume 3
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Our Very Own | Bobbie Chester | Sarasota Film Festival: Outstanding Ensemble Acting |
| 2007 | Normal Adolescent Behavior | Ryan | |
| Solstice | Alicia | ||
| 2008 | The List | Jo Johnston | |
| The Secret Life of Bees | Deborah Owens | ||
| 2009 | The True-Love Tale of Boyfriend & Girlfriend | Boyfriend | A Southern Gothic Production |
| 2010 | Bloodworth | Hazel | |
| 2012 | Naughty or Nice | Krissy Kringle | Hallmark Original Movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2004 | Total Request Live | Herself | |
| 2002 | Birds of Prey | Quiet Classmate | Episode 1.03: "Prey for the Hunter" |
| 2002 | Dawson's Creek | Hilarie (Female VJ) | Episode 5.19: "100 Light Years from Home" |
| 2003–2009 | One Tree Hill | Peyton Sawyer | Main Role (Seasons 1–6; 2003–2009; 130 episodes) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout TV Star Female (2004) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Drama/Action/Adventure (2004) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Drama (2005) |
| 2003 | MTV's Iced Out New Year's Eve | Herself | Host |
| MTV Does Miami | Herself | Co-Host | |
| MTV Diary | Herself | with One Tree Hill cast | |
| Pepsi Smash | Herself | Host | |
| 2005 | Unscripted | Herself | |
| 2005/2006 | The Tony Danza Show | Herself | |
| 2008 | Little Britain USA | Lesbian Student 1 | Episode 1.06 |
| 2010–present | White Collar | Sara Ellis | Recurring cast (Season 2: 6 episodes; Season 4: 4 episodes) Main cast (Season 3) |
| 2012 | Castle | Kay Cappuccio | Episode 4.13: "An Embarrassment of Bitches" |
| 2013–present | Grey's Anatomy | Dr. Lauren Boswell | One hit wonder (Season 9: 3 episodes) |
| 2013 | Hostages | Samantha | Recurring |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "The Mixed Tape" | Peyton Sawyer | Jack's Mannequin video |
Awards
| Year | Group | Award | Result | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Breakout TV Star - Female | Nominated | One Tree Hill |
| Choice TV Actress: Drama/Action/Adventure | Nominated | |||
| 2005 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Drama | Nominated | One Tree Hill |
| 2006 | Sarasota Film Festival | Outstanding Ensemble Acting | Won | Our Very Own |
