Joey Lauren Adams

Born Jan. 9, 1968, in Little Rock, Ark., Joey Lauren Adams headed west while in her teens, determined to find work as a Hollywood actress. A veteran of neighborhood church productions, she soon found herself cast in a variety of small-screen roles, most notably as the young woman who deflowers Bud Bundy on "Married with Children."

By 1993, Adams began to land supporting parts in films such as Coneheads, and Dazed and Confused. But her big splash (and a Golden Globe nod) came with a lead role opposite Ben Affleck in Chasing Amy (1997). After making the indie drama A Cool Dry Place, Adams starred with Adam Sandler in Big Daddy (1999).

Adams continues to mix low-profile movies such as Reaching Normal (2001) with big-budget Hollywood fare such as 2006's The Break-Up. In 2006, her first directorial effort, Come Early Morning, was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Filmography