Date of Birth
16 December 1987, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Birth Name
Hallee Leah Hirsh
Height
5' 5" (1.65 m)
Mini Biography
Born in 1987 at Offut Air Force Base of military parents, Hallee started acting professionally at age 3 while her parents were stationed in Pensacola Fla. She had her first stage role at age 3, was discovered by agents, and immediately began booking commercials first in Florida and, soon after, in New York. She landed dozens of national TV and radio spots for such companies as Disney Cruise Lines, Jiff, Tyco, Burger King, Kraft, Hardees, Kellogs, and a one-on-one with Bill Cosby for Jello. Soon after arriving in NYC when she was 4-years-old, she landed a recurring role on the ABC soap, Loving (1983). TV and feature films followed with several Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movies before she landed One True Thing (1998), portraying a young Renée Zellweger and working opposite Meryl Streep and William Hurt. Next up was Tom Hanks's 8-year-old aunt in You've Got Mail (1998).
At age 11, she was nominated for her first Young Artist's Award for her chilling turn as a would-be child serial killer in the Law & Order (1990) episode, Law & Order: Killerz (1999). Showing dramatic range, that role was followed by a turn as a future nun in the independent feature, Manna from Heaven (2002). By age 12, she had moved with her family to Los Angeles where she immediately became a main go-to young actress for significant guest starring roles on network series while also landing leading roles in TV series pilots and made-for-TV movies. One of the finalists for Lizzie McGuire (2001), she was subsequently selected for the starring role in the Disney Channel TV Christmas Classic, The Ultimate Christmas Present. By age 14, she had landed a major recurring role on ER (1994), portraying Mark Greene's wayward daughter, Rachel. She continued with that series until its final episode in 2009, where her character was redeemed as a medical student following in her father's footsteps.
After ER (1994), she landed another major recurring role on JAG (1995), playing Harm's ward, "Mattie Grace Johnson". That was soon followed by a series regular role, playing "Daley" in the award-winning Discovery Kids, Flight 29 Down. During her teen years, she received several more Young Artist Awards nominations and two best actress awards. Other noteworthy film roles during her teens included playing Kristen Stewart's best friend, "Rachel" in Speak (2004), and a starring role opposite Richard Thomas, in Wild Hearts (2006), a Hallmark Movie Channel favorite. At age 19, she fought for and won the starring role in the independent feature, 16 to Life, garnering two best actress awards on the film festival circuit. This film was released on TV in February, 2011. In April, 2011, she starred in the independent feature, Right Next Door, opposite Linda Hamilton. While continuing with her award-winning acting career, she also made time to attend to her education and graduated in June, 2011 from UCLA with honors, Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Anthropology. She has lived in Beijing, China as part of her studies with UCLA and is fluent in Chinese.
Trivia
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Father, Mike, is retired Marine Lt. Colonel.
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Mother, Deborah, is an ex-Navy Captain.
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Brother, Greg, born 1981.
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Childstarlets.com Actress of the Year 2001 and 2002
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Starred in the independent feature, "16 To Life" (2009), which won the Audience Award at the 2009 Method Fest Independent Film Festival. Hallee was nominated for Best Comedic Performance in a Feature Film at the same festival for her leading role of Kate in "16 To Life".
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Kapgar.com Primetime Awards "Best Rookie Child Actor" in 2002 for her portrayal of "Rachel Greene" on ER (1994).
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She was added to the cast of Dharma & Greg (1997) in 2002 as a series regular in the role of "Frannie" (adopted daughter of Dharma & Greg) for the show's fifth season. Unfortunately, the show was canceled before the fifth season began airing.
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Won Ratty Award in 2000 for Best Guest Star in a Drama Series for her portrayal of "Jenny Brandt" in the Law & Order (1990) episode, Law & Order: Killerz (1999).
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Has studied Shakespeare playing "Hamlet" at Oxford University in England.
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Is friends with Brenda Song and Skye McCole Bartusiak.
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Her start in acting began as just a toddler with her older brother, who was in community theater, while he and the other actors babysat her during rehearsals.
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Has two sons, August Martin (b. May 29, 2014) and Elowenn Noel Martin (b. December 16, 2018), with her husband Ryan Martin.