Evan Rachel Wood was born on September 7, 1987, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a family with a strong theatrical background. Her father, Ira David Wood III, is a renowned actor, writer, and director, while her mother, Sara Wood, is an accomplished actress and acting coach. Evan has two older brothers, Dana Wood, a talented musician, and Ira David Wood IV, who has also ventured into acting. Growing up, Evan and her brothers would often perform at Theatre In The Park in Raleigh, a venue founded and directed by her father.
At the tender age of five, Evan underwent a rigorous auditioning process for the lead role in Interview with the Vampire (1994),ultimately losing out to Kirsten Dunst. However, this early experience did not deter her, and she continued to hone her craft. In 1996, Evan, along with her mother and brother Ira, made the move to Los Angeles, which marked the beginning of her successful career.
Evan's breakthrough role came in 1998 with the film Practical Magic, followed by the comedy S1m0ne (2002),where she played the role of Al Pacino's daughter. Her performance in Thirteen (2003),alongside Holly Hunter, earned her critical acclaim and numerous award nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture: Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. At the time, Evan was the youngest actress to be nominated in the Leading Role category.
Evan's impressive performances continued with her portrayal of Veda Pierce in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce (2011),earning her a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. She also received widespread acclaim for her powerful performance as Stephanie, Mickey Rourke's estranged daughter, in Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler (2008).