Alison Elizabeth "Ali" Larter (born February 28, 1976) is an American actress and former fashion model. She is widely known with her role as the character Niki Sanders on the NBC sci-fi drama Heroes, although she has since progressed to play Sanders's identical long-separated sister Tracy Strauss.

Despite starting her career as a model, Larter soon transitioned herself into acting. Her film career began in 1999 when she had her breakthrough appearing in Varsity Blues which was a surprise hit. She then appeared in the horror film House on Haunted Hill and then landing a lead role in the box office smash Final Destination. After appearing in several high profile films, Larter then starred in the critically acclaimed Legally Blonde, which opened at the top of the box office. Since then, she has starred in several projects including starring as the titular character in the Bollywood film Marigold, starring in the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love and reprising her role in the sequel to Final Destination entitled Final Destination 2. Larter has also been featured in a number of indie movies including Crazy and Confess. She has more recently starred in the most commercially successful films of her career, Resident Evil: Extinction and Obsessed.

Larter has constantly appeared in rankings for "Sexiest Woman Alive" as well as earning the phrase 'Scream Queen' for her roles in horror or thriller movies.

Early life

Larter was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the daughter of Margaret, a homemaker, and Danforth Larter, a trucking executive. She attended Carusi Middle School and Cherry Hill High School West. She began modeling with Ford Models at the age of fourteen and traveled the world. At seventeen, Larter settled temporarily in Japan. Later, in 1995, she accompanied her boyfriend in his move to Los Angeles, California. Soon afterwards, he left her and she flew to Australia "to put a little distance between us." Back in Los Angeles, she began taking acting classes at a friend's suggestion.

Career

Modelling/Early career (1993–1999)

Ali began her modelling career at the age of 13 when a modelling scout discovered her on the street. She was asked to star in a Phillies commercial and later signed a modeling contract with the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency in New York. Larter subsequently skipped her senior year to model in Japan and Australia. While modelling in Italy, Larter met fellow model and aspiring actress Amy Smart. According to Larter, the two "became instant friends."  Smart persuaded Ali to take up acting and the two then moved into an L.A. apartment together.

In November 1994, Larter's career exploded when she portrayed the hoax model Allegra Coleman in Esquire magazine. The article published in the magazine told of the fictional model's relationship with David Schwimmer, how Quentin Tarantino broke up with Mira Sorvino to date her, and Woody Allen's overhaul of a film to have her star. Even after the hoax had been revealed, its effects lingered, and various talent agencies sought to represent the non-existent Coleman.

Larter landed her first professional roles in 1997 when she appeared in several high profile television shows. She appeared, for one episode, in the Brooke Shields television series, Suddenly Susan, and the short lived television series Chicago Sons. The roles were followed by a number of other appearances on Dawson's Creek, Chicago Hope and Just Shoot Me!

In 1999, Larter began her film career with an appearance in Varsity Blues which re-united her with Dawson's Creek star Van Der Beek, and close friend Amy Smart. Varsity Blues drew a domestic box office gross of $53 million, making Larter's first film a commercial success. Afterwards, Larter appeared in teen comedies, Giving It Up and Drive Me Crazy. That year as well, Larter starred in the horror remake House on Haunted Hill. Made for around $20 million, the movie was panned by the critics but grossed $15 million on its opening weekend and went on to earn over $40 million.

Breakthrough (2000–2005)

In 2000, Larter starred in the teenage audience aimed horror film Final Destination as Clear Rivers. The film did well at the box office with earnings totalling $112,802,314 at the end of it's run. The following year in 2001, she appeared in the comedy Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon. The film did exceptionally well at the box office, earning the top spot with $20,377,426 in it's opening weekend. She also appeared in the western American Outlaws with Colin Farrell and the Kevin Smith film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. That year, Larter appeared on the cover of Maxim magazine and performed in the stage play The Vagina Monologues in New York City.

In 2003, Larter reprised her role as Clear Rivers in the sequel to Final Destination, Final Destination 2 and a year later served as an associate producer and starred in the thriller Three Way. In 2005, Larter appeared in the independent film Confess and the romantic comedy A Lot Like Love alongside Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher.

Heroes success (2006)

As of September 2006, Larter has been portraying Jessica/Niki Sanders & Tracy Strauss on the NBC Emmy Award-nominated  science fiction drama television series Heroes, created by Tim Kring. The show includes an ensemble cast including Hayden Panettiere, Milo Ventimiglia, Leonard Roberts, Kristen Bell, Masi Oka and Greg Grunberg. Larter's character Niki Sanders, who is a wife and mother, is a former internet stripper from Las Vegas who exhibits superhuman strength and an alternate personality who goes by the name of Jessica. After completing half its first season, Heroes had already collected an assortment of honors and accolades, and Larter had been nominated for "Best Supporting Actress" for the 33rd Saturn Awards. The show constantly appeared in the top rated shows in it's first two seasons. As of the third season, Larter portrays a new character, Tracy Strauss, now possessing the ability to freeze objects and turn her body into water.

International success (2007–Present)

In 2007, Larter starred in the Bollywood film Marigold as the title character alongside Salman Khan, which was released in August. She also joined the cast of the popular film franchise Resident Evil: Extinction portraying the character Claire Redfield in the horror film with Milla Jovovich. Her role sent her to Mexicali, Mexico for filming from May to late July in which she also dyed her hair a light red for the film. Larter explains on her character Claire, "She became the leader of this convoy. She's incredibly strong, patient. I think she serves a role for everyone within this convoy, let it be a mother to someone, a buddy, a best friend." Larter also attended the 2007 Comic Con International, her second appearance at the event, to promote the film, which was released in theaters on September 21, 2007. The film became Ali's highest grossing movie with $146,162,920 world-wide lifting her profile even higher as a bankable star in Hollywood. That year she also appeared in the comedy Homo Erectus and in the biographical film Crazy based on guitarist Hank Garland.

In an interview for Resident Evil: Extinction, Larter had expressed interest in producing films in the future, saying, "I definitely have many ideas and different avenues that I want to take as my career goes on."

In April 2009, Larter starred opposite Beyoncé Knowles and Idris Elba in the Screen Gems-produced film Obsessed, about an office executive (Elba) whose marriage to Knowles' character is threatened by the aggressive interests of a co-worker, portrayed by Larter. The film opened at #1 with $28,612,730, a career high for Larter.

In September, 2009 it was announced that Larter will return as Claire Redfield in Resident Evil: Afterlife the movie is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. She is also rumored to join the cast of UFO playing Col. Virginia Lake.

Personal life

Larter is a good friend of actress Amy Smart with whom she co-starred in Varsity Blues. Larter has also lived in Miami and then New York City after the spring of 2002, where she studied at Michael Howard Studios. In January 2007, she moved to Los Angeles to take on the commitment of working on Heroes.

On August 1, 2009, Larter married her boyfriend of seven years, actor Hayes MacArthur, in a small ceremony in Maine.

Larter has appeared on countless "Hot Lists" over the years.

In 2002, Larter was ranked #40 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World". Also ranking as #6 in Maxim's Hot 100 for 2007. In 2008, Larter appeared on 3 lists. AskMen.com featured her as #92 on the "100 Most Desirable Women in the World", while FHM Magazine listed her as #19 in their "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2008" supplement. She also ranked #2 on Maxim's "Hottest Women of Horror Movies" list.

Larter also appeared on People Magazine's "Ten Best Dressed List" as "The Newcomer" and was named Victoria's Secret Sexiest Legs of 2008.

Larter appeared on the cover of Glamour along with fellow actresses Rachel Bilson and Diane Lane in 2007. When asked if she still wishes she had the same body she had at 20 she replied:
"No. I actually think I look better now because I feel so much better about myself now. And that’s what’s so exciting. As you get older, you get better…. Look at all these incredible women, like Vanessa Redgrave, who are still so beautiful. The reason is because they embrace who they are."