"I was just learning this industry": Ali Larter opens up about Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues beginnings

Ali Larter opened up about her early career beginnings in both Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues, while reflecting on her past roles.

In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Larter, who portrayed the role of Kristy Livingstone, a cheerleader created by Kevin Williamson, recalled that it was one of her first jobs alongside actor Joshua Jackson.

In Varsity Blues, Larter portrayed the character of Darcy Sears, a head cheerleader. She told the outlet:

“Even going into Varsity Blues, I was just learning this industry. I spent so much in my twenties in different acting studios with different acting coaches, learning the different processes, and taking little bits of each thing to put into my toolbox that as I got more and more experience, I knew where to draw from. It was just sweet. It was a great kickoff.”

Continue to read for more details.

All about Ali Larter’s career

Born in February 1976, Ali Larter began her acting career in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Her birth name is Alison Elizabeth Larter. Her parents are Margaret Walker, a realtor, and Danforth Larter, a trucking executive.

She began modelling at the age of 13 and transitioned into acting when she bagged a role in a TV show, Chicago Sons, in 1997. She made a guest appearance on Dawson’s Creek during its second season, where she played Kristy Livingstone, Capeside High's most popular girl and a cheerleader who dated Pacey Witter, portrayed by Joshua Jackson.

Following Dawson’s Creek, Ali Larter appeared in other TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, Heroes Unmasked, Heroes, and Legends, among others. In Heroes, Larter famously played dual roles as Niki Sanders and Tracy Strauss.

Ali Larter’s film breakthrough came when she featured in high-school drama, Varsity Blues, as Darcy Sears. She starred alongside James Van Der Beek, Ron Lester, Paul Walker and Ali Larter. She then appeared in horror films such as House on Haunted Hill and Final Destination.

In a recent interview with People magazine, Ali Larter noted it as a “feel-good movie” and said:

“I think it was a simpler time in a way and I think that, again, it was a feel-good movie, but I love that even for Darcy, I was able to show her vulnerability. This was a girl who was trying to find her way out and then you see her deeply embarrassed and crying over the choices that she's made for herself as a young girl.”

She played major supporting roles in the comedy Legally Blonde (2001) as Brooke Taylor Windham, a fitness instructor put on trial for murder. Her role garnered significant attention as she was cast alongside Reese Witherspoon in the lead as Elle Woods. She was also seen in A Lot Like Love in another supporting role. Following these, she took on a lead role as the titular character in the Bollywood film, Marigold.

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The actress currently stars as Angela Norris in the Paramount+ drama series, Landman. The show first premiered in November 2024, in which she plays the role of Tommy Norris's flirty ex-wife.

Larter is married to Hayes MacArthur. They crossed paths on a movie set in 2005, according to Rue Magazine. After dating for four years, they tied the knot in Kennebunkport, Maine, on MacArthur’s parents’ estate. They are parents to two kids - Theodore Hayes MacArthur and Vivienne Margaret MacArthur.

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