Hilarie Burton Bio

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Hilarie Ross Burton (born July 1, 1982) is an American actress. Burton became a household name for her portrayal of Peyton Sawyer on The CW Television Network television series One Tree Hill. She hosted MTV's Total Request Live, which led to a starring role as the character. Burton gained wider recognition with leading roles in the films Our Very Own, Solstice and The List.

Hilarie Burton: Early life

Hilarie Burton was born on July 1, 1982, and was raised in Sterling, Virginia as a Methodist. She is a 2000 graduate of Park View High School (Loudoun County, Virginia), and attended New York University and Fordham University. She was the homecoming queen during her senior year at Park View and head cheerleader. Burton was Park View High student council president her senior year (1999-2000), vice-president her junior year (1998-1999), and treasurer her sophomore year (1997-1998).

Hilarie Burton: Career

Burton's first big break came when she worked as a VJ for the television show Total Request Live on MTV. She was supposed to be a guest commentator for one segment, but producers decided to offer her a permanent job. Burton had a small part on the TV series Dawson's Creek, and this led to her role as Peyton Sawyer on the series One Tree Hill. In May 2009, the CW announced Burton would not be returning to the show for the seventh season in her role as Peyton. Burton appeared once on the television series Hey Dude. She made her feature film debut in Our Very Own, a comedy set in 1970s Nashville. Burton was featured on the cover of the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of American Cheerleader magazine. Our Very Own, whose ensemble cast features Allison Janney, Jason Ritter and Cheryl Hines, was screened at the prestigious Sarasota Film Festival, where Burton was honored with a special "Outstanding Ensemble Acting" Award. In addition, the film was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

Burton appeared in Jack's Mannequin video, "The Mixed Tape" as [Peyton Sawyer]. Later, Burton recorded a song for the The Road Mix: Music from the Television Series One Tree Hill, Volume 3 called Peyton's Podcast Mix.

In 2008, Burton starred in the independent movie The List as Jo Johnston. Burton played Deborah Owens, mother of Lily Owens, in the major motion picture The Secret Life of Bees, based on the 2002 novel. Production began on January 7, 2008, in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Burton's newest project is titled The Sacrifice, and it is based on another book by Robert Whitlow (The List). She will be reunited with Malcolm McDowell and Gary Wheeler (director), who are also signed on for the project, which starts filming early next year.

Burton was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for "Choice TV Actress in a Drama/Action Adventure" for One Tree Hill in 2004. Burton was also nominated for the Teen Choice Award "Choice Breakout TV Star - Female" for One Tree Hill, in 2004.

In 2005, Burton was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for "Choice TV Actress: Drama" for One Tree Hill.

Burton is currently working on Provinces of Night, a film based on the novel by William Gay.

Hilarie Burton: Personal life

Burton has three younger brothers and resides in Wilmington, North Carolina, where One Tree Hill is filmed. In 2004, Burton married One Tree Hill assistant director Ian Prange. They have recently separated. She has a cat named after writer Edgar Allan Poe, and is close friends with fellow One Tree Hill stars Bethany Joy Galeotti, Sophia Bush and Chad Michael Murray. Burton's hobbies include collecting antiques, vintage clothes shopping, knitting and crocheting.

Burton holding a M4-Carbine during a USO visit.

In May 2007, Burton ranked #77 in the Maxim Hot 100 List of 2007. She has also appeared on the cover of the November 2006 edition of Maxim with One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Danneel Harris. In previous years, Burton has ranked #2 on Femme Fatales: The 50 Sexiest Women of 2005 and named #12 on Much Music's 20 Hottest Women of 2003.

In 2007, Burton created her own production company along with Nick Gray, Kelly Tenney, James Burton and Meg Mortimer. It is called Southern Gothic Productions (SoGoPro); more information is available on her blog.