12 Stories by Heather Graham — Narrated by Heather Graham

      Heather Graham is one of our favorite actresses — a talented performer and creator who transitions smoothly from indie films to blockbuster comedies, as well as her own semi-autobiographical narratives.

      Last year, she spoke at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival about her extensive career, sharing experiences of collaborating with notable figures such as Robert Downey Jr., Johnny Depp, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, and Burt Reynolds. She also recalled a role she missed out on due to the strict rules of her household.

      Here are 15 stories from Heather Graham, narrated by her.

      **License to Drive (1988)**

      20th Century Fox

      Born in Milwaukee to an FBI agent father and a mother who authored children's books, Heather moved frequently before attending Agoura High School, located west of Los Angeles. Although she had a high IQ, she was not well-liked and expressed herself by participating in school plays.

      “In school, I wasn’t perceived as pretty. I had crushes on boys who typically didn’t return my feelings,” she shared with moderator Chris Gardner from The Hollywood Reporter. “My fashion sense was lacking, and I had frizzy hair.”

      In her first leading film role in *License to Drive*, she starred alongside two major teen icons of the ’80s, Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, playing Mercedes, the love interest of Haim's character.

      “I had seen Corey Feldman in *Stand By Me* and Corey Haim in *Lucas* and *Lost Boys*, making it a thrilling moment for me as I got to hang out with idols. I even had a crush on Corey Haim,” she recalled to Gardner.

      She noted her surprise at the drug culture on set: “I was quite sheltered and being around kids my age involved in heavy drug use was new to me; I wasn't that wild,” she explained.

      She humorously mentioned that her casting in *License to Drive* led to increased attention from her peers back in Agoura Hills, prompting them to wonder, “Should we have been paying more attention to her?”

      **Heathers (1988)**

      New World Pictures – Credit: C/O

      One role she was offered but could not accept was in *Heathers*.

      “I received the offer, but at that time, I was living at home with my family. My parents read the script and told me I couldn’t participate,” she said. “I was very upset and later regretted that decision; they would have kicked me out of the house had I done the film.”

      Her home life was so controlled that she had to secretly watch R-rated movies during babysitting jobs, including *Fast Times at Ridgemont High*, she reminisced.

      **Drugstore Cowboy (1989)**

      International Video Entertainment

      Soon after, she moved out of her parents’ house and joined the indie classic *Drugstore Cowboy*, where she portrayed one of four young addicts robbing pharmacies. At that time, Gus Van Sant was still under the radar.

      “I was extremely sheltered and didn’t have friends into drugs like that. I auditioned for the role, and Gus had only made a low-budget film, *Mala Noche*. I got the part, and since I was living independently, I could accept any roles I wanted,” she described. “I started supporting myself at 17 with *License to Drive*.”

      She expressed her gratitude for *Drugstore Cowboy*, which coincided with a “surge of independent filmmaking… an exhilarating period.” She appreciated her castmates for their eclectic tastes, recalling, “James Le Gros reading Bukowski and listening to Tom Waits — none of my high school peers were into that.”

      Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in *Drugstore Cowboy*, she began landing roles without needing auditions. “As an actor, you're constantly driving to auditions, changing outfits, and trying to impress people to hire you — I started receiving offers, which was fantastic,” she recounted.

      **Swingers (1996)**

      Miramax

      Graham met Jon Favreau, the writer and star of *Swingers*, while working on a different project. He approached her with an offer to be part of it.

      To prepare for her role, they practiced swing dancing at The Derby, a popular 90s venue in L.A. “We rehearsed dancing, and afterward, he’d drive me home in his convertible, making me really sweaty — I actually caught a cold from the cold drive,” she shared. “I felt lucky to be in that movie and appreciated learning to swing dance.”

      Due to the film’s limited budget, they filmed at an actual bar filled with patrons rather than extras. “We were rather incognito during the shoot,” she remembered. Once, when someone at the bar flirted with her, she had to clarify that she was filming a movie.

      **Two Girls and a Guy (1997)**

      Fox Searchlight Pictures

      “I enjoy independent films,” Graham