Heather Matarazzo was born on November 10, 1982, in Long Island, New York. She was raised in Oyster Bay, New York, by her adoptive parents, Camille and Ray Matarazzo. She began acting at a young age, attending the Long Island School for the Gifted.
Matarazzo’s acting career began with her breakout role as Dawn Wiener in the independent film Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995). This performance garnered her significant critical acclaim and established her as a promising young talent. She followed this with roles in several other films and television shows, often portraying quirky or unconventional characters.
She reprised her role as Dawn Wiener in the spin-off film Wide Awake (1998). Matarazzo is also known for her role as Lilly Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries (2001) and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). She has consistently worked in both independent and mainstream productions.
Matarazzo has also appeared in numerous television series, including: