Margaret Grace Denig, known professionally as Maggie Grace, was born on September 21, 1983, in Worthington, Ohio, to Valinn (née Everett), a school teacher, and Rick Denig, who owned a jewelry business. She is of Irish, German, and English descent. Grace attended Worthington Christian Schools before dropping out to pursue acting in Los Angeles with her mother.
Grace’s acting career began with minor roles in television series such as “Septuplets” (2002), “Miracles” (2003), and “Cold Case” (2003). Her early television work also included a recurring role on “Oliver Beene” (2004) and a guest appearance on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2004).
Grace achieved widespread recognition for her role as Shannon Rutherford in the ABC television series “Lost” (2004-2006; 2010). She was a main cast member for the first two seasons and made a guest appearance in the final season. Her performance in “Lost” earned her a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Following her success on “Lost,” Grace transitioned to film. Her notable film roles include: