With her laid-back but quick-witted personality and striking copper mane, spunky Laura Prepon quickly built a loyal television viewer fan base for her portrayal of easygoing Donna Pinciotti on the popular FOX sitcom That '70s Show. As with her portrayal of Donna, Prepon carries little pretension, and with her natural and tomboyish personality in close keeping with her small-screen persona (not to mention a fondness for vintage clothes), she seems on much the same wavelength as her prime-time alter ego. Born on March 7, 1980, in Watchung, NJ, Prepon is the youngest of five siblings (including three sisters and a brother), whose father passed away in 1994. Attending Watchung Regional High School and studying ballet, dance, and acting at New York City's Total Theater Lab from age 15, the aspiring actress convinced her mother to drive her into the city for frequent weekend auditions and soon began landing modeling jobs both stateside and abroad. With little acting experience under her belt before auditioning for her role on That '70s Show, it seemed unlikely that she would land the role, though the producers were quick to note that Prepon's natural disposition was in nearly pitch-perfect tune with the demands of the role. Frequently confused with both Alicia Witt and Claire Danes, Prepon was also cast in They Go On, the first series broadcast over the Internet. It wasn't long before Prepon decided to attempt a transition to features, and with roles in Pornographer: A Love Story (2000), Southlander (2001), and Slackers (2002), she seemed to be on her way.
In 2004 Prepon added the role of producer to her resume with the low-budget horror drama Lightning Bug (which she also starred in), and the following year she found a way to work her passion for poker into the mix as producer of E! Television's Hollywood Hold 'Em. With the end of That 70's Show in 2006, Prepon branched out with a turn as notorious Canadian serial killer Karla Homolka in the controversial true crime drama Karla, though she was decidedly more in her element as a small town girl in the shortlived ABC drama October Road. Later, on the heels of guest appearances on such hit shows as House, Castle, and How I Met Yuor Mother, Prepon was cast in the lead of the NBC sitcom Are You There, Chelsea?, based loosely on the best-seller "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler. The show was quickly cancelled by the network, however, after it failed to find a loyal following.
