Burton rose to stardom with leading roles in the films Our Very Own, Solstice and The List.
Hilarie Burton was born on July 1, 1982, and was raised in Sterling, Virginia as a Methodist.[1] 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.[2] Burton was Park View High student council president her senior year (1999-2000),[3] vice-president her junior year (1998-1999),[4] and treasurer her sophomore year (1997-1998).[5]
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. 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.[6] 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 a Independent Spirit Award.[7]
In 2007, Burton started a production company called Southern Gothic Productions.[2] She appeared in Jack's Mannequin video, "The Mixed Tape" as [Peyton Sawyer].[2] 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.[8]
In 2008, Burton starred in the independent movie The List as Jo Johnston. The film will be released on April 25, 2008. 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.[9]
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.[2]
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.[2]
In 2005, Burton was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for "Choice TV Actress: Drama" for One Tree Hill.[10]
Burton has three younger brothers.[2]
She and husband Ian Prange, an assistant director for One Tree Hill, reside together in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the show is filmed. She has a cat named after writer Edgar Allan Poe,[2] and is close friends with fellow One Tree Hill stars Bethany Joy Galeotti and Sophia Bush.[2] Burton's hobbies include collecting antiques, knitting and crocheting.[2]
In May 2007, Burton ranked #77 in the Maxim Hot 100 List of 2007.[11] 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.
