Adria Dawn grew up in the Midwest, and it was there in the cornfields that she acquired her curiosity for creating quirky characters. She earned a BFA in acting with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She worked professionally in Los Angeles for a decade, breaking into Hollywood working as a Levi’s model. She soon landed roles on the WB’s Seventh Heaven, the made-for-TV movie Running Mates, and numerous commercials and modeling jobs.

One of her most notable roles to date was the dysfunctional outcast April Tuna on the WB’s high school cult hit Popular, created by Ryan Murphy. She was on the show for nineteen episodes, and received a nomination from Jane Magazine for “Gutsiest Woman on Television.”

Adria’s growing resume now includes over 40 television and film credits, including recurring roles on F/X’s Nip/Tuck, also by Ryan Murphy, as well as CBS’s NCIS, and the WB’s Felicity. Other guest starring roles include My Name Is Earl, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, and Help Me Help You, as well as numerous independent films and plays.

Now based in Chicago, with one foot on a palm tree and one in the snow, Adria runs Tarleton/Dawn Productions with her husband, David Tarleton. Founded in Los Angeles is 2004, they are currently in post-production on their steampunk fantasy all-greenscreen film The Shadow. They also create an award-winning new media series called Dorkumentary. Other past projects include Adria’s solo theatre piece, Rock N Roll Sex Machine (Stella Adler Theatre, L.A.) and Beth Henley’s The Miss Firecracker Contest (North Hollywood Arts District/Equity Contract.)

Adria also coaches actors, specializing in film and television, and teaches at Columbia College Chicago. Adria is also a proud mama. For more information, please visit adriadawn.com.