Hayley McFarland Biography

Hayley McFarland photo

Born: March 29, 1991

HAYLEY MCFARLAND

Date of Birth: March 29, 1991

Hayley McFarland is an American actress best known for her role as Emily Lightman in the television series, Lie to Me.

Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Hayley started acting as a child with appearances in television commercials. At age 14, she made her screen debut in Rubi Zack’s horror film, Ring Around the Rose, where she played a younger version of Gina Philips’ lead character. She followed that up with a two-episode role on the television show Gilmore Girls.

Hayley next was cast in Showtime’s 2008 television movie An American Crime with Catherine Keener and Ellen Page. The film was based on the tragic true story of Sylvia Likens (Ellen Page), who was kept captive, tortured and murdered in the basement of her Indiana home in the 1960s by a woman named Gertrude Baniszewski (played by Catherine Keener). Hayley played Sylvia’s sister, Jennie.

Over the next few years, Hayley guest starred on a number of television shows, including ER, Criminal Minds , Pushing Daisies, 24, Without a Trace and The United States of Tara

Her next notable film was 2008’s Winged Creatures, a film about strangers being connected after surviving a shooting in Los Angeles. The film’s cast boasted a bevy of renowned actors, such as Guy Pearce, Kate Beckinsale, Forest Whitaker, Dakota Fanning, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Hudson.

Her biggest break to date came when she was cast in a starring role as part of the ensemble cast of the FOX drama Lie to Me. The show, which ran from 2009 to 2011, centered on Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his organization, The Lightman Group, which helped law enforcement agencies to unravel the truth in criminal investigations. Hayley played Dr. Lightman’s teenage daughter, Emily.

After Lie to Me wrapped, Hayley continued to do one-time guest appearances on television shows, with roles in Mad Men and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

In 2013, Hayley returned to the big screen in James Wan’s horror film, The Conjuring alongside Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson. The film is based on the true story of the supernatural activity that haunted the Perron family’s Rhode Island farmhouse in the 1970s. Hayley plays Nancy, one of the older siblings of the Perron household.

Filmography:

The Conjuring (2013)
Winged Creatures (2008)
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