Lauren was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. When she was five, her parents divorced. Her mother, Donna Grant, moved to London to join a rock and roll band. Lauren and her father, Lawrence, moved to the D.C. area where he became a congressional staffer and single parent. She traveled extensively with her father while growing up. He is currently a lobbyist for the chocolate and confection industry.

Lauren discovered acting while in elementary school. Graham attended Langley High School, where she took part in the Drill Team which is a mix of Dance and Cheerleading. She began acting in community theatre and any other production she could find. She graduated from Barnard College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Lauren then moved to Texas where she earned a Master's Degree in Acting from Southern Methodist University in 1992.

After completing her education, Lauren returned to New York where she worked as a cocktail waitress and aspiring actress. In 1995, she moved to Hollywood. In addition to her many guest starring and co-starring roles on prime time TV, she had three starring roles on failed sitcoms including Townies with Molly Ringwald and Jenna Elfman - before landing the lead role of Lorelai Gilmore on the WB's Gilmore Girls (2000-present), for which she is best known. In addition, she has had many roles in theatrical movies, including several NYU student films and several major studio releases. She has appeared in the movies Bad Santa, The Pacifier and Sweet November. She appeared on Third Rock from the Sun as a grad student who caught the eye of Dick (John Lithgow). In addition, she has appeared on the hit comedy Seinfeld (as one of Jerry's dates, who has "speed dial" competition with her mother), as well as on Newsradio and Law & Order. She would like to return to the stage and hopes she will never have to do a Porky's movie or be asked to have plastic surgery.

She is currently set to appear in the movie Evan Almighty, playing the role of Evan's wife.

Lauren Graham, 5 ft 9 in tall, is not married and lives in West Hollywood. She previously dated actors Tate Donovan, Marc Blucas, Matthew Perry, and James Marsters.

When Graham appeared on Law & Order in 1997, actor Scott Cohen also guest starred. Three years later when Graham started Gilmore Girls, Cohen became a regular on the show as Lorelai Gilmore's boyfriend and then fiancé, Max Medina.

She dated Robert Maschio during his senior year at Columbia University and helped persuade him to try out acting as a career.