Lauren Cohan (born January 7, 1982) is an American-British actress best known for her iconic role as Maggie Rhee in the hit AMC series The Walking Dead (2011–2022), a part she recently reprised in the spin-off The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023–present). Before her zombie apocalypse fame, she built a strong resume with roles in Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, and Chuck, as well as films like The Boy and All Eyez on Me. Born in New Jersey, she moved to England at age 13, adopted her stepfather's surname, converted to Judaism at age five, and graduated from the University of Winchester with a drama degree. Her rise to stardom began with The Walking Dead in 2011, but she famously left the main cast in 2018 due to a pay dispute, demanding a salary equal to her male co-stars Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus. She later returned to the franchise and continues to lead Dead City, with her latest film, When I'm Ready, set for release in 2025.