Michelle Monaghan is an accomplished American actress, born on March 23, 1976, in Winthrop, Iowa. She is best known for her roles in films like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Gone Baby Gone (2007), and the Mission: Impossible series, where she portrayed Julia Meade. On television, she gained critical acclaim for her performance in the first season of HBO's True Detective (2014), earning a Golden Globe nomination.

Before her acting career, Michelle studied journalism at Columbia College Chicago and worked as a model, traveling internationally. She transitioned to acting in the early 2000s and quickly made a name for herself with her talent and versatility. Beyond her professional life, she is married to graphic designer Peter White, and they have two children together.