A two-time Emmy Award winning actress, Julie Bowen has enjoyed success working steadily on both popular hit television shows and the big screen.

Bowen currently stars in the critically acclaimed hit ABC comedy Modern Family as Claire Dunphy. Bowen's performance in the series earned her two Emmy wins in 2011 and 2012. Modern Family has won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series for its first three seasons. The show also won a Golden Globe® in 2012 for Best Television Series Comedy or Musical, and the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 SAG Awards.

For four seasons, Bowen played Carol Vessey, the dream girl of former classmate-turned-lawyer Ed Stevens on the charming NBC series Ed. Bowen then joined James Spader and William Shatner for two seasons on ABC's hit series, Boston Legal. Her other television credits include a recurring role as Matthew Fox's wife on the hit ABC series Lost and a guest star arc as Lisa Ferris, a cheese shop owner who seduces a younger man on the darkly comedic Showtime series Weeds. Bowen has the distinct recognition of being nominated by the SAG Awards for seven consecutive years as part of an ensemble on television.

On the big screen, Bowen was recently seen in feature film Knife Fight, opposite Rob Lowe, as well as the hit film Horrible Bosses opposite Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. She also starred in Sony's Jumping the Broom opposite Angela Bassett and Paula Patton. Her previous film credits include Multiplicity with Michael Keaton, Crazy on the Outside with Tim Allen and the modern comedy classic Happy Gilmore opposite Adam Sandler.

Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Bowen caught the acting bug as a child while putting on plays with her two sisters in their backyard. She attended Brown University, where she starred in Guys And Dolls, Stage Door and Lemon Sky. While earning her degree in Italian Renaissance studies, she also spent a year in Florence, Italy and became fluent in Italian.

In the advertising world, Bowen has been both the face of Neutrogena and the voice of Pampers. Bowen currently serves on the Board of Directors for Baby2Baby, a charity which supplies families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for their children. She has also lent her time and support to the charitable efforts of Maxwell House and March of Dimes, as well as Step Up Women's Network and P.S. Arts.

Bowen lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three sons.