Hallie Kate Eisenberg (born August 2, 1992) is an American former child actress, best known for being "The Pepsi Girl" in a series of Pepsi commercials, as Marie Alweather in Paulie, and her role as Erika "Erk" Tansy in How to Eat Fried Worms.

Hallie Eisenberg
Born
Hallie Kate Eisenberg

(1992-08-02) August 2, 1992 (age 32)
Alma materAmerican University
OccupationActress
Years active1998–2011; 2019
RelativesJesse Eisenberg (brother)

Early life

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Eisenberg was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the daughter of Amy and Barry Eisenberg, who ran a hospital and later became a college professor.[1][2][3][4] She has two siblings: actor Jesse Eisenberg, the Academy Award-nominated star of The Social Network, and Kerry.[5] Hallie was named after the character Hallie O'Fallon in the film All I Want for Christmas, portrayed by Thora Birch.[6] She was brought up in a secular Jewish family.[7][8][9]

Raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey, Eisenberg attended East Brunswick High School.[10] Eisenberg attended American University, in Washington, D.C.[11]

Career

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In the late 1990s and early 2000s, she was "The Pepsi Girl" in a series of Pepsi commercials.[12] She made her film debut in the children's film Paulie, playing the young owner of the title parrot. After appearing in a few made-for-television films, she had supporting parts in 1999's The Insider and Bicentennial Man.

In 2000, Eisenberg co-starred with Minnie Driver in the feature film Beautiful, which received generally negative reviews. She also starred as Helen Keller in a television remake of The Miracle Worker.

In 2004, she played opposite Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton in the television remake of The Goodbye Girl. In 2006, Eisenberg appeared in How to Eat Fried Worms, the New Line Cinema adaptation of Thomas Rockwell's book of the same name. In 2007, she co-starred in the independent feature film P.J.[13] alongside John Heard, Vincent Pastore and Robert Picardo.

Eisenberg made her Broadway debut in Roundabout Theatre's production of Clare Boothe Luce's play The Women.[6] In 2010, she halted her film career to attend college.[14] Though she has not been active in the entertainment industry since, she was credited as an assistant to the producers of the 2019 film The Art of Self-Defense, which starred her brother Jesse.

She reportedly received a degree in International Studies from the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., in 2014.[15]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1998 Paulie Marie Alweather Film
1998 Nicholas' Gift Eleanor Television film
1999 Blue Moon Josie Medieros Television film
1999 Swing Vote Jenny Kirkland Television film
1999 A Little Inside Abby Mills
1999 The Insider Barbara Wigand Film
1999 Bicentennial Man Young "Little Miss" Amanda Martin Film
2000 Get Real Alexa Television series – Episode: "Waiting"
2000 Beautiful Vanessa Film
2000 The Miracle Worker Helen Keller Television film
2002 Stage on Screen: The Women Little Mary Television film
2003 Presidio Med Grace Rothman Television series – Episode: "With Grace"
2004 The Goodbye Girl Lucy McFadden Television film
2005 Jesus, Mary and Joey Melissa
2006 How to Eat Fried Worms Erika "Erk" Tansy Film
2008 P.J. Pauline
2008 Wild Child Ruthie Film
2010 Holy Rollers Ruth Gold Film

References

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  1. ^ Jordan, Chris. "Hello, Goodbye", Asbury Park Press, January 11, 2004. Accessed January 26, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "The precocious and thoughtful Hallie, born in 1992 in New Brunswick, has handled everything that's come her way since appearing in a commercial for Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues show when she was 4."
  2. ^ "Jesse Eisenberg, Actor". Gothamist. September 12, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  3. ^ "Jewish Exponent". Casting for Truths: 'Squid and Whale' star Jesse Eisenberg astounds as troubled Jewish teen. Retrieved July 3, 2006.
  4. ^ Vilkomerson, Sara (May 28, 2009). "Hot Nerd: Jesse Eisenberg". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  5. ^ Jesse Eisenberg Biography – Yahoo! Movies Archived June 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b Netburn, Deborah (November 26, 2001). "Pepsi Girl Hallie Kate Eisenberg, As Driven As Mrs. Luce's Women". New York Observer.
  7. ^ Applebaum, Stephen (July 7, 2011). "Interview: Jesse Eisenberg". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Kozlowski, Carl (August 7, 2010). "Q & A: Jesse Eisenberg". RELEVANT Magazine. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  9. ^ Burkeman, Oliver (April 30, 2011). "Jesse Eisenberg: Knocked sideways". The Guardian. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  10. ^ "Whatever Happened to Pepsi Girl Hallie Eisenberg?", TheFW.com. Accessed February 20, 2024. "The now 19-year-old studied at East Brunswick High School in New Jersey and has relatively stayed away from the spotlight."
  11. ^ "Profile Hallie Eisenberg". american.edu. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Jordan, Chris (November 7, 2000). "'Pepsi girl' Hallie Kate Eisenberg plays Helen Keller in movie". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  13. ^ Emanuel, Russ. "P.J.: A Journey of the Heart - A Russ Emanuel Film". PJ Official Movie Site.
  14. ^ Devoe, Noelle (April 24, 2015). "You'll Never Believe What The Little Girl From The '90s Pepsi Commercials Looks Like All Grown Up". Seventeen. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  15. ^ Jenna Wang (October 23, 2023). "Remember 'The Pepsi Girl' of the '90s? Enjoy Some Refreshing Nostalgia (Plus: What She's Up to Now!)".
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