Born March 24, 1970, in Davenport, Iowa, Lara Flynn Boyle was named after actress Julie Christie's character in Doctor Zhivago, foreshadowing the path her life would take. Lara was an only child, and her parents divorced when she was six years old. Following the breakup, Lara moved to Chicago with her mother, where they settled down near Wrigley Field. She would never see nor speak to her father again.

At a young age, Lara was diagnosed with a learning disability, and was consequently enrolled in an improvisational workshop to develop ways of expressing herself. Over the course of the workshop, Lara developed a strong interest in acting, as well as a knack for it. She was offered, and accepted, a scholarship to the Chicago Academy for the