Moved to New York in 1994 and began acting in off-Broadway plays.
During her down time while filming in Vancouver, she enjoys outdoor things like hiking and heading to the beach. She also enjoys painting among other things.
After her first year in college, Laurel moved to Chicago to work with the Piven Theatre Workshop. She studied with John Lynn in Los Angeles, and was cast in David Orr's independent feature Blossom Time (1996).