Alyson, born in Washington DC, began her acting career in Atlanta at the young age of 4 in commercials sponsoring such companies as McDonald's, Six Flags, and Oreos. She is a seasoned television actress veteran, guest starring in Picket Fences, Roseanne, Touched by an Angel and the The Torkelsons before starring in her most notorious role yet in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Willow Rosenberg.

Now she stars in the brand new comedy "How I Met Your Mother", a hit-show, from CBS.



Graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1992. Played soccer until she got an injury in her early teens. The producers of American Pie (1999) originally wanted her to play the role of Heather, but she wanted to play the role of Michelle because she thought it was funnier. She (along with actresses Tangi Miller and Holly Marie Combs) is a spokesperson for breast cancer, and will appear in a new four page brochure (to be featured in Vogue, Glamour, Self, Mademoiselle, and Women's Sports and Fitness) to raise awareness about the disease. [May 2000] Married to Alexis Denisof. Denisof proposed during a trip to Northern California wine country during the 2002 holiday season. They were married in October 2003 Her wedding was featured in the February 2004 issue of InStyle Magazine. She was invited to join the cast of the TV show In the Game (2005) (TV), but begged off, citing creative differences. Hannigan was supposed to play the best friend of the character played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, but according to a Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service interview reported January 25, 2005, she was unhappy with the diminished, trivialized role they presented her with. She chose to walk away from the offer. Irish-American on her father's side and Jewish-American on her mother's side, Hannigan was raised in the Jewish faith. Attended California State University in Northridge, California majored in Psychology Babysat for Bob Saget's children in her teens. Once went on vacation to Hawaii with his family. Two decades later, they co-starred together in "How I Met Your Mother" (2005), with Saget playing (the voice of) the older "Ted Mosby" and Hannigan playing younger Ted's best friend's fiancée. Announced that she is expecting her first child, due Spring 2009. [October 22, 2008]. Used to be a vegan but stopped during her pregnancy. First child, daughter Satyana, born March 24, 2009.