Heather Graham’s best career decision? Hiring herself.

In the 1990s and 2000s you were being cast pretty consistently as the “hot girl.” Meanwhile, you’ve spoken about how you were actually a nerd as a teenager. What was it like to have that tension between how you perceived yourself and how you were being perceived by people who were casting you?

I mean, on one hand, it was really amazing because I was an insecure, nerdy kid. I had a 5.0 grade point average. I was seen to be not very pretty. And then to get cast as the cute cheerleader — I mean, that was what I was trying to be in reality, but wasn’t.

But then it sort of felt that I was being seen as this person that wasn’t exactly who I was. I think I always felt more like I’m this kind of Bridget Jones, kind of a little bit funny, a little bit insecure, sort of more of just a normal person. But then, I guess in some ways, I was perceived as a sex symbol.

Did you ever bristle against that perception of you?

I think I had mixed feelings. There was a part of me that really liked it because it’s fun, and it felt almost like I was playing a role when I went to premieres. I was pretending to be this sexy movie star person when, in reality, I knew that I was just this nerdy kid.

And then, of course, I wanted to also be sometimes getting different work than I was getting, so that was frustrating.

Julia Stiles plays your sister in “Chosen Family.” The two of you were young actors at similar times and are now still working decades later as adults. Did you two know each other in the late ’90s?

I think I was at a party with her before, but, to be honest, maybe I found her kind of intimidating? I think she comes across really powerful and cool, and I just had never had the opportunity to really talk to her.

Is it true you were offered a role in “Heathers” and had to turn it down?

I was offered the role of the lead Heather, and I auditioned for it, and I was excited. My father is extremely religious, and he was basically like, “We’re going to kick you out of the house if you do this part.”

So I turned it down because I hadn’t graduated high school yet, and I thought I’ll just graduate high school. And then after I graduated, I luckily didn’t have to ask their permission anymore. But that was frustrating.

And that was when you were able to take things like Rollergirl, who was a porn star, in “Boogie Nights”?

After the stuff that happened when I was in high school, I decided to not include them. I mean, once I moved out, they were never a part of any decisions after that.

Did you have any other roles you regretted turning down?

Yes. And, in fact, it haunts me to this day, but I don’t know if I want to talk about it.

Because, yes, I have had a few things that I turned down that I look and go, wow, that was dumb. Super dummy. But I don’t want to dwell on it because I’ll just get too bummed out about it.

On leading a show that got pulled after one episode and whether she’d go back to TV

One of your earliest roles was Annie in “Twin Peaks.” A lot of fans were bummed that Annie didn’t show up, or really get addressed at all, in “The Return.”

That’s so nice. Well, tell David Lynch.

I had a big crush on Kyle MacLachlan when I was asked to be in that show. It was kind of a dream come true because I was watching it and being like, “Oh, my gosh. Agent Cooper is so cute.” Then I got to do scenes with him.

I mean, of course, he was dating Lara Flynn Boyle at the time. But it was just really fun to get to do those scenes with him.

Did he know about your crush?

I don’t know. I was so young. I think I was 20 or 21, so I was probably too insecure to tell him I had a crush on him.

Were you surprised that you weren’t asked back for “The Return”?

I mean, I was bummed. But at the same point, I wasn’t part of the original cast. If you think about the first season, that was what it’s super famous for. I wasn’t in the first season, so it wasn’t that shocking to me.

Are you familiar with “The Final Dossier,” the book “Twin Peaks” co-creator Mark Frost wrote that filled in the gaps about what happened in the interim between the original series and “The Return”? Annie is mentioned in that.

Really? I don’t know if I ever saw that. What happens? I think it’s not good, right?

Essentially, according to the book, Annie stays in a catatonic state, only emerging from it on the anniversary of when they went into the Black Lodge to say, “I’m fine.”

Wow. Well, I’m still alive! It kind of was a mystery, it was sort of unclear whether I died or not. But, wow, that’s cool.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

“Chosen Family” is now in theaters and available on demand.