Evan Rachel Wood was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, into a Jewish theatrical family. Her father, Ira David Wood III, is a locally prominent actor, singer, theater director and playwright who is the Executive Director of a local community theatre company called Theatre in the Park.
Her mother is Sara Lynn Moore (born March 6, 1958), an actress, director and acting coach. Wood’s brother, Ira David Wood IV, is also an actor; and she has another brother, Dana. Her paternal aunt, Carol Winstead Wood, is a Hollywood production designer.
She and her brothers were actively involved in Theatre in the Park while growing up, including an appearance by her in the 1987 production of her father’s renowned musical comedy adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” when she was just a few months old. Subsequently, she played the Ghost of Christmas Past in several productions at the theater, and she later starred as Helen Keller alongside her mother (who played Annie Sullivan) in a production of “The Miracle Worker”, under her father’s direction.