Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Lawson started appearing in local community and dinner theater when she was eight years old. Lawson went on to study theater at the University of Louisville and became a youth journalist for the local FOX station before moving to Los Angeles.

Lawson starred in the films Cheaters and Sheer Bliss, while she appeared in supporting roles in the films Pleasantville and Nice Guys Sleep Alone. Her television credits include the lead in the ABC pilot, Nancy Drew, the female lead in the NBC half-hour comedy series Inside Schwartz and the daughter in the Lifetime movie-of-the-week, Heart of a Stranger. She also made guest star appearances on the hit shows Smallville, Tru Calling, Felicity, and ER.