Shawnee Smith

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Birthday:

3 July 1969, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA

Height:

160 cm

Shawnee Smith has consistently put her versatile talents to use in the film, television, theatrical and musical arenas with much success. Her impressive career includes a co-starring role on an award-winning television show, which is now strong in syndication, and a variety of memorable roles in hit feature films. She also toured America and the U.K. fronting a rather extreme rock band called "Fydolla Ho". Smith was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to Patricia Ann (Smoak), an oncology nurse, and James H. "Jim" Smith, a financial planner and U.S. Air Force pilot. Shawnee's achievements began early in her career when she appeared in the movie Annie (1982). As a young actress, she was awarded the Youth in Film Award for Best Actress in a television film for her role in the CBS drama Crime of Innocence (1985). She was honored with the Dramalogue Critics Award for her performance in the theatrical production "To Gillian on her 37th Birthday". In the same year, she received rave reviews for her co-starring role with Richard Dreyfuss at the Huntington Hartford Theatre in "The Hands of its Enemy". Shawnee then starred in The Blob (1988) for Columbia Pictures, in the hit comedy Summer School (1987) for Paramount Pictures and in Who's Harry Crumb? (1989), also for Columbia Pictures. Those roles would be followed by appearances in such highly-acclaimed films as Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Armageddon (1998), Desperate Hours (1990) and Breakfast of Champions (1999). Shawnee's television credits are equally as impressive, with a list that includes a regular role on the hit CBS comedy Becker (1998) as well as series regular roles on The Tom Show (1997) and Arsenio (1997). She appeared in the CBS television movies Something Borrowed, Something Blue (1997), I Saw What You Did (1988) and Face of Evil (1996), as well as the miniseries The Stand (1994) and The Shining (1997). Her recent film projects include The Almost Guys (2004), Saw (2004), a gritty, taut and terrifying film and the sequel Saw II (2005). Satisfied with pushing the extremes in her critically-acclaimed punk/metal band "Fydolla Ho", Shawnee is working on her first solo record with Queens of the Stone Age producer Chris Goss. Show less «

Acting is like a game of tennis. The better your opponent, the better you're going to play. I've had some of my best tennis matches with Tob...Show more »

Acting is like a game of tennis. The better your opponent, the better you're going to play. I've had some of my best tennis matches with Tobin [Bell] because he's relentless about truth and has an incredible work ethic. Show less «

(On the jaw trap in Saw (2004)) It was heavy. I had this mouth piece I had to clamp down and they padded it up to try and get it as tight to...Show more »

(On the jaw trap in Saw (2004)) It was heavy. I had this mouth piece I had to clamp down and they padded it up to try and get it as tight to my head as possible because I really had to fling myself around. If I do something like that, I just go all the way with it. Show less «

(On the role of "Amanda" in Saw (2004)) Amanda's been a great part to play over the years. She's my lucky strike. I take the scream queen ti...Show more »

(On the role of "Amanda" in Saw (2004)) Amanda's been a great part to play over the years. She's my lucky strike. I take the scream queen title as an honor. I went from Becker (1998) to this character and they were so vastly different. Amanda's really changed, too. She gives a few, but she gets you. With any character I play, I gravitate to the juxtaposition and humor. It has been a fun ride. Show less «

(after winning a 2007 Eyegore award) This scares me [referring to the award statue], I can't bring it home because of my children, I can't w...Show more »

(after winning a 2007 Eyegore award) This scares me [referring to the award statue], I can't bring it home because of my children, I can't watch my own clip, the ghouls at the entrance of tonight upset me, but I do want to say thank you to everyone. Show less «

(in reference to horror films) I don't like to see a scary image because it sticks in my mind. Which is maybe why I get hired to do the scar...Show more »

(in reference to horror films) I don't like to see a scary image because it sticks in my mind. Which is maybe why I get hired to do the scary movies because I'm truly scared and upset. Show less «

(On the Smith and Pyle fanbase) I think the horror fans are surprised when they listen to the record and they actually like it. I mean it's ...Show more »

(On the Smith and Pyle fanbase) I think the horror fans are surprised when they listen to the record and they actually like it. I mean it's country music, kind of, but it's produced by Chris Goss of Masters of Reality. It crosses a lot of boundaries. Show less «

(Comparing songwriting to acting) When you write a song you're writing it from your gut, so it's easier to connect with that than someone el...Show more »

(Comparing songwriting to acting) When you write a song you're writing it from your gut, so it's easier to connect with that than someone else's part that you're acting. Show less «

I remember being at the first screening [of Saw (2004)] at Sundance and you could feel the energy in the theater. It was incredible. You kne...Show more »

I remember being at the first screening [of Saw (2004)] at Sundance and you could feel the energy in the theater. It was incredible. You knew right there that this thing was going to be a hit. The first one was a really creative idea. Show less «

(On the role of "Amanda" in Saw (2004)) The great thing about Amanda is she gets to kick ass but she's also a woman of substance and depth a...Show more »

(On the role of "Amanda" in Saw (2004)) The great thing about Amanda is she gets to kick ass but she's also a woman of substance and depth and she's struggling. There is real drama. I see a lot of myself in her. The desire to build, the desire to serve something higher, and also the destructiveness. Show less «

As a woman I'm very endeared to her [Amanda Young] and I'm hoping other women will be endeared to her. Hopefully we can all learn something ...Show more »

As a woman I'm very endeared to her [Amanda Young] and I'm hoping other women will be endeared to her. Hopefully we can all learn something or be inspired in some positive way. Show less «

[on John Candy] I did get to know him a bit while we filmed Who's Harry Crumb? (1989). If he could have been a fraction as kind, supportive,...Show more »

[on John Candy] I did get to know him a bit while we filmed Who's Harry Crumb? (1989). If he could have been a fraction as kind, supportive, and giving to himself as he was to every single person around him then I think he'd still be with us today. That was the tragedy. I think [Candy's performance in] Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) best defines who he was as a person. It breaks your heart. Show less «

Music is so much fun because each song is like a film in itself. You get to go from beginning to end and interact and exchange energy with a...Show more »

Music is so much fun because each song is like a film in itself. You get to go from beginning to end and interact and exchange energy with a live audience. Show less «

They're [TV and film] very different. TV is obviously a lot quicker paced. I think film requires a lot more patience and concentration and e...Show more »

They're [TV and film] very different. TV is obviously a lot quicker paced. I think film requires a lot more patience and concentration and each day you're keeping the entire picture in your head throughout a two to three month film shoot. Whereas TV, especially half hour, is like doing a play a week or live theater. Show less «

[on working with Ted Danson] There's no bigger star than him in TV and he couldn't be more of a self-effacing, down-to-earth team player. He...Show more »

[on working with Ted Danson] There's no bigger star than him in TV and he couldn't be more of a self-effacing, down-to-earth team player. He sets the tone and it's just a pleasure. Show less «

[on hiding her pregnancy while filming Saw II (2005)] It was for the best not to tell them because they would have made changes and it would...Show more »

[on hiding her pregnancy while filming Saw II (2005)] It was for the best not to tell them because they would have made changes and it would have been a different movie. Show less «