Shannyn Sossamon
Shannyn Sossamon
Shannon Marie Kahololani Sossamon, popularly known as Shannyn Sossamon, is an American actress and musician. After graduating from high school in 1995, she moved to Los Angeles to study dance; instead, she started working as a model mainly for television commercials. Her first movie role was in A Knight's Tale, a vehicle that brought her mainstream attention and several MTV Movie Awards nominations. It was followed by appearances in comedies such as 40 Days and 40 Nights and The Rules...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actress
Date of Birth3 October 1978
CityHonolulu, HI
CountryUnited States of America
I think the main thing I remembered throughout all of filming it was just that she just was extremely self-destructive. I think everybody can relate to that a little bit. She doesn't like herself.
But I'm trying not to be cynical-I don't want to be one of those people who has a cool opportunity and blows it. It's really amazing what's happening to me.
Less Than Zero and American Psycho were both really different, so I was just like, Okay, he's just really doesn't have anything pleasant to say, you know? But I get it. I get at least why it's difficult and what he's really doing.
I'm a film doll. But I'm enjoying it. So I'm gonna keep doing it.
In every take, that you're not sure of what they're going to cut and paste together and what the arc or the purpose or the intention of your character's journey will be in the story. You don't have control. Sometimes that's wonderful, and sometimes that can be scary.
But I'm trying not to be cynical - I don't want to be one of those people who has a cool opportunity and blows it. It's really amazing what's happening to me.
Most of the auditions I went on, I passed up the projects because I just wasn't interested. When I read A Knight's Tale, that was that. I knew I wanted to do this movie.
I did a film called The Jesuit, which was an independent film. I did that shortly after Mistresses. I was still feeling soft and I was nursing, but it was a character I'd never played before. That was a Paul Schrader script, with an up-and-coming Mexican director, named Alfonso Ulloa. That has Tim Roth and Paz Vega in it, and I enjoyed that, as well.
Televisison is like a factory line. You need discipline and focus. You have to hit your mark and know your lines. It's not that I don't know my lines when I do a film, but the pace of discovery is always a little bit more relaxed and nurturing and almost babying, in a way. Television toughens you up, and I like that, but I don't want it to toughen me up too much.
If money is the only plus, I will always say no. But, if there's more, than I'm down.
When I sign on to a television show [Mistresses], I have to love that show and character so much, but this was in and out, for seven episodes. And it was nice to be able to make some money again because I hadn't work in a year and a half. There were a lot of pluses.
I'm really enjoying being an actor right now, at this point in my life. It's a great job, it's a huge responsibility, and I just want to do it more.
I'm reading and trying to find a television show that I really like, so I can start really working again and gain some momentum.