|
Shannon Elizabeth Profile |
|
-
Birth Date: September 7, 1973
-
Birth Place: Houston, Texas, USA
-
Birth Name: Shannon Elizabeth Fadal
-
Height: 5'10"
|
|
|
Biography |
Shannon Elizabeth Fadal was born on September 7, 1973, in
Houston, Texas. Her exotic look can be attributed to the
fact that her father is part Syrian and Lebanese, while her
mother is of English, French and Cherokee Indian descent.
Shannon's parents decided to move to Waco, Texas when
Shannon was a young child.
Claiming to not be part of the popular group in what she
described as a cliquey high school, Shannon was involved in
many after-school activities. Part of the student council
executive, Shannon was active in volleyball and cheerleading
(which probably came easy to her thanks to her tap and
ballet lessons as a child). Her biggest interest during high
school, however, was tennis, which she considered doing
professionally.
Shannon's life took an unexpected twist in her senior year
when she starred in a video that a local band was shooting.
The producer thought that Shannon had what it takes to
become a model, and convinced her and her parents to go to
New York to get some photos done.
Once Shannon graduated from high school in 1991, she moved
to New York, where a modeling agency was waiting for her to
graduate and begin her modeling career. While doing some
modeling work in New York (where she lived in the NYU
dorms), Shannon also worked in countries such as France,
Japan, Hong Kong, and Italy.
Although working abroad was an excellent experience, Shannon
admits to having been homesick. When she returned to the
U.S., she spent a few months in South Beach, Miami before
moving to Los Angeles. Ready to pursue an acting career, she
hesitated about going to L.A. immediately, recognizing the
amount of competition among young budding actresses. When
she finally did go to L.A., Shannon signed with the Ford
Modeling Agency, figuring that getting some of her pictures
done would help her get into acting. She later signed with
Elite Model Management.
It didn't take long for Shannon to get her first commercial
-- for Taco Bell -- and she decided to stay in L.A. and join
an acting class. Soon after, the roles came in: she appeared
in the television series Pacific Blue, Step by Step and USA
High.
In 1997, Shannon had a role in the film Jack Frost (where
she appeared nude), and two made-for-TV movies, Blade Squad
(1998) and Dying to Live (1999), soon followed. But it was
her role in 1999's summer hit American Pie, as Nadia, a
Czech foreign exchange student who bares it all, that
launched Shannon's fame and career.
In 2000, Shannon appeared in the teen horror spoof Scary
Movie, as well as in Evicted and Dish Dogs. The following
year, she reprised her role as sexy Nadia in American Pie 2,
and also appeared in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Tomcats
and Thir13en Ghosts. Since then, she has had a slew of
smaller roles, like in Love Actually (2003) and Cursed
(2004). In 2005, she will be appearing in The Kid & I and
starring in the made-for-TV movie, Confessions of an
American Bride.
Shannon is now separated from her husband, Joseph D.
Reitman, to whom she had been married since June 2002. In
her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs, going to
the gym and practicing yoga and Krav Maga (the Israeli
hand-to-hand combat system). A huge fan of Garth Brooks and
Prodigy, her favorite actors include Michelle Pfeiffer and
Gary Oldman.
Shannon was also a cover girl for Maxim, Play..boy and
Details, and she was Enrique Iglesias' love interest in the
video for his song, "Be With You." |
|
|
Other
Information |
Starred as singer Enrique Iglesias' love interest in the
video for his third American single, "Be With You."
Grew up in Waco, Texas.
Shannon is part Syrian.
Shannon lives with Joseph D. Reitman. They have five dogs.
[July 1999]
Is an avid animal lover, supporting numerous charities.
Shannon Elizabeth is well trained in Krav Maga - the Israeli
hand-to-hand combat system. She trained at the Krav Maga
National Training Center in Los Angeles for her role in
Tomcats, and she continues to train ever since.
Voted the 8th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian
Empire Magazine September 2002.
Mentioned in Bowling For Soup's extended version of "Ohio
(Come Back To Texas)".
A big fan of the Boston Red Sox.
Posed for Playboy magazine [1997 and 1998] and says it's one
of her "...biggest regrets!"
Appeared in two movies in 2001, that featured the song "Want
You Bad" by The Offspring. American Pie 2 (2001) and Tomcats
(2001).
Is a vegetarian. |
|
|
|
