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Shannyn Sossamon Biography

Shannon Marie Sossamon (born October 3, 1978), better known as Shannyn Sossamon, is an American actress, musician and dancer.

Early life: Sossamon was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Sherry Sossamon and Todd Lindberg, grew up in Reno, Nevada, and attended Galena High School there. She is of French, Hawaiian, Dutch, English, Irish, Filipino and German descent; her maternal grandmother is Hawaiian-Filipino, and her maternal grandfather is English-German. 

The y in her first name was an adolescent addition in 1995. The day after her high school graduation, Sossamon moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in dance. Sossamon appeared in television commercials and had DJ gigs in local clubs. In 1999, Sossamon was discovered by casting director Francine Maisler, while assisting a friend DJ at Gwyneth Paltrow's birthday party.

Newcomer Shannyn Sossamon's story could inspire thousands of wannabe actresses to buy a few turntables: casting director Francine Maisler discovered the 20-year-old actress spinning records at a posh Hollywood party and cast the Angelina Jolie lookalike in A Knight's Tale, which Sony hoped would be a huge summer hit. 

While A Knight's Tale performed somewhat respectably at the box office, it failed to set the world on fire. But it did establish Sossaman and co-star Heath Ledger as up-and-coming young actors. 

The Hawaii-born and Nevada-raised Sossaman moved to Los Angeles when she was 15 to study dance, which she considers a lifelong passion. She and a friend were DJing Gwyneth and Jack Paltrow's joint birthday party when Maisler noticed her, contacting her soon after the party about auditioning for the movie. 

Hailing from Reno, Nevada, Sossamon moved to California in pursuit of a career in dance, but soon started working as a disc jockey. When a friend landed the Paltrow gig and needed to borrow her turntables, she came along to spin during the DJ's breaks and her effortless charisma caught the eye of a casting director. 

Following her fairy tale-like discovery and subsequent female lead role, the exotically beautiful but girl-next-door unaffected Sossamon was featured in many a magazine, but was careful to avoid the media saturation trap that has ruined the careers of many a starlet.

Sossaman next appeared in 40 Days and 40 Nights alongside Josh Hartnett, another actor who saw his star rise in 2001 thanks to a summer blockbuster. 

In 2002, "Forty Days and Forty Nights" was released, pairing the up and comer with fellow young Hollywood hotshot Josh Hartnett in a role that the actress hoped would prove her success in "A Knight's Tale" wasn't a fluke. Later that year, she co-starred with James Van Der Beek in the feature adaptation of "Rules of Attraction", a 1980s-set adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' best-selling novel. 

She rejoined her "A Knight's Tale" director Helgeland and co-stars Ledger and Mark Addy for the secret sect thriller "The Order" (2003), playing Mara, a troubled artist with a turbulent past who tests a priest's (Ledger) devotion to his vows. 

She then appeared in “Undiscovered” (2005) co-starring Pell James, Ashlee Simpson and Kip Pardue. Thanks to poor reviews and limited advertising, the insipid romantic drama about wannabe singers guided by random fate and superficial ambitions remained true to its name by failing to crack seven figures in wide release opening weekend 

Personal life: Has 3 tattoos, including an S with a flower on her right back shoulder, and has the "S" backward on her left shoulder. Her son, Audio Science Clayton, was born on May 29, 2003. Shannyn continues to study acting, music and dance.

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