Shannyn Sossamon Biography
Shannyn Sossamon is an American actress, director and musician. In 2019 she created a video channel called THE MAUDE ROOM, a variety show in which she serves as writer, director and performer.
She has appeared in the films A Knight’s Tale of 2001, 40 Days and 40 Nights, The Rules of Attraction (both 2002), The Order (2003), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006), Road to Nowhere (2009), The End of Love (2012) and Sinister 2 (2015).
As a musician, she provided vocals and drums to Warpaint from 2004 to 2008. She abruptly left the group after recording their first EP. Sossamon’s sole recording with the band is the 2009 EP, Exquisite Corpse. In 2009, Sossamon began directing and producing shorts & musical videos through her small production company, the Maudegone Theater.
Shannyn Sossamon Age
Born on October 3, 1978, Shannyn is aged 40 years as of 2018.
Shannyn Sossamon Net Worth
Shannyn Sossamon net worth is $3 million. She has an annual salary of $355,000.
Shannyn Sossamon Photo
Shannyn Sossamon Life/Relationships/Kids
On May 29, 2003, Sossamon gave birth to her first son, Audio Science Clayton. Though she admitted not being prepared for being a parent, she put aside acting more or less for the next few years to focus on raising her child: “I wasn’t ready to be a mom. But if you have any desire to be a better person, having a baby kicks it right into gear.” In December, 2011, Sossamon gave birth to her second son, Mortimer Kaufman.
Music and interests
Sossamon continues to study music and dance besides acting. After the birth of her first child, she started to learn how to play the guitar, with lessons about four days a week, as she wanted to create a band with her sister Jenny Lee Lindberg, who knew how to play the bass. They formed Warpaint, an indie rock and psychedelic band formed in Los Angeles shortly afterwards.
As all the members were playing the guitar at the beginning, she became the drummer of the group: “When we all started the band together, no one was playing drums, it was like all of us on guitars and we needed a drummer. We tried out a pool of drummers and then one day I just decided to sit on the drum kit and it really worked and I had so much fun”.
When asked about her interest in pursuing a musical career as a solo artist following her work with the band Warpaint, Sossamon responded that although she writes a lot of songs by herself, “music requires focus and discipline in a way that I need to have for other things right now”. Sossamon has clarified she rarely calls herself a musician, as she does not “practice or play nearly as much as the great ones do despite her musical work.
Most of my days and thoughts are taken up by stories, feelings, and pictures. Music is present in them, too, but always having to do with a picture.”
Shannyn Sossamon Career
1995–2002: Early work and breakthrough
In 1995, after moving to Los Angeles she began to work as a DJ, booking gigs in local clubs and performance venues. While Sossamon was pursuing a career in dance, she actually never planned to become a professional dancer, recalling: “It was more like I just love to do this. It wasn’t clear what I wanted, but I was fine with that. I had never needed a plan. I’m really good at feeling safe in the unknown aspects of planning your life”.
Sossamon established her early career around that time by modeling for various companies including Sassy Magazine, Unionbay Clothing, American Eagle Outfitters and Planned Parenthood. She appeared in two television commercials for Gap and in music videos for artists such as Daft Punk, The Goo Goo Dolls, Cher, DJ Quik and the rock group 9xdead.
Sossamon in 1997 guest-starred as several characters in three episodes of Mr. Show with Bob and David. She was discovered by casting director Francine Maisler, while assisting a fellow DJ at Gwyneth Paltrow’s brother’s birthday party two years later.
Sossamon won against Kate Hudson for the lead female role in Brian Helgeland’s medieval adventure dramedy A Knight’s Tale, opposite Heath Ledger. She was cast as Lady Jocelyn, the love interest of a peasant (Ledger) pretending to be a knight in the world of Middle Age jousting. The film premiered on May 11, 2001 and received average reviews, with her part getting an equally mixed response.
Robin Clifford for Reeling Reviews concluded that Sossamon was pretty but more than an object of affection and Rob Blackwelder, of SPLICEDwire, called her role “the movie’s weakest link”, noting that although Sossamon was a “wonderfully wicked flirt”, her character isn’t terribly well established and she’s the most jarringly modern sight in this ancient tale”. The Tale garnered US$117,487,473 worldwide, bringing Sossamon into mainstream audiences.
It earned the actress two Teen Choice Awards nominations as well as three MTV Movie Awards nominations, including one for “Best Breakthrough Performance”. Sossamon starred in Miramax Films’ romantic comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights, as Erica Sutton, the love interest of Josh Hartnett’s character, Matt Sullivan in 2002. The movie depicts Sullivan as he meets Sutton during a period of his abstinence from any sexual contact for the duration of Lent.
It received mixed reviews from critics, but was a major box office success, earning a worldwide total of US$95,146,283 on a production budget of US$17 million. Sossamon’s part gained critical acclaim in general; About.com noted that she was “already making a name for herself as a romantic leading lady. With starring roles opposite two of Hollywood’s hottest young actors (Hartnett and Heath Ledger) under her belt, Shannyn’s star is rising fast.
Her exotic looks separate her from the pack and her performances have, thus far, been exceptional”. Elvis Mitchell wrote for The New York Times praising Sossamon and co-star Harnett: “Mr. Hartnett matches up with Ms. Sossamon and not only because their eyebrows signal that they are both Vulcans. Sossamon is a more direct performer; what she does is not acting yet but she can look as if she’s listening. Her approach contrasts hilariously with his gentility”. Both actors received a Teen Choice Award nomination for “Choice Film Chemistry” afterwards.
Sossamon subsequently played Lauren Hynde in Roger Avary’s dark satirical ensemble The Rules of Attraction, an adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis book of the same name. It attracted extremely mixed reviews from critics; most either loving it or hating it. Her response was more favorable, with website Joblo.com commenting that the actress was “very believable and empathetic” as her character.
David Noh, of Film Journal International found her performance “heartbreaking” and described it as “an uncanny blend of fragile-fey and urchin-tough, marked by a feverish wit which often proves her undoing as much as her salvation”. On showing approval of her portrayal, director Avary remarked during an interview the actress was “like a wild animal you can’t really control.
Something real” and author Ellis, stated that she “hasn’t had much of a chance to shine before, but she’s a star. She seems freer in this movie than she was before and is totally empathetic, which is a quality that doesn’t come easily to most actors”. Rules of Attraction is considered a cult hit; it grossed US$11,819,244 worldwide, almost tripling its budget (US$4 million).