ROTTEN TOMATOES: What The Hell Happened To Shannon Elizabeth?

What The Hell Happened To Shannon Elizabeth?

by Jen Yamato

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The Early Years

8% -- Jack Frost (1996)

N/A -- Blast (1997)

N/A -- Seamless: Kidz Rule (1999)

Shannon Elizabeth (born Shannon Elizabeth Fadal) first capitalized on her leggy looks by working as a fashion model, but by the mid-1990s her ambitions had turned to acting. And, like most Hollywood thespians, she had a lot of dues to pay. Her first film credit, in the horror film Jack Frost (1996), came as a bathing victim who gets trapped in the killer snowman's body and bludgeoned to death. It was also her first unclothed scene, perhaps indicative of the career opportunities to come. (To clarify -- and so you don't waste your time watching Jack Frost -- she shows flashes of skin but nothing more.) It was an inauspicious start, but a start none the less.

Elizabeth spent the next few years landing guest parts here and there in films like Blast (1997), where she played a hostage, and on shows like Step By Step. A guest spot on Arli$$ as an Eastern European starlet who shares a sexy romp with Robert Wuhl was a highlight of her early years. Roles in telefilms Blade Squad (about cops with jet packs on roller skates -- seriously) and Dying to Live kept Elizabeth busy but did little to foster a significant career, as did the independent film Seamless, a Pump Up the Volume clone that played only at the Slamdance Film Festival. Luckily, Elizabeth's big break was right around the corner...

Next: Breaking Out in American Pie

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(1-20 of 101 posts) | Reply

halose7en writes:
on Aug 21 2008 07:35 PM

I might be the only one, but I've always thought Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was awesome. And American Pie 2 wasn't bad either, for a sequel. But everything after that was shee-ite.

(Reply to this)

oyguvaltshappy writes:
on Aug 21 2008 07:42 PM

haha, "full ugly."

sounds like she was simply given more credit than she deserved early on, because she's really done nothing after some very nice hits.

Anna Faris, whose mainstream career really began with Scary Movie (something Shannon was in) showed that if you've got talent, you can keep getting good parts, and that's why I think Shannon Elizabeth really just never had a career full of acting available.

(Reply to this)

ironmanstarks writes:
on Aug 21 2008 07:44 PM

She's done some bad movies. She's not a very good actress, but if a craptacular actress like Jessica Alba can keep getting movie deals, why not Shannon Elizabeth?

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arendr writes:
on Aug 21 2008 08:22 PM

What happened to her? Here, let me wake her up and ask.

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thereign writes:
on Aug 21 2008 08:44 PM

Shannon Elizabeth really didn't have much going for her besides a seriously killer body. But I'm with Ironmanstarks: if Hollywood could keep a bimbo like Alba around, why not S.E.?

(Reply to this)

steveoisgreat writes:
on Aug 21 2008 08:56 PM

Shannon Elizabeth owns the nicest rack i have seen in the movies. I'm way more attracted to her than i am Jessica Alba or Anna Faris.

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steveoisgreat writes:
on Aug 21 2008 08:57 PM

Shannon Elizabeth owns the nicest rack i have seen in the movies. I'm way more attracted to her than i am Jessica Alba or Anna Faris.

(Reply to this)

kissman24 writes:
on Aug 21 2008 09:09 PM

Sure, we loved her as Nadia, but that was due to her hotness and toplessness and not because we thought Shannon Elizabeth was a good actress. Her path to being forgotten in Hollywood is of no surprise to me.

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JohnnyJonJon writes:
on Aug 21 2008 09:59 PM

People didn't even like her on Dancing with the Stars, and that was the best acting of her career! Oh ***** it, she's still hot!

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dgator783 writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:00 PM

i would hit that in a second....which i prolly could after what her ex-husband looked like, girl doesnt have standards....

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grumblesa10 writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:16 PM

Well something that stories like this never investigate, is the actor's reputation with the studios. I have some acquaintances in this line of work who've worked with Ms. Elizabeth in the past. She definitely had "an attitude". In fairness, dunno if that's still the case.
However, once someone gets that reputation, producers and directors will not consider submitting scripts: why put up with that on set when there's others willing to work? One can bet that a sudden drop in vis like this is either due to a Tara Reid-like burnout; which I don't think applies here-or someone's really pissed someone off.

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ThePecker13 writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:22 PM

This is what happens when actor's, especially somebody like Shannon Elizabeth, who has an advantage of being a huge star don't bother "Chanlenging" themselves with roles. Instead, they decide to do the same material, don't choose the right, or, good scripts, and are caught up by the glamour. These kind of actor's will probably never be taken serious in Hollywood.

This will happen to Sophia Bush if she keeps doing the same material, and not choose the right scripts.

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eastern2western writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:28 PM

well, lets be honest in here. she was famouse in the pie movies for having one fine rack and that is all she had from that pt on. one big hint that she was doomed fromthe beginning is her play boy spread because 99% of chicks went full monty for playboy ended up no where.

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ck100 writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:30 PM

Either this girl is just flash-in-the-pan eye candy or is an actress with hidden talent. If she does have talent, it's been squandered by typecast eye candy roles, bad choices, and focus on poker. I really haven't seen much of her work so I can't decide myself. But reading about her career and seeing that chart really showed how she fell quickly from grace. Maybe she never really had much talent in the first place like Jessica Alba. I do think if she wants her career back she needs to do a compelling role that shows her range. Otherwise she'll just be another washed-up, has-been on some VH1 reality show sometime soon.

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Jen Yamato writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:46 PM

Word, ck100. I do believe there's more untapped potential within Shannon Elizabeth -- judging from her poker achievements alone, she must be a smart girl -- so I'd like to see her take on more challenging acting gigs. Maybe going full nude in Playboy was a bit of a mistake for her career, and prevented her from being taken seriously. That is, if we can assume she wanted more substantial parts to begin with. But by all indications she seems like a genuinely charismatic, smart person and I'd like to see her defy the flash in the pan nature of (female) celebrity. Nobody should have to resort to Dancing With the Stars.

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smartmoviekid writes:
on Aug 21 2008 10:48 PM

how unfortunate for this to happen to such a beautiful woman...however i agree that her star power came from those perfect breasts, not her acting chops. not once have i seen her in a decent performance without some form of nudity. poker-faces not included. possible women to analyze later on in this great feature: jennifer garner(star's faded quickly after "alias"), Jane Fonda ( long, rollercoaster ride of a career), and Verginia Madsen (last movie made: Number 23. ouch).

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Snortinwhiskey writes:
on Aug 21 2008 11:06 PM

Wow, she is doing quite well if you ask me. As long as people with no lives are commenting on your career you must be doing something right.

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ripum853 writes:
on Aug 21 2008 11:09 PM

It seemed like her career took a nose dive once she added the "No Nudity Claus" to her contract.

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williamsphere writes:
on Aug 21 2008 11:23 PM

Shannon Elizebeth is simply awesome. The article is very useful for discussion on movies in which Shannon Elizebeth was there. I like to meet and greet her personally.
************************************************************
william sphere
Social Networking
http://www.orkut.com

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