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Closing the Gap For a minute there, raven-haired ingénue Shannyn Sossamon shunned the "It girl" status she earned from turns in films like A Knight's Tale, 40 days & f40 nights, and The Rules of Attraction in favor of ducking the flash bulbs and raising her son, Audio Science. Thankfully, Sossamon couldn't stay away forever and has been slowly reappearing on both the small and big screen (like in FX's Dirt and the dark comedy Wristcutters : A Love Story, respectively). This month, she stars alongside Edward Burns in One Missed Call in wich her character is tormented by ominous cell phone messages from beyond. Luckily, when we called to talk about her re-emergence, Sossamon wasn't too afraid to answer. by Tim Karan When you moved to Hollywood as a teenager, you didn't actually plan on being an actress, right ? I was going to be a dancer. When I was growing up in Reno, Nevada, I trained at this tiny dance studio and some of the teachers from this place in L.A. called the EDGE Performing Arts Center - wich is still in Hollywood - would come and guest teach. I had never seen anything like the way they danced or the kinds of numbers they came up with, and there was just something magical about it. I knew I wanted to be where they were. When I was making the drive over to L.A. when I was 17, knowing I wanted to do bigger things, acting absolutely wasn't what I was trying to do. I started doing a lot of commercials and videos, but acting never popped in my head before I auditioned for A Knight's Tale. Speaking of commercials, many people probably first noticed you in the "Boys who scratch" Gap commercial. Have you watched it lately? [Laughs.] I try not to. Too embarrassing? It's torture. [Laughs.] I hate that I even have to accept that it exists. You have to accept that in this business-that you learn in front of everybody. Following A Knight's Tale, you were dubbed a "breakthrough" actress but then dodged the spotlight. Were you avoiding your newfound "It girl" status? I think "It girl" is a funny term for me because I was never really super-famous our successful in the first place. I don't say that in a way that's self-deprecating or anything. I mean, it's just a fact. It wasn't like I said, "I'm going [to leave Hollywood] and everybody will wonder where I went." I just wasn't ready to "play" yet, if that makes sense. [The attention] all had happened really fast, and I wasn't prepared because I hadn't prepare for [an acting career] my whole life. Also, right after The Rules of Attraction came out, I became pregnant with my son who's nom 4, and that changed my life. But I'm definitely re-emerging now. I'm very ambitious, in a healthy way, and there's no way I could just live quietly. What do you look for in the roles you choose ? Well, I don't exactly have, like, scripts just chillin' out on my doorstep. [Laughs.] If it's a character that I love, then it just starts there. It's that simple right now - love the character and love the script. Like The Ring and The Grudge, One Missed Call is based on a Japanese horror film. Had you seen the original when you signed on ? No, and I didn't watch it after I got the part, either, because the director [Eric Valette] asked me not to. He didn't watch it, either. He treated it as if it was brand new, and I was all for that. Thanks to roles in darker movies like The Rules Of Attraction and Wristcutters : A love Story it seems like you've got the market cornered on mysterious anti-hero roles. I wasn't really aware of that. [Laughs.] I know what you're saying, though. Maybe (fans) think that I'm one way-like one character from one movie-and I'm going to be that way forever. But I feel like I'm always changing. It all makes me a little anxious, I think. Well you are playing a vampire on CBS's Moonlight, wich will only endear you to that crowd further. Oh, that's true! [Laughs.] Speaking of wich-and I mean this as an absolute compliment-you make a great vampire. I had a frien who said that, too. [Laughs.] I think it's fun. I live vampires. I feel a kinship with the mythology of vampire and their eternal life and the romanticism and the darkness of it all. In your everyday life, are you anywhere near as dark as your roles might lead one to assusme ? No. [Laughs.] I mean, I'm a mom. The Universal language Considering Shannyn Sossamon spent much of her youth spinning records at parties in and around Hollywood, you might assume her playlist would feature some combination of Paul Oakenfold, Apollo 440 and/or Basement Jaxx. But you'd be wrong. "All of Blonde Redhead's albums have been interchanging in my stereo pretty consistently." says Sossamon. "You know when you get sick of a CD from playing it too much ? That hasn't come into play with me for two years, and I'm starting to think it's something weird." However, when the actress isn't listening to Blonde Redhead albums ad infinitum, she drums for the L.A. - based band WarPaint, wich also features two of her friends - Theresa Wayman and Emily Kokal - and her younger sister Jennifer Lindberg. When asked how she'd categorize their sound, she said "It's so hard to describe. I don't know. It's not contry." If you like listening to bands who aren't country as much as we do, check out their MySpace page : myspace.com/worldwartour. From AP : Alternate Press magazine (February 2008) Thanks to Jordan for the scan. Transcribed by Lee from SSO. |
The End of Love (2011)
Playing -
Released: 2012 (post-production)
More: Info | Photos | Official
The Day (2011)
Playing Shannon
Released: 2012 (post-production)
More: Info | Photos | Official
Road to Nowhere (2011)
Playing Velma Durand
Released: Now On DVD
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How to make it in America (TV) (2010)
Playing Gingy
Released: Now On DVD
More: Info | Photos | Official
