Shannon Elizabeth

Shannon Elizabeth Fadal (born September 7, 1973) is an American actress, activist, and poker player. Her roles in the Scary Movie (2000) and the American Pie film series (1999–2001; 2012) solidified her status as a sex symbol of the 1990s and 2000s.

Elizabeth's film credits include Tomcats (2001), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Thirteen Ghosts (2001), Cursed (2005), and Night of the Demons (2009), and supporting roles in Love Actually (2003), The Grand (2007), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019), and Plan B (2024). In television, she had a recurring role in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show (2003–2005) and a main role in the UPN sitcom Cuts (2005–2006).

Elizabeth is a professional poker player, and in 2006 was named "one of the leading celebrity poker players." She is also noted for her activism.

Early life

Elizabeth was born Shannon Elizabeth Fadal in Houston, Texas, to a father of Syrian-Lebanese ancestry, and to a mother of German, English and Irish ancestry. She was raised in Waco, Texas, from 3rd grade through high school; Elizabeth graduated from Waco High School in 1991. In high school, she was a member of the tennis team and at one point considered a professional tennis career. Elizabeth worked as a model for Ford and Elite models before she began a career in film.

Career

Elizabeth appeared in several films and television shows before being cast in 1999's American Pie in the role of Nadia. It was a major box office success, and she reprised her role in American Pie 2 (2001) and American Reunion (2012). Elizabeth subsequently appeared in several Hollywood films, including Scary Movie (2000), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), and Tomcats (2001). Elizabeth starred in the UPN series Cuts until the show was canceled in May 2006. Elizabeth also recurred in That '70s Show for a number of episodes.thumb|right|Elizabeth at the 2007 [[NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship]]

In 2000 and 2003, she was featured in Maxim. In June 2008, she was Maxims cover girl. She provided the likeness and voice for Serena St. Germaine in the 2004 video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. Elizabeth was one of the celebrities on an episode of NBC's Thank God You're Here along with Tom Green, Chelsea Handler, and George Takei. Elizabeth was among the cast of the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Derek Hough. Elizabeth was the seventh star eliminated from the competition.

In 2006, Elizabeth described poker as her second career and was called "one of the leading celebrity poker players."

Elizabeth played in the Main Event of the 2005 World Series of Poker under the guidance of Daniel Negreanu, and won a special tournament celebrating the opening of a new poker room at Caesars Palace hotel in January 2006, beating out 83 celebrities and poker professionals to win $55,000. She also cashed four times in the World Series of Poker in 2006 and 2007, but again busted out of the Main Event early. In 2007, she advanced to the semi-finals of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in a field consisting of the top poker professionals before losing to eventual champion Paul Wasicka. In 2022, it was announced that Elizabeth would star in the comedy film Plan B alongside Jon Heder, Jamie Lee and Tom Berenger.

Philanthropy

thumb|295px|Elizabeth along with two [[United States Marine Corps participants of the poker tournament, prior to 2006 tribute troops of the U.S. Military]]

Animal Avengers, a non-profit animal rescue organization founded by Elizabeth and her then-husband Joseph D. Reitman, The organization, based in Brazil, lead 3D printing of prosthetic body parts for animals, including a beak for goose Victoria.

Elizabeth has served as the spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary's Adopt a Turkey program, urging people to adopt a turkey instead of eating one for Thanksgiving. She uses social media, particularly Instagram posts, to raise awareness about rhino poaching at the Poached Rhino fundraiser.

Personal life

Elizabeth is an environmentalist and a vegan. She is a cousin of New York-based television host and relationship coach Tamsen Fadal.

She was married to actor Joseph D. Reitman from 2002 to 2005. She later married Simon Borchert in 2021. In 2026, she announced that she separated from Borchert in 2025, and has subsequently filed for divorce.

Filmography

Film

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

| rowspan="2" |1997

| Blast

| Hostage

| Jack Frost

| Jill Metzner

| Credited as Shannon Elizabeth Fadal

| rowspan="3" | 1999

| Seamless

| Nicole

| American Pie

| Nadia

| Evicted

| Princess

| rowspan="2" | 2000

| Scary Movie

| Buffy Gilmore

| Dish Dogs

| Anne

| rowspan="4" | 2001

| Tomcats

| Natalie Parker

| American Pie 2

| Nadia

| Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

| Justice Faulken

| Thirteen Ghosts

| Kathy Kriticos

| 2002

| Survivin' the Island

| Office Worker

| Short film; uncredited Also executive producer

| 2003

| Love Actually

| Harriet

| 2004

| Johnson Family Vacation

| Chrishelle Rene Boudreau

| rowspan="2" | 2005

| Cursed

| Becky Morton

| The Kid & I

| Shelby Roman

| 2007

| The Grand

| Toni

| 2008

| Deal

| Michelle

| 2009

| Night of the Demons

| Angela Feld

| 2011

| A Novel Romance

| Adi Schwartz

| rowspan="3" | 2012

| American Reunion

| Nadia

| A Green Story

| Kelly

| Golden Winter

| Jessica Richmond

| 2014

| The Outsider

| Margo

| 2015

| Marshall's Miracle

| Cynthia Lawson

| rowspan="3" | 2016

| Swing Away

| Zoe Papadopoulos

| Also executive producer

| Gibby

| Ms. Martin

| The Opera Singer

| Young Opera Singer

| Short film

| 2019

| Jay and Silent Bob Reboot

| Justice Faulken

| 2020

| Playing With Beethoven

| Bryn

| 2021

| Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

| Herself

| Documentary Archive footage; uncredited

| rowspan="2" |2023

| Death on the Border

| Maddy

| A Home for the Holidays

| Ella

| 2024

| Plan B

| Anne McNally

|First Witch

Television

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

| rowspan="3" | 1996

| Arliss

| Anya Slovachek

| Episode: "Crossing the Line"

| Hang Time

| Nicole Barrett

| Episode: "Green-Eyed Julie"

| Baywatch

| Girl at Pier Party

| Episode: "Baywatch Angels"

| rowspan="2" | 1997

| USA High

| Melanie

| Episode: "Internet Love Story"

| Step by Step

| Cindi

| Episode: "Can't Buy Me Love"

| rowspan="2" | 1998

| Blade Squad

| Nurse

| Television film

| Pacific Blue

| Jo

| Episode: "Damaged Goods"

| rowspan="2" | 1999

| G vs E

| Cherry Valence

| Episode: "Men Are from Mars, Women Are Evil"

| Dying to Live

| Vanessa Canningham

| Television film

| rowspan="3" | 2002

| Just Shoot Me!

| Karen

| Episode: "About a Boy"

| Off Centre

| Dawn

| Episode: "Addicted to Love"

| The Twilight Zone

| Sondra Lomax

| Episode: "Dream Lover"

| rowspan="2" | 2003

| MTV Icon

| Herself

| Episode: "Metallica"

| The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron

| Courtney

| Television film

| 2003–2005

| That '70s Show

| Brooke Rockwell

| Recurring role (season 6–7)

| rowspan="2" | 2004

| One on One

| Tiffany Sherwood

| Episode: "Splitting Hairs"

| Punk'd

| rowspan="2" | Herself

| Episode: "Carmelo Anthony, Shannon Elizabeth and Jena Malone"

| rowspan="3" |2005

| Mad TV

| Episode: "OK Go"

| Confessions of an American Bride

| Sam

| Television film

| King of the Hill

| Candee

| Voice; episode: "Harlottown"

| 2005–2006

| Cuts

| Tiffany Sherwood

| Main role

| 2007

| Thank God You're Here

| Herself

| Episode 4

| rowspan="2" | 2008

| You Belong to Me

| Alex Wilson

| Television film

| Dancing with the Stars

| rowspan="3" | Herself

| Contestant (season 6)

| 2009

| Live Nude Comedy

| 6 episodes

| rowspan="4" | 2013

| What Not to Wear

| Episode: "Shannon Elizabeth"

| Melissa & Joey

| Anita

| Episode: "The Unfriending"

| In the Dark

| Linda

| rowspan="2" | Television film

| Catch a Christmas Star

| Nikki Crandon

| 2018

| Celebrity Big Brother

| Herself

| Contestant (season 1)

Video games

{| class="wikitable Sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

| 2004

| James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

| Serena St. Germaine

| rowspan="2" | Voice

| 2009

| Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust

| Amy Loveheart

Dancing with the Stars

{| class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" |Week #

! rowspan="2" |Dance / Song

! colspan="3" |Judge's scores

! rowspan="2" |Result

! rowspan="2" |Ref

!Inaba

!Goodman

!Tonioli

|Cha-Cha-Cha / "Shut Up and Drive"

|No Elimination

| rowspan="7" |

|Quickstep / "Swing With Me"

|Safe

|Jive / "Goody Two Shoes"

|Safe

|Viennese Waltz / "Keep Holding On"

|10

|Safe

|Samba / "Pon de Replay"

|Safe

|Rumba / "True Colors" Group Country Western / "Cotton Eyed Joe"

|8 No

|8 Scores

|8 Given

|Safe

|Tango / "Tanguedia II" Mambo / "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That"

|9 8

|Eliminated

Awards and nominations

{| class="wikitable"

! Year !! Award !! Category !! Nominated work!! Result

| rowspan="2" |2000

|MTV Movie & TV Awards

|Best Breakthrough Performance

| rowspan="2" |American Pie

|Young Hollywood Awards

|Best Ensemble Cast

| rowspan="3" | 2001

|Hollywood Film Awards

|Breakthrough Female Performance

| rowspan="3" |American Pie 2

| rowspan="2" |Stinkers Bad Movie Awards

|Worst Supporting Actress

|Most Annoying Fake Accent – Female

|2004

|Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

|Best Ensemble

|Love Actually

|2011

|New York International Independent Film & Video Festival

|Best Actress

|A Novel Romance

References

External links