Shannyn Sossamon Pictures

Shannyn Sossamon is the classic example of a free spirit willing to go wherever life may take her. That irrepressible attitude has kept her going from Honolulu to Hollywood: So when a one-in-a-million discovery led to her starring role in 2001's A Knight's Tale, the young dancer-turned-actress just took it in stride. In fact, when stardom no longer appealed to her, Sossamon gave it up for a time, until her interest in acting was renewed by more interesting roles, such as her turn in 2002's The Rules of Attraction.

Shannyn herself credits her beauty to the fact that she's a "mutt" -- a reference to her varied heritage, a combination of French, Hawaiian, Dutch, Irish, Filipino, and German ancestry. Certainly, Sossamon's appeal is difficult to pin down, but there is a hint of exotic flavor to her looks.

Sossamon's lithe physique, drawn lips, and high cheekbones, combined with her short cropped brunette locks, give her a charming, almost waifish quality. Nevertheless, her intense, hazel eyes, coupled with her usual good humor, add an extra dimension to her beauty, rounding it out with a touch of worldly maturity that's beyond her years.

Not long after, Sossamon was offered a part in The Rules of Attraction, a satirical film about college life. Not having to audition for the role of Lauren, a virgin who catches the fancy of Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, made "a huge psychological difference," she says. Rules renewed her interest in acting, and she is slated to appear with Heath Ledger again in the upcoming scary movie, The Order (which was called The Sin Eater before its release was delayed, apparently in order to fix the special effects). She is also slated to star in The Other Side of Simple with Vince Vaughn and Don Cheadle, which is still in pre-production.

Living in LA, it was only a matter of time before Shannyn the dancer became Shannyn the actress. She first appeared in a Daft Punk music video as an extra, and would later move on to videos for Goo Goo Dolls, Korn and Mick Jagger. Sossamon made appearances in commercials for everything from Oldsmobile and Kmart to Kodak and The Gap. But Sossamon's big break came in 1999, when as a favor to a friend, she helped out as a DJ (for about 30 minutes) at Gwyneth Paltrow's birthday party. Francine Maisler, a casting director whose credits include The Usual Suspects, spotted Shannyn, but didn't approach her right away; Maisler got the striking beauty's number from someone else at the party.

	Shannyn Sossamon Pics Shannyn Sossamon Mobile Images Keira Knightley Mobile Wallpaper	Shannyn Sossamon Pictures Shannyn Sossamon is the classic example of a free spirit willing to go wherever life may take her. That irrepressible attitude has kept her going from Honolulu to Hollywood: So when a one-in-a-million discovery led to her starring role in 2001's A Knight's Tale, the young dancer-turned-actress just took it in stride. In fact, when stardom no longer appealed to her, Sossamon gave it up for a time, until her interest in acting was renewed by more interesting roles, such as her turn in 2002's The Rules of Attraction. Shannyn herself credits her beauty to the fact that she's a "mutt" -- a reference to her varied heritage, a combination of French, Hawaiian, Dutch, Irish, Filipino, and German ancestry. Certainly, Sossamon's appeal is difficult to pin down, but there is a hint of exotic flavor to her looks. Sossamon's lithe physique, drawn lips, and high cheekbones, combined with her short cropped brunette locks, give her a charming, almost waifish quality. Nevertheless, her intense, hazel eyes, coupled with her usual good humor, add an extra dimension to her beauty, rounding it out with a touch of worldly maturity that's beyond her years. Not long after, Sossamon was offered a part in The Rules of Attraction, a satirical film about college life. Not having to audition for the role of Lauren, a virgin who catches the fancy of Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, made "a huge psychological difference," she says. Rules renewed her interest in acting, and she is slated to appear with Heath Ledger again in the upcoming scary movie, The Order (which was called The Sin Eater before its release was delayed, apparently in order to fix the special effects). She is also slated to star in The Other Side of Simple with Vince Vaughn and Don Cheadle, which is still in pre-production. Living in LA, it was only a matter of time before Shannyn the dancer became Shannyn the actress. She first appeared in a Daft Punk music video as an extra, and would later move on to videos for Goo Goo Dolls, Korn and Mick Jagger. Sossamon made appearances in commercials for everything from Oldsmobile and Kmart to Kodak and The Gap. But Sossamon's big break came in 1999, when as a favor to a friend, she helped out as a DJ (for about 30 minutes) at Gwyneth Paltrow's birthday party. Francine Maisler, a casting director whose credits include The Usual Suspects, spotted Shannyn, but didn't approach her right away; Maisler got the striking beauty's number from someone else at the party.