Shannon Woodward Explained

Shannon Woodward
Birth Place:Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1991–present

Shannon Woodward is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Sabrina Collins on the FOX sitcom Raising Hope (2010–2014), Elsie Hughes on the HBO science-fiction thriller series Westworld (2016–2018), and the voice and motion capture of Dina in the video game The Last of Us Part II, for which she received a BAFTA Award for Performer in a Supporting Role nomination at the 17th British Academy Games Awards.[1]

Early life

Shannon Woodward was born in Phoenix, Arizona.

Career

Woodward's first on-screen acting job came in 1991 when she played the occasionally recurring role of Missy on Nickelodeon's television series Clarissa Explains It All.[2] She reprised this role twice during the show's five seasons. Woodward next appeared in made-for-television films: (1995) and Tornado! (1996). In 1997, she played an uncredited role in the CBS miniseries True Women.[3]

Between 2000 and 2007, Woodward played a number of minor roles in various television shows including The Drew Carey Show, Grounded for Life, Malcolm in the Middle, Crossing Jordan, Without a Trace, Psych, and Boston Public.

Woodward's big-screen debut came in 2005, when she played Emma Sharp, the daughter of a Texas Ranger assigned to protect a group of cheerleaders who witnessed a murder in the action comedy Man of the House.

In 2007, Woodward got her big break in the series The Riches, which aired for two seasons (2007–2008) on cable network FX. She played the role of Di Di Malloy, the teen daughter and middle child in an American family of Irish Travellers. After The Riches ended, Woodward played the role of Leah in the film The Haunting of Molly Hartley.

Woodward shot the 2009 pilot Limelight, about a New York City school for performing arts, but the series was not picked up. That same year, Woodward had a recurring role on the final season of NBC's ER, as Kelly Taggart, the younger sister of nurse Samantha "Sam" Taggart. She also starred in another teen thriller, The Shortcut.

In 2010, Woodward starred in the independent drama Girlfriend. She also played the lead character in the 2015 ensemble comedy-drama The Breakup Girl.

From September 2010 to April 2014, Woodward had a starring role in the FOX sitcom Raising Hope, playing Sabrina Collins, a grocery store checkout clerk who is the love interest of the series lead.

Woodward appeared in her friend Katy Perry's music video "Hot n Cold" and had a cameo role in Perry's documentary/concert film . Perry, in turn, guest-starred in a season two episode of Raising Hope.[4]

Woodward played Lois in the 2017 film All Nighter.[5] She was a regular in two seasons of HBO series Westworld as computer programmer Elsie Hughes.[6]

It was announced in April 2017 that Woodward would appear in the video game The Last of Us Part II, which was released on June 19, 2020.[7] Woodward played Dina, the main character Ellie's friend and love interest.[8]

Personal life

Woodward came out as queer in February 2021.[9]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Man of the HouseEmma Sharp
Fiona
2007Sunny & Share Love YouGirl on the Street
Emily
2008Leah
2009Lisa
2010GirlfriendCandy
2012Herself
2013Adult WorldCandace
2014Search PartyTracy
You Me & HerAnnaShort film
2015The Breakup GirlClaire Baker
2016The VeilJill
2017All NighterLois
Anna & The AsteroidAnnaShort film
2019Jake and Kyle Get Wedding DatesTania WildeVoice, direct-to-video
Ode to JoyLiza
2021HappilyCarla
2023Jagged MindAlex [10]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991–1994Clarissa Explains It AllMissy / Alien 33 episodes
1995Leigh DooleyTelevision film
1996Tornado!Lucy
1997True WomenYoung Cherokee Woods (age 13)
2000Girl in CafeteriaEpisode: "Be Drew to Your School"
2001Crossing JordanLucyEpisode: Pilot; uncredited
Malcolm in the MiddleTammyEpisode: "Houseboat"
2001–2002Grounded for LifeKristina3 episodes
2002Greetings from TucsonChrissyEpisode: "Popularity"
2003Without a TraceVicki JohnsonEpisode: "Sons and Daughters"
Boston PublicAllison / Marianne Karr2 episodes
2004Medical InvestigationDanielle JohnsonEpisode: "The Unclean"
2005QuintupletsBaileyEpisode: "Chutes and Letters"
2006Cold CaseRaquel Montero (1994)Episode: "Detention"
2007PsychAlice BundyEpisode: "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast"
Cecilia StrayerEpisode: "Svengali"
2007–2008Di Di MalloyMain role
2009LimelightZoe GreenTelevision film
Criminal MindsLinda JonesEpisode: "Zoe's Reprise"
ERKelly Taggart2 episodes
2010–2014Raising HopeSabrina CollinsMain Role
2016–2018WestworldElsie Hughes[11] 20 episodes
2017The Guest BookMarlaEpisode: "Story Seven"
Last Week Tonight with John OliverFemale Forensic ScientistEpisode: "Forensic Science"
2018PortlandiaShannonEpisode: "Open Relationship"
Drunk HistoryIda TarbellEpisode: "Underdogs"
2018–2019An Emmy for MeganHerself2 episodes
2020Robot ChickenBarbara "Barb" Holland, ArielVoice, episode: "Gracie Purgatory in: That's How You Get Hemorrhoids"
Animal Talking with Gary WhittaHerselfEpisode: "Selena Gomez, Cory Barlog, Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, Shannon Woodward"
2021Mr. CormanElizabeth Corman2 episodes
2023The Morning ShowJess Bennett1 episode
2023Scott Pilgrim Takes OffHollie (Voice)Episode: "Ramona Rents a Video"

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRoleNotes
2008"Hot n Cold"Katy PerryBridesmaid
2013"Kangaroo Court"Capital CitiesPoodle

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020The Last of Us Part IIDinaMotion capture & voice
Nominated—2020 British Academy Games Awards for Performer in a Supporting Role[12]
2024RivenTi'anaMotion capture[13]
Forthcoming

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners . March 2021.
  2. Watch 'Westworld' Star Shannon Woodward in Her First TV Role on 'Clarissa Explains It All' . May 27, 2021 . Entertainment Weekly . en.
  3. Woodward . Shannon . Shannon Woodward . shannonwoodward . 1278764112445489153 . July 2, 2020 . @rejectedjokes A TV movie called TRUE WOMEN . en . March 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200702192858/https://twitter.com/shannonwoodward/status/1278764112445489153 . July 2, 2020 . live.
  4. News: Katy Perry to Guest Star on Fox's 'Raising Hope' . . Lesley . Goldberg . February 22, 2012 . January 24, 2020.
  5. News: Ford . Rebecca . McClintock . Pamela . Cannes: J.K. Simmons, Emile Hirsch to Star in 'The Runaround' (Exclusive) . August 7, 2015 . . April 30, 2015.
  6. News: HBO's 'Westworld' Adds Jeffrey Wright, Shannon Woodward, 4 More . Goldberg . Lesley . August 6, 2014 . . October 4, 2014.
  7. Westworld Actor To Be Featured In The Last Of Us Part II . https://web.archive.org/web/20170410001630/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/07/westworld-actor-to-be-featured-in-the-last-of-us-part-ii.aspx . dead . April 10, 2017 . Wojnar . Zak . April 7, 2017 . . en . June 8, 2017.
  8. News: How Shannon Woodward Went From 'The Last of Us' Fan to Playing New Character Dina in 'Part II' . Steadman . Alex . June 23, 2020 . . January 9, 2021.
  9. Woodward . Shannon . Shannon Woodward . shannonwoodward . 1364728335054434310 . February 25, 2021 . my queerness was never something I wanted to talk about with strangers, not because it was literally ever a secret (it was never a secret). it just... is mine. . en . December 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831052623/https://twitter.com/shannonwoodward/status/1364728335054434310 . August 31, 2022 . live.
  10. Web site: Earl . William . April 20, 2023 . Jagged Mind: First Look at Hulu-Bound Horror (Exclusive) . June 1, 2023 . Variety.
  11. Web site: 'Westworld' Star Looks Back on Tragic Finale: 'I Was Really Sad About It' . Wigler . Josh . June 29, 2018 . . January 9, 2021.
  12. Web site: March 1, 2021 . 2021 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners . April 11, 2021 . bafta.org . en.
  13. Web site: April 25, 2024 . New! Acting and Character Motion Capture in Riven [Excerpt] ]. April 27, 2024 . youtube.com . en.