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Sara Paxton

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Sara Paxton
File:Sara Paxton in 2018.png
Paxton in 2018
Born
Sara Paxton

(1988-04-25) April 25, 1988 (age 36)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1996–present

Sara Paxton[1] (born April 25, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Mari Collingwood in the horror film The Last House on the Left (2009). She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before rising to fame in 2004, after playing the titular role in the television series Darcy's Wild Life (2004-2006) and Sarah Borden in Summerland (2004).

Paxton's other films include Aquamarine (2006), Return to Halloweentown (2006), Sydney White (2007), Superhero Movie (2008) and The Innkeepers (2011). In 2017, Paxton had a guest appearance in David Lynch's Twin Peaks revival series, and in 2018 portrayed Donna Rice in the film The Front Runner.

Early life

Paxton was born in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, as the only child of Lucia (née Menchaca Zuckerman) and Steve Paxton.[2] Her mother was born to a Jewish family in Monterrey, Mexico, and raised in Ciudad Acuña.[3][2][4][5][6] Paxton's father is of English, Irish, and Scottish descent and converted to Judaism upon marrying her mother.[7][8] Both her parents are dentists.[9] Paxton's father is distantly related to the late actor Bill Paxton.

During her childhood, Paxton put on shows and wanted to perform, sometimes dressing up in costume and coming to school as a particular character.[8] She grew up in the San Fernando Valley, choosing to attend a public high school instead of accepting homeschooling.[8] Paxton graduated from El Camino Real High School in June 2006.[10]

Paxton has said that attending college was "very important" to her because "it is important to expand your mind."[8] In 2006, Paxton applied to the University of Southern California's film studies program.[10] She has noted that she would like to major in business administration with a minor in history (as she is a "history fanatic")[8] and to start a production company. Paxton delayed plans to attend college, because every time she lined up a class schedule she was offered another movie. In a 2009 interview with TeenHollywood, Paxton indicated that she had been accepted to several schools and almost attended New York University, but she made the decision not to go and had no immediate plans of attending college.[11][12][13]

Career

1997–2004: Early roles

Paxton in 2007

Paxton has said that singing and acting "went hand in hand" during her early years, though she initially began working as an actress,[8] appearing in musical theater and later in television commercials at a young age. Her first film role was a small role in the 1997 Jim Carrey comedy Liar Liar.[8] During the late 1990s and early 2000s, she appeared in a number of television and film roles, including voice roles from the Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, a role on the soap opera Passions, regular roles on the series Greetings from Tucson and Action, and a guest starring role on the Disney Channel show, Lizzie McGuire starring Hilary Duff playing an ex-president of Lizzie's school. In 2003, Paxton starred in R. L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse, a short 3D film attraction that still plays at several theme parks across the United States. She also appeared as Lana on CSI: Miami.

Paxton's first major role was in the teen film Sleepover, which opened in July 2004 to negative reviews and low box-office revenue;[14][15] during the same summer season, she appeared in several episodes of the series, Summerland, playing Sarah Borden, a mentally troubled teen who experimented with drugs and sex with Jesse McCartney's character. Paxton was subsequently cast in the lead role of the Discovery Kids television series, Darcy's Wild Life, playing Darcy Fields, a girl who works at a rural veterinary; the series was filmed on a farm in Toronto[8] and aired from 2004 to 2006, often featuring Paxton's music track, "Take a Walk". Paxton received an Emmy nomination for the role in 2006.

2005–2012: Mainstream recognition

Paxton at the premiere of The Last House on the Left in 2009

In 2005, Paxton spent three months[8] working on the Florida-themed Aquamarine, in which she played the title character as a mermaid, opposite Emma Roberts and JoJo, whom she befriended while filming.[2] Paxton has said that she felt a sense of "female empowerment" while on set because "almost everyone" on set was female.[8] The film opened on March 3, 2006 and grossed approximately $7.5 million in its opening weekend.[16] Reviewers of the film compared Paxton, whose inspiration is Goldie Hawn, to actress Reese Witherspoon, saying that she has an "infectious, nutty energy."[2] Paxton recorded a song for the film's soundtrack titled "Connected", an English version of the Mexican group RBD's song Tenerte y Quererte from their 2004 album Rebelde.

Paxton hosted The Secret Life of Water, the first episode of the series Planet H2O, which premiered in April 2006 on public television stations. In May of the same year, she made an appearance on the television series Pepper Dennis, playing a teen actress. Paxton, who sees herself as an "evolving actress,"[10] then appeared in Return to Halloweentown, replacing Kimberly J. Brown in the fourth installment in Disney Channel's Halloweentown series; she dyed her hair brown for the role. The film aired on October 20, 2006. During the summer and early fall of 2006, Paxton filmed The Party Never Stops: Diary of a Binge Drinker, a Lifetime Television film, in Vancouver Island.[8] In the film, she plays Jessie, a college student who falls victim to binge drinking. Paxton has described it as "very different" from her previous roles, and has specified that she was looking for a role that would be a "challenge".[11] The film aired in March 2007.[17] Paxton's next film role was in Sydney White, a college-set comedy starring Amanda Bynes and Matt Long; filming began on February 12, 2007 in Orlando, Florida and the movie was released on September 21, 2007.[18] She next starred in Superhero Movie, a parody on superhero films which began filming in September 2007 and was released on March 28, 2008. She provided backing vocals on her co-star Drake Bell's theme song for the movie Superhero! Song.[19]

Paxton starred in the remake of The Last House on the Left, playing the lead female character, Mari. The film opened March 13, 2009.

2013–present: Television roles and film

Paxton starred in the CW drama series The Beautiful Life alongside Corbin Bleu, Mischa Barton and Elle Macpherson. The show premiered on September 16, 2009, but was cancelled after 2 episodes.[20] It was later aired online on YouTube. Paxton next co-starred with Scott Eastwood in the thriller Enter Nowhere,[5] and also played one of the lead roles in the Ti West film The Innkeepers.[21] Paxton also starred in the 2011 movie Shark Night. She then played Mirabella on the ABC Family movie Lovestruck: The Musical in 2013.[22]

In April 2016, it was announced that Paxton had joined the cast of David Lynch's 2017 Twin Peaks revival.[23]

In 2018, she co-starred as Donna Rice opposite Hugh Jackman in Jason Reitman's The Front Runner, a biographical film about politician Gary Hart.[24]

In 2018–2019, she played Amber Dooley in the NBC series Good Girls.

Music career

Paxton was signed to a record deal with Epic Records during the time she was cast in Aquamarine.[8] Her debut music CD, The Ups and Downs, featuring the titled single "Here We Go Again", is due for release by Epic at some point "in the future"; as of March 2007, Paxton has not completed work on it.[25] She has described the sound as "pop/rock. It is believed Paxton's debut album has been shelved and she has no plans to continue her music career as she has not made any announcement of any plans to further her career in the music industry."[8]

Personal life

Paxton has credited her Jewish religion for feeling "very connected" to her family, who keep her "grounded" and are "always number one" in her life.[8] She did not have a Bat Mitzvah because she was busy filming, though she has said that she "wanted to so bad".[8]

In 2018, Paxton became engaged to longtime boyfriend (since 2013), actor Zach Cregger.[26]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Liar Liar Child at Party and School
1997 You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Christmas Party Patty Short film
1998 Music from Another Room Young Karen
1998 Soldier Angie
1998 Tunnel Vision Shauna Short film
1999 Durango Kids Hillary
2001 The Ruby Princess Runs Away Princess Sabrina
2003 Haunted Lighthouse Ashley Short film
2004 Sleepover Staci Blake
2006 Aquamarine Aquamarine
2007 Sydney White Rachel Witchburn
2008 Superhero Movie Jill Johnson
2009 The Last House on the Left Mari Collingwood
2011 The Innkeepers Claire
2011 Shark Night Sara Palski
2011 Enter Nowhere Jody
2012 Static Rachel
2013 Love & Air Sex Kara
2013 Cheap Thrills Violet
2013 Liars All Katie
2014 Boys of Abu Ghraib Peyton
2014 All Relative Grace
2015 Happily Ever After Sarah Ann
2016 Sundown Lina Hunter
2017 Three Women Kathy Short film
2018 First Date Kathy
2018 The Front Runner Donna Rice
TBA Blonde Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Small Talk Panelist #1 Recurring role; 10 episodes
1997 NewsRadio Sara Episode: "Office Feud"
1999 Working Amanda Baines Episode: "The Prodigy"
1999 Passions Young Sheridan Episode #1.14
1999 Action Georgia Dragon Guest role; 2 episodes
1999–2017 SpongeBob SquarePants Various roles (voice) Recurring role; 15 episodes
2000 Perfect Game Sydney Television film
2000 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Girl Episode: "The Wailing"
2001 Hounded Tracy Richburg Television film
2001 Lizzie McGuire Holly Episode: "Election"
2002 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jody Bradley Episode: "Burden of Proof"
2002–2003 Greetings from Tucson Sarah Tobin Recurring role; 5 episodes
2003 CSI: Miami Lana Walker Episode: "Death Grip"
2004 Malcolm in the Middle Angela Pozefsky Episode: "Malcolm Dates a Family"
2004 Will & Grace Melanie Episode: "I Never Cheered for My Father"
2004 Summerland Sarah Borden Recurring role; 5 episodes
2004 Quintuplets Chelsea Episode: "Date Night"
2004–2006 Darcy's Wild Life Darcy Fields Main role; 33 episodes
2006 Pepper Dennis April May / Chrissy Tyler Episode: "Celebrity Twin Could Hang: Film at Eleven"
2006 Skater Boys Kayla Gordon Episode: "Sundown"
2006 Return to Halloweentown Marnie Piper / Splendora Agatha Cromwell Television film; replacing Kimberly J. Brown from the first three films
2007 The Party Never Stops: Diary of a Binge Drinker Jessie Brenner Television film
2008 Wizards of Waverly Place Millie Episode: "Credit Check"
2009 Jonas Fiona Skye Episode: "Frantic Romantic"
2009 The Beautiful Life: TBL Raina Marrinelli Main role; 5 episodes
2012 Blue Eyed Butcher Susan Wright Television film
2013 Lovestruck: The Musical Mirabella Hutton Television film
2013 Guys with Kids Stacee Episode: "Gary's Idea"
2014 How to Get Away with Murder Natalia "Talia" Lewis Episode: "Let's Get to Scooping"
2015 Stalker Isabelle Martin Episode: "Salvation"
2015 Code Black Sophie Episode: "You Are the Heart"
2016 Heartbeat Lou Panttiere Episode: "The Land of Normal"
2016 Murder in the First Alicia Barnes Recurring role; 10 episodes
2017 This Is Us Kathryn Episode: "Moonshadow"
2017 Twin Peaks Candy Shaker Episode: "Part 4"
2017 Baker Daily: Trump Takedown Sara Television short
2017 Wrecked Sister Grace Episode: "Sister Mercy"
2018 Liberty Crossing Jessica Larson Episode: "Weekend Warriors"
2018–present Good Girls Amber Dooley Guest role; 3 episodes

Video game

Year Title Voice role
1999 Koudelka Charlotte D'lota

Discography

Soundtrack appearances

Source:[27]

Year Song Soundtrack
2005 "Take a Walk" Darcy's Wild Life
"There For You"
"Don't Wanna Be Alone" (with Jesse McCartney) Summerland
2006 "Connected" Aquamarine
"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" Disneymania 4
2008 "I Need a Hero" Superhero! Movie
"Superhero! Song (featuring Sara Paxton)
2012 "Shark Bite Rap" Shark Night 3D
2013 "Me Too (Stripped)" Lovestruck: The Musical
"Like a Virgin"
"How Can I Remember to Forget"
"Me Too (Main Mix)"
"Everlasting Love"

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2000 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Young Performer Age Ten or Under Working Won
2003 Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress Greetings from Tucson Nominated
2003 Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Won
2004 Best Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actress CSI: Miami Nominated
2005 Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress Darcy's Wild Life Nominated
2005 Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast Sleepover Nominated
2006 Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Darcy's Wild Life Nominated
2006 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series Nominated
2007 Young Artist Awards Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Nominated
2007 Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress Aquamarine Nominated
2012 Fright Meter Awards Best Actress The Innkeepers Nominated

References

  1. ^ Paxton's birth certificate lists no middle name, despite the sometime reported middle name of "Emily." See the California Birth Index, 1905–1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com
  2. ^ a b c d "All is going swimmingly for Aquamarine star Paxton". Kalamazoo Gazette. 2006-03-17. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  3. ^ Sparktech Software LLC (2012-02-01). "'The Innkeepers' Star Sara Paxton: I Would Love To Play Carrie — Inside Movies Since 1920". Boxofficemagazine.com. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  4. ^ Break.com. "Sara Paxton from 'The Last House on the Left'". Break Media. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
  5. ^ a b Lee, David C. (2009). "Sara Paxton". TDINK. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  6. ^ Damarys, Sara Paxton in 'The Last House on the Left' published by sitv.com date=2009-03-13
  7. ^ Bloom, Nate (2007-04-05). "Celebrity Jews". The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Jones, Jen (March–April 2007). "Sara Paxton". JVibe. 3 (2). Jewish Family & Life: 14–17.
  9. ^ Wilson, Staci Layne (2009-03-06). "Sara Paxton – Interview". Horror.com. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  10. ^ a b c "Sara Paxton loved wearing the fins in Aquamarine". Scripps Howard News Service. 2006-06-16. Archived from the original on 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  11. ^ a b Reid, Michael D. (2006-09-08). "Sara Paxton brings the party". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  12. ^ Audrey Fine (5 September 2007). "Sara Paxton Party Never Stops". Seventeen.
  13. ^ "Sara Paxton's In the "House"". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  14. ^ "Sleepover". Rotten Tomatoes. 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  15. ^ "Sleepover". The Numbers. 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  16. ^ "Aquamarine". The Numbers. 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  17. ^ "Sara Paxton set to "Party" on at Lifetime" (Press release). Reuters. 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  18. ^ "Amanda Bynes Set to Star in the New Comedy 'Sydney White' for Morgan Creek Productions" (Press release). Morgan Creek Productions. 2006-01-03. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  19. ^ "Dimension Films scares up 'Superhero'". Los Angeles Times. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2007-09-20. [dead link‍]
  20. ^ Kit, Borys (2010-04-05). "Jack Heller to direct 'Enter Nowhere' film". MoviesOnline. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
  21. ^ Miska, Brad (2010-04-27). "Sara Paxton Becomes the Final 'Innkeeper'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  22. ^ "'Lovestruck: The Musical': Sara Paxton Previews ABC Family Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  23. ^ Murthi, Vikrim (April 25, 2016). "'Twin Peaks' Full Cast Revealed: Amanda Seyfriend, Michael Cera & Over 200 More Join David Lynch Show". Indiewire. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  24. ^ White, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Sara Paxton on "Compassionate" Portrayal of Donna Rice in 'The Front Runner'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  25. ^ Steinberg, Lisa (2007). "Sara Paxton Life of the Party". Starry Constellation Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-02-20. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
  26. ^ https://www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-sara-paxton
  27. ^ "Sarah Paxton". Allmusic Accessed 2016-1-28
  • Sara Paxton on Twitter Edit this at Wikidata
  • Sara Paxton at IMDb
  • Sara Paxton at AllMusic
  • Sara Paxton discography at Discogs
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