ROSARIO DAWSON

Date of Birth: May 9, 1979

Born in New York, Dawson was discovered while hanging out on the stoop in front of her New York City building. Filmmaker Larry Clark was making the independent film Kids (1995) when he was immediately captivated by her and urged her to audition. Dawson did, and landed the role of troubled Ruby.

Her work led her to more roles in other independent films, Side Streets (1997), and Girls Night Out (1997). Indies led to big budget films and in 1998 she landed a supporting role in Spike Lee's He Got Game (1998), playing the girlfriend of basketball player Jesus Shuttlesworth. Following major roles in Light It Up and Down To You (2000), she took another step up in her career, landing starring roles in big films, Pluto Nash opposite Eddie Murphy, Josie And The Pussycats (2001), Alexander (2004) and Sin City (2005).

Besides acting, Dawson has a deep interest in music and landed a role in the film version of the musical Rent (2005), for which she won a Satellite Award for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role.

Filmography:

The Zookeeper (2010)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Poor Things (2008)
Seven Pounds (2008)
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2008)
Eagle Eye (2008)
Explicit Ills (2008)
Killshot (2008)
Grindhouse (2007)
Descent (2006)
Clerks II (2006)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Rent (2005)
Little Black Dress (2005)
Sin City (2005)
The Devil's Rejects (2005)
This Revolution (2004)
Alexander (2004)
Shattered Glass (2003)
The Rundown (2003)
This Girl's Life (2003)
25th Hour (2002)
The Adventures Of Pluto Nash (2002)
The First $20 Million (2002)
Men In Black II (2002)
Ash Wednesday (2002)
Love In the Time of Money (2002)
Chelsea Walls (2001)
Trigger Happy (2001)
Josie And The Pussycats (2001)
Sidewalks Of New York (2001)
King of the Jungle (2000)
Down To You (2000)
Light It Up (1999)
He Got Game (1998)
Girls Night Out (1997)
Side Streets (1997)
Kids (1995)