Shannon Elizabeth

Perhaps best known for her role as Nadia in the 1999 blockbuster American Pie, Shannon Elizabeth’s accomplished performances alongside professional poker players have shocked many. Indeed, the actress and former model now classes poker as her second career and she is rated as one of Hollywood’s best celebrity players – skilful enough to earn a sponsorship deal from Full Tilt Poker.

Born in Houston, Texas, as Shannon Elizabeth Fadal, she grew up as an only child in nearby Waco. Her distinctive looks can be traced back through the generations which show she inherited Syrian, Lebanese, French, English and Cherokee Indian blood. At school, Elizabeth was a sports ace and was on the verge of becoming professional tennis player before being spotted by a modelling agency. Aged 18 she moved to New York to pursue work in this profession. She would later pose for Playboy magazine – in 1997 and 1998 – but regrets the decision.

Her big break in acting came in 1996 appearing both in film and on television. As well as American Pie, Elizabeth’s career went on to include Scary Movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and That 70’s Show. Two of her recent films – Deal and The Grand – both feature poker; however, she doesn’t play a pot in either movie.

If you happen to visit the Las Vegas strip, you will notice that her real life follows a different script as she competes there several times a month with some of poker’s top players.

Although she was eliminated early in the 2005 and 2006 World Series of Poker tournaments she has had more success in other competitions. At the beginning of 2006 she won a New Year’s tournament at Caesar’s Palace, coming out on top of 83 entrants to win $55,000. She followed that up in Utah with a fifth place finish at Full Tilt’s No-Limit Hold ‘em Invitational.

In March 2007 Elizabeth reached the semi-finals of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship to win $125,000. She lost out to eventual winner Paul Wasicka but only after beating Jeff Madsen, Barry Greenstein and Humberto Brenes – all players with two WSOP bracelets to their name.

Away from poker, she appeared in Enrique Iglesias’ music for his single ‘Be With You’ as the singer’s love interest although the two were never a couple in real life. Elizabeth preferred men from her own industry and hooked up with fellow actor Joseph Reitman. The two were together for seven years before they wed in June 2002. However, things turned sour for the couple and after three years of married life she filed for divorce.

Elizabeth is a strict vegetarian with a huge love for animals. At one point she owned five dogs, she supports numerous animal charities and, with Reitman, she founded Animal Avengers – a non-profit organisation rescuing and re-homing unwanted pets, promoting high pet maintenance and preventing animal cruelty.