Shannon Elizabeth, Dancing With The Stars, Actress & Poker Player
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April 21, 2008 @ 05:03 pm
Shannon Elizabeth is a talented actress, professional poker player, and now add professional dancer to her resume! As one of the stars in this season’s Dancing With The Stars, Shannon has been putting in long days at rehearsals, but she took some time out to talk one-on-one with SassyBean.com
What Inspires You?
Talent inspires me! Watching an actor give an amazing performance makes me want to get in front of a camera and act or even behind a camera to direct. Watching my dance partner dance inspires me to get better because he’s showing me how amazing it can look when done properly. Even watching great poker on TV makes me want to rush to the casino and play.
Congratulations on being a part of Dancing with the Stars, how exciting! Can you give us an inside look at your rehearsals?
My rehearsals so far on Dancing With The Stars have been tough. I’m learning techniques for specific dances that go against everything that feels natural. But I’m very competitive and determined to conquer these dances as best I can-so I’m working hard for an average of 5 hours a day 5 days a week right now. But once the show starts it will be 7 days a week, and knowing me close to 24 hours a day! 
You’ve been very active in rescuing and finding homes for homeless pets, reducing pet overpopulation, promoting responsible pet guardianship and preventing animal cruelty. What made you become so passionate about this important cause?
My love for animals is something I was born with and it’s definitely a huge part of my soul. I feel like I can put myself in their “paws” and feel what they feel and think what they think. When I say this I mean that I’m really feeling what I believe they are feeling. The worst for me, as a doggie mommy, is when two of my babies are having a spat and one of them gets hurt. This usually only happens when I bring a new rescue into the house and the dogs are adjusting to their new roommate. But, none the less, I can’t stand to see an animal in pain or unhappy!
As a successful actress you’re known for not only your beauty but for your inspired sense of humor, what’s the secret?!
I think it’s really important to be humble and be able to laugh at yourself. I love being goofy-I love grossing people out-I love making people laugh! I’m always trying to find the “funny” in a situation. That’s what I loved about working on a sitcom. It was constant laughs. And what was great about working on ”Scary Movie” was that we got to do lots of improv. That’s where you can really experiment and play off of other people. We all had so much fun making that. Basically, I just think the key to comedy, besides timing, is humility.
It’s also been very clear that you have become quite the poker player, any tips for those girls who like to gamble?
Tips for girls who like to gamble? Well-I believe that the best way to fit in with the guys and being taken seriously as a player is to dress down at the table-jeans and t-shirt like the boys will work-and try to fly under the radar. Some of the best results I’ve gotten are when people underestimate whether I can play or not and don’t perceive me as a threat. The more I play the harder that is for me to get away with-but it’s still a big part of my game. I think it’s always important to be aware of your table image to the rest of the players at any given time. This will help you make some of those critical decisions based on how you think other people are playing back at you.
--Another tip, for anyone, is to observe. Women are especially good at this. When other people are talking, eating, texting, whatever, observe everything and everyone at your table…all the time! When you first get to a table take note of how everyone looks to you. Be a profiler. Does the guy in seat one have on expensive jewelry? This may mean that he likes to show off and might try to make big moves like a bluff, especially at a girl, just to show off to himself and his friends. Does the guy in seat 8 look like a young internet kid? Beware of this guy who might literally be playing at home for 8 hours a day. Also, when you fold a hand keep observing. Other people are still in the hand, so they have basically paid for information about other players that you now get to learn about for free! Take advantage of that…most people will miss it.
It Girl picks:
Crème De La Mer - When I’m wearing their thick face cream my face never feels dry or dehydrated. I love this product!
Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizers – I mix a couple of different shades to match my skin tone and rub it in lightly with my fingers. That way it makes you look like you aren’t wearing any makeup and your skin will actually match your body color without it absorbing all of those wrinkle inducing ultraviolet rays.
Smashbox Skin Tint in Sheer Raspberry Plum – it makes you look just flushed enough with color that it looks like you’re wearing nothing at all.
Who do you consider an “It Girl”? [amazing women that you know or women who influence you]
I think Linda Carter is an “IT Girl.” Why you ask? Really? Because she’s Wonder Woman! Strong, smart, sexy, honorable. I’d love nothing more than to play Wonder Woman in a film one day.
Additional Information:
You can watch me on Dancing With The Stars every Monday and Tuesday on ABC…hopefully for awhile!
I’m in the process of starting a non-profit that I’ll simply call the Shannon Elizabeth Angel Foundation. This is a charity where I want to allocate funds to specific animal cases that need urgent care as well as other rescue organizations who are doing great work, but could use a little help financially. Animal rescue is my #1 love and passion. I have four dogs that are my babies that live with me and three dogs that live with my ex. I love them all so much-there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make them happy and healthy!
Phone & text lines open at 9pm East and West Coast and will stay open until 30 minutes after the end of the show (show ends at 10:30-so 11:00pm polls close). Online voting will remain open until noon Eastern Time the next day.
For more information go to:
VOTE FOR SHANNON
1-800-VOTE4-07
1-800-86834-07
Text Code: 3407
Great article, I’ve followed this girl’s career since the early days and see her a lot on celebrity <a href="http://www.pokerisrigged.com>poker</a> channels. Good luck to her in this dancing competition and great interview!