MIA KIRSHNER
–Little Miss Inbetween-
A common Hollywood occurrence is that actors often get pigeonholed into playing the same type of roles over and over again. Sometimes, this phenomenon can work to an actor's advantage; other times it can prove extremely detrimental to his | her ability to achieve a level of credibility given their perceived limited range.
Yet, in the case of the beguiling, nearly 30-year-old, Toronto-born actress Mia Kirshner, (Jenny Schecter on Showtime's racey lesbian-driven original series, the L WORD and in the forthcoming rerelease of NOW and FOREVER and fall premiere of BLACK DAHLIA), seems to have neither hindered her burgeoning career nor, from a critical vantage point, lessened the credence of her talent in any way. In fact, just the opposite has transpired, in that Kirshner, who, within certain circles, has earned the illustrious title of "the actress who has played the most bisexual characters;" has received both critical and public acclaim for her well-honed acting abilities.
Through her work in the L WORD as Jenny -the aspiring writer, who is continuously exploring her destructive past and inconclusive ideas of sexuality- and the favorable reviews of NOW AND FOREVER, opening in limited release on August 5, 2005; Kirshner is unquestionably showing signs of evolving into the sensual and mature actress she is still becoming.
As Kirshner says of the difference between the characters she plays and her real-life personal relationships, "It's not me to sleep with loads of men, but I do believe in having different experiences. At the end of the day, the nicest thing is the old-fashioned one-on-one."
With NOW AND FOREVER Kirshner (filmed in 2002 and opening in select theatres nationwide after having satisfactorily toured the film festival circuits) has the opportunity to demonstrate her acting abilities within a primary co-starring role, that of playing Angela Wilson opposite actor Adam Beach as John Myron. Encompassing such dramatic, high-pitched themes as: cross-cultural love, prejudice and eternal commitment; Now and Forever presents the unlikely and controversial relationship formed by two persons from divergently opposing worlds and how their introductory meeting impacts their lives from that point forward. While a departure from Kirshner's previous out-and- out rebellious roles, the character of Angela still show flashes of many strong -willed tendencies.
And, later in the fall of 2005, Kirshner can be seen again on the big screen in BLACK DAHLIA directed by master crime-thriller director, Brian DePalma (FEMME FATALE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, THE UNTOUCHABLES, SCARFACE AND DRESSED TO KILL) based on the novel by James Ellroy.
Eagerly anticipated, the based on actual-events-film, depicts the 1940s case of two LA cops (Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart) as they relentlessly track down the killer of actress Elizabeth Short, played by Kirshner. In their exhaustive search, they uncover police corruption and additional wrongdoings to be at the root of her death. In addition to working with DePalma, the film also stars such A-list actresses as: Scarlett Johansson (THE ISLAND, LOST IN TRANSLATION, GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING) AND HILARY SWANK (MILLION DOLLAR BABY, INSOMNIA, BOYS DON'T CRY). Interestingly, the BLACK DAHLIA was filmed in Bulgaria, Kirshner's mother's native land.
Known primarily for her work on the premium cable network, many are surprised to learn the petite, dark-haired beauty, actually began her career at age 17. At this age, as the youngest female actor ever to sign with the legendary Creative Artists' Agency (CAA), she first appeared on the big screen as a clairvoyant dominatrix in the Canadian film, LOVE AND THE HUMAN REMAINS (1993).
Of her choices to take on particular role, Kirshner says. "I find darkness more interesting than light. In darkness there's so much more texture, but light can be very beautiful."
Immediately after making her film debut, she was cast in such subsequent dark, emotional and sexual explorative films as: Atom Eyogans's EXOTICA (1995) in the role of a schoolgirl-attired lap dancer; MURDER IN THE FIRST with Christian Slater; CROW: CITY OF ANGELS (1996); MAD CITY with Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta; and ANNA KARENINA (both in 1997.)
In the early part of the new millennium, broadening her exposure, Kirshner earned recognition from a more mainstream audience with such adolescent-focused films as: NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE and ACCORDING TO SPENCER (both in 2001); MY NEW BEST FRIEND and THE INNOCENTS, as Connie Nielsen's unstable younger sister (both 2002); and PARTY MONSTER (2003) with Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green. Continuing to take on racy roles with a bi-sexual bent, she also landed a recurring role on the cult television show, "24," as Mandy, the would-be-presidential assassin with an unorthodox sexual orientation.
Worldly in many respects, of international heritage, her Bulgarian-born mother was a teacher and her father, of German-born descent, was a journalist. Apparently Kirshner, who was born in Canada, greatly benefited from her parent's livelihoods, those of both literature and education, as ultimately she attended McGill University in Montreal where chose to study Russian literature.
While being pegged as a manipulative, sexually experimental character may have never been part of Kirshner's grand plan, she seems to have mastered the part to an impressive degree....
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