Monica Keena
Encyclopedia
Monica C. Keena is an American
actress, known for her roles as Abby Morgan on Dawson's Creek
, Rachel Lindquist on the short-lived comedy Undeclared
, Kristin on HBO's Entourage
, and as Lori Campbell in Freddy vs. Jason
.
, the daughter of Mary, a nurse, and William Keena, a financial sales manager. She was raised in Brooklyn
, New York City
, and has an older sister named Samantha. During her early childhood (and again at the end of high school), Keena attended Saint Ann's School, a progressive private school in Brooklyn Heights. She auditioned for acceptance into LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts
at age thirteen. Although she chose the drama department as her preference, she was accepted in both the dramatic and the vocal arts departments. Soon after starting her classes at LaGuardia, Keena played in her first role in a short film, "Burning Love
".
The Father with Al Pacino
, and had her first starring role playing Snow White
against Sigourney Weaver
's wicked queen in the folktale-inspired Snow White: A Tale of Terror
. She has appeared in numerous television and movie projects including the TBS Original Movie First Daughter
and Crime and Punishment in Suburbia
which appeared at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival
.
Monica appeared in the film While You Were Sleeping
with Sandra Bullock
, The Simian Line
with Harry Connick Jr. and Lynn Redgrave
, and Bad Girls From Valley High
with Julie Benz
and Jonathan Brandis
in his final film role before his death in 2003 (the film was eventually released straight to DVD in 2005). In 2003 she played the heroine, Lori Campbell, in Freddy vs. Jason. In 2006 she played Celia in the film Left in Darkness
.
Keena had a recurring role as Abby Morgan on Dawson's Creek
and a starring role on the short-lived Undeclared
as the college student Rachel. Keena also had guest roles on series such as Law & Order
, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
, Homicide: Life on the Street
, Feds
, and Entourage
. On the hit ABC medical drama
Grey's Anatomy
, Monica appeared in an episode of the second season titled "Into You Like A Train," in which she played Bonnie, a patient who was severely injured in a massive train accident. She later reappeared in the third season episode "Some Kind of Miracle", reprising her role as Bonnie.
Keena appears as Maddie Curtis in Adam Gierasch's straight-to-video 2010 remake Night of the Demons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, known for her roles as Abby Morgan on Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
, Rachel Lindquist on the short-lived comedy Undeclared
Undeclared
Undeclared is an American sitcom that aired on Fox during the 2001–02 season.- Premise :The half-hour comedy was Judd Apatow's follow-up to his earlier television series Freaks and Geeks, which also lasted for one season...
, Kristin on HBO's Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
, and as Lori Campbell in Freddy vs. Jason
Freddy vs. Jason
Freddy vs. Jason is a 2003 American slasher film directed by Ronny Yu. The film is a crossover between the A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises...
.
Early life
Keena was born in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, the daughter of Mary, a nurse, and William Keena, a financial sales manager. She was raised in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and has an older sister named Samantha. During her early childhood (and again at the end of high school), Keena attended Saint Ann's School, a progressive private school in Brooklyn Heights. She auditioned for acceptance into LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located near Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in the Lincoln Center district of Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue...
at age thirteen. Although she chose the drama department as her preference, she was accepted in both the dramatic and the vocal arts departments. Soon after starting her classes at LaGuardia, Keena played in her first role in a short film, "Burning Love
Burning Love
"Burning Love" is a song written by Dennis Linde, first recorded by Arthur Alexander, who included it on his self-titled 1971 album, and made famous by Elvis Presley, who took it to #2 in the United States in 1972...
".
Career
Keena portrayed Bertha in a stage reading of Strindberg'sAugust Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
The Father with Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
, and had her first starring role playing Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
against Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress. She is best known for her critically acclaimed role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition .Other notable roles include Dana...
's wicked queen in the folktale-inspired Snow White: A Tale of Terror
Snow White: A Tale of Terror
Snow White: A Tale of Terror is a 1997 horror film based on the Snow White fairy tale. It stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill and Monica Keena. The original music score is composed by John Ottman...
. She has appeared in numerous television and movie projects including the TBS Original Movie First Daughter
First Daughter (1999 film)
First Daughter is a 1999 action/romance television movie starring Mariel Hemingway, Gregory Harrison, Doug Savant and Diamond Dallas Page, with Monica Keena as the title role...
and Crime and Punishment in Suburbia
Crime and Punishment in Suburbia
Crime and Punishment in Suburbia is a 2000 film directed by Rob Schmidt and starring Monica Keena , Ellen Barkin , Michael Ironside , James DeBello and Vincent Kartheiser ....
which appeared at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Monica appeared in the film While You Were Sleeping
While You Were Sleeping
While You Were Sleeping is a 1995 romantic comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Daniel G. Sullivan and Frederic Lebow. It stars Sandra Bullock as Lucy, a Chicago Transit Authority token collector and Bill Pullman as Jack, the brother of a man whose life she saves, along with Peter...
with Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Annette Bullock is an Academy Award winning American actress and producer who rose to fame in the 1990s after roles in successful films such as Demolition Man, Speed, The Net, A Time to Kill, and While You Were Sleeping. She continued with films such as Miss Congeniality, The Lake House,...
, The Simian Line
The Simian Line
The Simian Line is an American improvisational film, released in NY/LA in 2001. It was filmed over an eleven day period. The ensemble cast includes Harry Connick, Jr., Cindy Crawford, Tyne Daly, William Hurt, Monica Keena, Samantha Mathis, Lynn Redgrave, Jamey Sheridan and Eric Stoltz.-Plot:When...
with Harry Connick Jr. and Lynn Redgrave
Lynn Redgrave
Lynn Rachel Redgrave, OBE was an English actress.A member of the well-known British family of actors, Redgrave trained in London before making her theatrical debut in 1962...
, and Bad Girls From Valley High
Bad Girls From Valley High
Bad Girls from Valley High is a 2004 direct-to-video comedy horror film starring Julie Benz, Monica Keena, Nicole Bilderback, Jonathan Brandis, and Janet Leigh...
with Julie Benz
Julie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
and Jonathan Brandis
Jonathan Brandis
Jonathan Gregory Brandis was an American actor, director, and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Brandis was born in Danbury, Connecticut, the only child of Mary, a teacher and personal manager, and Gregory Brandis, a food distributor and firefighter. He began his career as a child model and...
in his final film role before his death in 2003 (the film was eventually released straight to DVD in 2005). In 2003 she played the heroine, Lori Campbell, in Freddy vs. Jason. In 2006 she played Celia in the film Left in Darkness
Left in Darkness
Left in Darkness is a 2006 horror film produced by IDT Entertainment, and Soul Eaters Productions Inc. The film stars Monica Keena, David Anders, Jessica Stroup, and Travis Van Winkle.-Plot:...
.
Keena had a recurring role as Abby Morgan on Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
and a starring role on the short-lived Undeclared
Undeclared
Undeclared is an American sitcom that aired on Fox during the 2001–02 season.- Premise :The half-hour comedy was Judd Apatow's follow-up to his earlier television series Freaks and Geeks, which also lasted for one season...
as the college student Rachel. Keena also had guest roles on series such as Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
, Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...
, Feds
Feds
Feds is a 1988 comedy film written and directed by Daniel Goldberg, and starring Rebecca De Mornay and Mary Gross.-Plot details:Ellie DeWitt is a former U.S. Marine who wants to become an FBI Agent. However, where she has the physical skills, she doesn't have as much success in memorizing all the...
, and Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
. On the hit ABC medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, Monica appeared in an episode of the second season titled "Into You Like A Train," in which she played Bonnie, a patient who was severely injured in a massive train accident. She later reappeared in the third season episode "Some Kind of Miracle", reprising her role as Bonnie.
Keena appears as Maddie Curtis in Adam Gierasch's straight-to-video 2010 remake Night of the Demons.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story | Oksana Baiul Oksana Baiul Oksana Serhiyivna Baiul is a Ukrainian professional figure skater. She is the 1994 Olympic Champion in Ladies' Singles and 1993 World Champion.-Early and personal life:... |
TV movie |
| 1995 | Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Corey Russell | Episode: "Performance" |
| While You Were Sleeping While You Were Sleeping While You Were Sleeping is a 1995 romantic comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Daniel G. Sullivan and Frederic Lebow. It stars Sandra Bullock as Lucy, a Chicago Transit Authority token collector and Bill Pullman as Jack, the brother of a man whose life she saves, along with Peter... |
Mary Callaghan | ||
| 1996 | Ripe Ripe (film) Ripe is a 1996 American independent drama film released in 1997. It was the first film written & directed by Mo Ogrodnik & starred Monica Keena & Daisy Eagan.- Plot :... |
Violet | |
| 1997 | Feds Feds (TV series) Feds was a short-lived television series that aired on CBS from March 5, 1997 to April 9, 1997. It was created by Dick Wolf, the creator of Law & Order, and starred Blair Brown and Dylan Baker. Michael S. Chernuchin was also an executive producer for the project... |
Tina Walters | Episode: "Somebody's Lyin" |
| Homicide: Life on the Street Homicide: Life on the Street Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale... |
Billie Rader | Episode: "Double Blind" | |
| Snow White: A Tale of Terror Snow White: A Tale of Terror Snow White: A Tale of Terror is a 1997 horror film based on the Snow White fairy tale. It stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill and Monica Keena. The original music score is composed by John Ottman... |
Lily Hoffman | TV movie | |
| The Devil's Advocate The Devil's Advocate (film) The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American horror film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman.... |
Alessandra Cullen | ||
| 1998 | The Hairy Bird The Hairy Bird The Hairy Bird , also released under the titles Strike! and All I Wanna Do , is a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Sarah Kernochan... |
Tinka Parker | AKA, Strike! |
| Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons... |
Abby Morgan | 14 episodes (1998–1999) | |
| 1999 | First Daughter First Daughter (1999 film) First Daughter is a 1999 action/romance television movie starring Mariel Hemingway, Gregory Harrison, Doug Savant and Diamond Dallas Page, with Monica Keena as the title role... |
Jess Hayes | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Simian Line The Simian Line The Simian Line is an American improvisational film, released in NY/LA in 2001. It was filmed over an eleven day period. The ensemble cast includes Harry Connick, Jr., Cindy Crawford, Tyne Daly, William Hurt, Monica Keena, Samantha Mathis, Lynn Redgrave, Jamey Sheridan and Eric Stoltz.-Plot:When... |
Marta | |
| Crime and Punishment in Suburbia Crime and Punishment in Suburbia Crime and Punishment in Suburbia is a 2000 film directed by Rob Schmidt and starring Monica Keena , Ellen Barkin , Michael Ironside , James DeBello and Vincent Kartheiser .... |
Roseanne Skolnick | ||
| 2001 | Undeclared Undeclared Undeclared is an American sitcom that aired on Fox during the 2001–02 season.- Premise :The half-hour comedy was Judd Apatow's follow-up to his earlier television series Freaks and Geeks, which also lasted for one season... |
Rachel Lindquist | 17 episodes (2001–2003) |
| 2002 | Orange County Orange County (film) Orange County is a 2002 American comedy film starring Colin Hanks and Jack Black. It was released on January 11, 2002. The movie was distributed by Paramount Pictures and produced by MTV Films and Scott Rudin. The movie was directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Mike White.-Plot:Shaun Brumder is a... |
Gretchen | |
| 2003 | King of the Hill King of the Hill King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas... |
Rain / Maria (voice) Becky / Bartender (voice) |
Episode: "I Never Promised You an Organic Garden" Episode: "Night and Deity" |
| Freddy vs. Jason Freddy vs. Jason Freddy vs. Jason is a 2003 American slasher film directed by Ronny Yu. The film is a crossover between the A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises... |
Lori Campbell | ||
| 2004 | Entourage Entourage (TV series) Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons... |
Kristen | 6 episodes (2004–2005) |
| 2005 | Bad Girls from Valley High Bad Girls From Valley High Bad Girls from Valley High is a 2004 direct-to-video comedy horror film starring Julie Benz, Monica Keena, Nicole Bilderback, Jonathan Brandis, and Janet Leigh... |
Brooke | |
| Man of the House Man of the House (2005 comedy film) Man of the House is a 2005 crime comedy film directed by Stephen Herek, written by John J. McLaughlin and Scott Lobdell, and starring Tommy Lee Jones. The main plot revolves around Lt... |
Evie | ||
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama... |
Beatrice Onorato Mailer | Episode: "Death Roe Death Roe "Death Roe" is a fourth season episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Plot summary:In this episode, Detectives Goren and Eames investigate the murder of a female restaurant critic found beaten to death.... " |
|
| Long Distance | Nicole Freeman | ||
| Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Bonnie Crasnoff | Episode: "Into You Like a Train Into You Like a Train "Into You Like a Train" is the sixth episode of the second season of the ABC series, Grey's Anatomy. The episode was written by Krista Vernoff and was directed by Jeff Melman. It originally aired on Sunday October 30, 2005, running for 43:07 min.-Starring:*Ellen Pompeo as Dr... " |
|
| 2006 | Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... |
Heidi Peyton | Episode: "More Than This" |
| Fifty Pills Fifty Pills Fifty Pills is the debut feature film of director Theo Avgerinos, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.-Plot:... |
Petunia | ||
| The Lather Effect | Warm Leatherette Babe #1 | ||
| Left in Darkness Left in Darkness Left in Darkness is a 2006 horror film produced by IDT Entertainment, and Soul Eaters Productions Inc. The film stars Monica Keena, David Anders, Jessica Stroup, and Travis Van Winkle.-Plot:... |
Celia | Video | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer... |
Madeline | Episode: "Built to Kill, Part 2" | |
| All She Wants for Christmas | Judith 'Noelle' Dunn | TV movie | |
| 2007 | Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... |
Bonnie Crasnoff | Episode: "Some Kind of Miracle" |
| Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts... |
Holly Newman | Episode: "Deja Boo" | |
| Brooklyn Rules Brooklyn Rules Brooklyn Rules is a 2007 film starring Alec Baldwin, Scott Caan, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jerry Ferrara, and Mena Suvari. The film was directed by Michael Corrente and written by Terence Winter.-Plot:... |
Amy | ||
| 2008 | Loaded Loaded (2008 film) Loaded is a 2008 American drama/crime film directed by Alan Pao.-Cast:*Jesse Metcalfe as Tristan Price*Corey Large as Sebastian*Monica Keena as Brooke*Nathalie Kelley as April*Chace Crawford as Hayden Price*Johnny Messner as Javon... |
Brooke | |
| Corporate Affairs | Snowy Egret | ||
| The Narrows The Narrows (2008 film) The Narrows is an American 2008 independent film starring Kevin Zegers, Sophia Bush, Vincent D'Onofrio, Eddie Cahill and Monica Keena.-Plot:... |
Gina | ||
| 2009 | Robot Chicken Robot Chicken Robot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show... |
Executive / Woman (voice) | Episode: "President Hu Forbids It" |
| 2010 | Night of the Demons | Maddie Curtis | Direct-to-DVD. Makes out with a girl |
| Private Practice | Kayla | Episode: "Triangles" Episode: "Pulling the Plug" Episode: "Eyes Wide Open" |
|
| Remnants | Elizabeth | ||
| 2012 | Manson Girls | Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme |