Emmy Rossum

Emmy Rossum

Rossum in 2009
Background information
Birth name Emmanuelle Grey Rossum
Born September 12, 1986 (1986-09-12) (age 24)
New York City, New York U.S.
Genres Pop
Occupations Actress, singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1996–present (actress)
1993–present (singer)
Labels Geffen Records (2007–present)
Website Official Website

Emmanuelle Grey "Emmy" Rossum (born September 12, 1986) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She first starred in a string of movies including Songcatcher (2000), An American Rhapsody (2001) and Passionada (2002). Her role in Mystic River (2003) garnered her wider fame. She then starred in the blockbuster film The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and The Phantom of the Opera (2004) for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. She has since starred in Poseidon (2006), Dragonball: Evolution (2009) and Dare (2009).

In 2007, Rossum released her debut album, Inside Out. She also released a Christmas EP the same year entitled Carol of the Bells.

Contents

Early life

Rossum was born in New York City, New York,[1] the only child[2][3] of Cheryl, a single mother who worked as a corporate photographer and an investment banker. She was named after her grandfather, whose first name was Emanuel, using the feminine spelling Emmanuelle.[4] Rossum was raised by her mother and has only met her father twice. Rossum is of Dutch and Scots-Irish descent. She is Jewish.[5] She is the niece of Vera Wang, to whom she is related by marriage.

Upon singing "Happy Birthday" in 12 different keys,[6] Rossum was welcomed to join the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus by chorus director Elena Doria[7] at the age of 7.[8] Over the course of five years, she sang onstage with the chorus and had the chance to perform with other opera greats, such as Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. For $5–10 a night, Rossum sang in six different languages, in 20 different operas, including La bohème, Turandot, a Carnegie Hall presentation of La damnation de Faust and A Midsummer Night's Dream.[9] She also worked under the direction of Franco Zeffirelli in Carmen. Rossum joked in interviews that her vocal talent and affinity for music developed because her mother always listened to classical music and operas while she was pregnant with her.

By age 12, Rossum had grown too big for the children's costumes. An increasing interest in pursuing acting led to taking classes with Flo Salant Greenberg[10] of The New Actors Workshop in New York City. She also hired an agent and auditioned for many acting roles.

Career

Acting

1997 was Rossum's television debut with a guest appearance on Law & Order as Alison Martin. In 1999, she had a recurring role as the original Abigail Williams in the long-running daytime soap opera As the World Turns. She also had a guest role as Caroline Beels in Snoops. Rossum was nominated for a Young Artist Award nomination in 1999 for Best Performance in a TV Movie for her work in the made-for-tv movie Genius. Following that movie, she portrayed a young Audrey Hepburn in the ABC TV movie The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000).

Rossum made her big screen debut in 2000's Songcatcher as Deladis Slocumb, an Appalachian orphan. Debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, the film won the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. For her role, Rossum received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance and also had the opportunity to sing a duet with Dolly Parton on the Songcatcher soundtrack.

Variety magazine named Rossum as "One of the Ten to Watch" in 2000. In Nola (2003), Rossum played the title character, who was an aspiring songwriter. In her first major studio film, Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, Rossum starred as Katie Markum, the ill-fated daughter of small-business owner Jimmy Markum, played by Sean Penn. As Katie, Rossum was said to have "projected an aura of innocence that made her character's tragic death memorable and heartbreaking."[5]

Following Mystic River, Rossum had a breakthrough role as Laura Chapman in the Roland Emmerich eco-disaster film The Day After Tomorrow. She later returned to New York, where she was the last to audition, in full costume and make-up, for the coveted role of Christine Daae in the on-screen adaptation of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Following an international search for talent, and having nearly missed the audition on account of a family engagement,[11] Rossum was asked to audition in person for Webber at his home in New York. “When I arrived, he just said, ‘Shall we?’ meaning I was to sing. And I did," Rossum has said of the audition.[8] After seeing her audition, Webber felt she proved her ability to play the young opera singer who becomes the object of the phantom's obsessive love. For her role as Christine Daae, Rossum received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a musical or comedy. She is the youngest actress ever to be nominated for that particular award.[12] She also received a Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actress, along with a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor and other awards.

Rossum at the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards

In 2006, Rossum appeared in Poseidon - Wolfgang Petersen's high-budget remake of the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure. She played Jennifer Ramsey, the daughter of Kurt Russell's character, Robert Ramsey. As Jennifer, she is described as a 19-year-old heroine because she is not a damsel in distress, and is very proactive and strong in all situations.[13] Rossum also appeared as Juliet Capulet in a 2006 Williamstown Theatre Festival production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.[14]

In early 2009, Rossum appeared in Dragonball Evolution. Rossum described her action role in Dragonball as the hardest thing she's ever done.[15] Her next big screen venture was the indie Dare[16][17] which was an official selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

In December 2009, Rossum joined the cast of the Showtime drama series pilot Shameless, based on the hit British series of the same name. The pilot costars William H. Macy, Allison Janney and Justin Chatwin.[18] In April 2010, Showtime announced that they would be picking up the series for a full season of twelve episodes with production scheduled to begin in late summer 2010.[19]

Singing and recording

After her role in The Phantom of the Opera, Rossum was offered several deals to record classical albums, but refused, opting to create an album of contemporary, more mainstream music. "I was inspired to cut this album because I'm so frustrated listening to the radio these days," Rossum lamented. "There is so little emotional honesty."[6] Regarding the sound and style of her music, she said, "It's pop music, but not Britney Spears bubblegum pop. I want it to have a David Gray or Annie Lennox feel. I've been spending up to 12 hours a day in the studio."[6] Rossum cites Dolly Parton, Madonna, Cher and Barbra Streisand as some of her influences.

Rossum's album Inside Out was produced by Stuart Brawley. It was released on October 23, 2007 and peaked at 199 in the U.S. charts. For the promotion of the record, Geffen Records featured the song, "Slow Me Down," as part of the second volume of Hollywood Records' Girl Next compilation album, which was released on July 10, 2007. Later that year, she was chosen as Yahoo's "Who's Next" artist of the month and a "One to Watch" by MSN. In December 2007, Rossum released three Christmas songs on the EP Carol of the Bells.

It was also this year that Rossum sang the national anthem at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway and performed at the first ever Perez Hilton Presents event at the El Ray Theater in Hollywood. On October 27, 2007, Rossum again sang the national anthem at the New Jersey Devils's first home game of the 2007–08 NHL season, which was also the first game the team played in the newly-constructed Prudential Center.

Rossum describes herself as a lyric soprano, though she admits her voice is still developing.[20]

In the summer of 2008, Rossum announced that she was in the process of writing and recording her second studio album.[21]

She joined Counting Crows, Augustana, and Michael Franti & Spearhead as a "special guest" for select performances of the "Traveling Circus and Medicine Show" tour in the summer of 2009.

Charity Work and Public Service Campaigns

Rossum is a YouthAIDS ambassador.[12] She is also the official spokesperson for "PiNKiTUDE" - a campaign to help raise breast cancer awareness.[22] Additionally Rossum is an environmentalist. She has appeared in several Public Service Announcements for the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) Action Fund [23]. She also works with Global Green USA to raise money for environmental protection and awareness of ecological issues.[24]. On May 26, 2009, Emmy Rossum attended a march in West Hollywood California protesting the California Supreme Court's ruling to uphold Proposition 8 [25]

Personal life

Rossum is a 2001 graduate of the Spence School, a private school in Manhattan.[26] She received her high school diploma at 15 years old via online extension courses offered by Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY).[26] She currently attends Columbia University.[27]

Rossum is gluten-intolerant. She revealed her allergy to wheat to MTV News after MTV News gave her a cupcake on-camera to celebrate her 22nd birthday; she was only able to eat the frosting.[28] One of her best friends is actress Leighton Meester, a member of the Gossip Girl cast.

Rossum was married to music executive Justin Siegel for a year and a half before he filed for divorce in 2009. [29] Rossum is currently dating Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz.[30]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1996 Grace & Glorie Luanne TV Movie
1998 Only Love Lily TV Movie
1999 Genius Claire Addison TV Movie
2000 The Audrey Hepburn Story Young Audrey Hepburn TV Movie
2000 Songcatcher Deladis Slocumb Nominated-Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance
It Had to Be You Young Girl
2001 An American Rhapsody Sheila (at age 15)
Happy Now Nicky Trent / Jenny Thomas
2002 Passionada Vicky Amonte
2003 Nola Nola
Mystic River Katie Markum
2004 The Day After Tomorrow Laura Chapman Nominated-MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance
The Phantom of the Opera Christine Daae Critics Choice Award for Best Young Actress
NBR Award for Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress
Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Nominated-Golden Globe for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated-Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Nominated-OFCS Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
2006 Poseidon Jennifer Ramsey
2009 Dragonball: Evolution Bulma
Dare Alexa Walker
2010 Born to Die Joanna Fields

Television

Year Show Role Notes
1997 Law & Order Alison Martin "Ritual" (Season 8, Episode 10)
1998 A Will of Their Own Young Sarah Mini-series
1999 Snoops Caroline Beels "Separation Anxiety" (Season 1, Episode 6)
"Blood Lines" (Season 1, Episode 11)
As the World Turns Abigail Williams "Unknown Episodes"
2001 The Practice Allison Ellison "The Candidate" (Season 6, Episode 1)
2010 Shameless Fiona Gallagher

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2000 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot - Supporting Young Actress Genius Nominated
2001 Independent Spirit Award Best Debut Performance Songcatcher Nominated
2004 National Board of Review Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress The Phantom of the Opera Won
2005 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Best Performance by a Younger Actor Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Young Actress Won
Golden Globes Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Breakthrough Female The Day After Tomorrow Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Breakthrough Performance The Phantom of the Opera Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Won
2009 Savannah Film Festival Young Hollywood Award Dare Won

Discography

Studio albums
Other albums

Endorsements

References

  1. ↑ Hicks, Chris (2004-04-11). "DVD pleases 'Passionada' director". Deseret News (Salt Lake City). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20040411/ai_n11449796. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  2. ↑ "Emmy Rossum Biography (1986-)". filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/1/Emmy-Rossum.html. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  3. ↑ "Emmy Rossum biography from E! Online". http://www.eonline.com/celebrities/profile/index.jsp?uuid=7406c6c0-f42d-49b6-b8c7-046f159e83dc. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  4. ↑ Emmy Rossum Q&A
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bloom, Nate (2004-06-11). "Celebrity Jews". http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/22714/edition_id/455/format/html/displaystory.html. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Joffe, Jessica. “Emmy Rossum: Hollywood's newest It Girl.” Glamour: September 2006. p 326-7, 392
  7. ↑ "Children's Chorus Auditions". http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/auditions/childrens_chorus.aspx. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "In Step With: Emmy Rossum". Parade Magazine. December 19, 2004. http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2004/edition_12-19-2004/in_step_with_0. 
  9. ↑ Emmy Rossum : Biography
  10. ↑ http://www.emmy-online.org/emmy/index.php?Q&A1
  11. ↑ Morales, Wilson (December 2004). "Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera: An Interview with Emmy Rossum". http://www.blackfilm.com/20041217/features/emmyrossum.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Population Services International: Youthaids Ambassadors". Projects.psi.org. http://projects.psi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=YouthAmbassadors_nr. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  13. ↑ Jacobs, Evan. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Emmy Rossum Talks About Remaking The Poseidon Adventure". MovieWeb.com. http://www.movieweb.com/news/63/8963.php. Retrieved 2008-05-12. 
  14. ↑ Simonson, Robert (2006-08-02). "Austin Lysy and Emmy Rossum Are Romeo and Juliet at Williamstown, Aug. 2-13". Playbill News. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101164.html. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  15. ↑ Parade Magazine Emmy Rossum Compares New Role to Childbirth
  16. ↑ Bartyzel, Monika (2008-06-04). "Emmy Rossum Accepts the 'Dare'". Cinematical. http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/04/emmy-rossum-accepts-the-dare/. Retrieved 2008-06-09. 
  17. ↑ "Emmy Rossum". Emmy-online.org. http://www.emmy-online.org/emmy/index.php?Q&A1. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  18. ↑ "Emmy Rossum to star in Showtime pilot". Reuters. 2009-12-17. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BG0PN20091217?type=televisionNews. 
  19. ↑ http://www.sho.com/site/announcements/view.do?articleid=1021
  20. ↑ "Emmy Rossum Interview at Emmy-Rossum Fan.com". http://www.emmyrossumfan.com/interview.php. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  21. ↑ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=185709354&blogID=424018337
  22. ↑ "Actress Emmy Rossum to Act as Official Spokesperson of PiNKiTUDE". Prnewswire.com. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-13-2008/0004867250&EDATE=. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  23. ↑ http://emmyrossummedia.com/videos/19/nrdc-action-fund-commercial-emmys-spot and http://emmyrossummedia.com/videos/18/nrdc-action-fund-commercial-feat.-emmy
  24. ↑ http://www.emmyweb.net/exclusiveinterview_mel2.php
  25. ↑ http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/mV5hp9eKD9Z/CA+Court+Issue+Ruling+Constitutional+Amendment/BQnun3Z91Cd/Emmy+Rossum
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Emmy Rossum Picture, Profile, Gossip, and News". http://www.celebritywonder.com/html/emmyrossum.html. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
  27. ↑ Emmy Rossum:Rising Star Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
  28. ↑ "Emmy Rossum Races For The Cure And Gets A Birthday Surprise From MTV News.". Moviesblog.mtv.com. http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/09/12/emmy-rossum-races-for-the-cure-and-gets-a-birthday-surprise-from-mtv-news/. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
  29. ↑ "Emmy Rossum's Husband Files for Divorce". American Superstar Magazine. http://www.americansuperstarmag.com/news/emmy-rossums-husband-files-for-divorce. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  30. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/10/08/2009-10-08_new_couple_emmy_rossum_and_adam_duritz_make_sweet_music_together.html

External links