Bio for Deirdre Shavon

Deirdre Shavon is making a career out of a passion. The actress/model first fell in love with the theatre as a young child. Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia it gave her closeness to New York City and Broadway. Her parents often took her to both on and off Broadway productions. Thus her roots have been firmly grounded in the versatile theatre industry. In her first play she earned the role of Imogene Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Deirdre went on to do other musicals such as Annie, Babes in Toyland, Oliver, The Sound of Music, and, The Wizard of Oz.
Deirdre’s parents made sure that she tried new things and met new people. She says that thus us why she is such a well rounded adult. However, the well rounded actress of today was not spared from difficulties. As her interest in acting grew her All American family life came to a halt with the divorce of her parents. Though she did not let the family’s divide remove her from her passion she did come away with lessons in loyalty, forgiveness, and strength.
Deirdre continued her theatre education in college by taking classes at the University of Pittsburgh and surrounding schools. It was at this time that Deirdre took a job at a talent agency. Her supervisor urged her to have a comp card done. Deirdre had originally planned to ignore her supervisor until it occurred to her that if she didn’t try her life would never change. Yet, if she tried and succeeded things would never be the same again. With nothing to lose she leaped head shot first into modeling.
She quickly got work and did several runway shows and print ads before leaving Pittsburgh. Now that college was over choices had to be made. Deirdre decided to move. She took up residence in the DC metro area. Knowing that she wanted to continue her pursuit of acting/modeling she had to start over again. She first had to learn who she could trust and where to start. She notes this as one of the greatest difficulties that she had to face. Deirdre chose to face it without her family’s knowledge and thus without their support.
These difficulties coupled with a new city, no job, and limited funds were hard on Deirdre. She saw many days where acting seemed as though it would be a hobby and not a career. She kept her determination and drive, and work started to come. She had unending support of good friends to help inspire and motivate her.
Thinking back she says a second set of difficulties came when people in the industry began to down play her acting abilities. They saw her pretty face and nothing else. Feeling downtrodden Deirdre credits not only her supportive friends but a strong sense of self with keeping her on the straight and narrow path. She continued to work hard and it paid off.
She got a spread in Two Mundos magazine. This was quickly followed up by several runway shows for Guess, Steve Madden, Levis, and Arden B. Having decided to make 2005 a productive year she set up meetings with DC agencies. She was able to land the role of Miranda in Missy & Miranda. She was cast opposite her good friend and colleague Kristine Kelly. While filming and promoting the film at this year’s Sundance Festival Deirdre learned more about a fickle business and calls this trip a learning experience.
She knows that risks will be necessary in order to have staying power within the industry. She looks to her favorite actors for examples of strong staying power, James Caan, Charlize Theron, Meryl Strep, Shirley McClain and Sandra Bullock. They know how to stay young and reinvent themselves, which is just what Deirdre plans to do.
Deirdre is still pursuing her career with the same passion and drive to make something of herself for herself first. She says that “I need to prove to myself that I can succeed in this business. That is far more important than proving it to anyone else.”
Her determination and focus has not gone without praise. Being chosen for a project is a huge compliment to Deirdre. She knows that it means good job, she also knows that it means get ready to do more hard work. With that mentality behind her it’s easy to see that Miss Deirdre Shavon’s career is gearing up to be a promising one.

Copyright © 2006