# Charis Michelsen

Charis Elisa Michelsen /ʃærʌs/ is an American actress, a writer, an inventor, a former model and a make-up artist. Michelsen worked as a model in New York City in her early adulthood before becoming an actress. She appeared in supporting roles in the films High Art (1998), Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead (1999), and Wonder Boys (2000). Michelsen invented the first Universal Beauty Standard System which was used to create an artificial intelligence personal stylist.

## Life and career

Charis (pronounced Chær-us) Michelsen was raised in Boring, Oregon, a small town east of Portland. After high school, she moved to New York City to study art at Parsons School of Design, where a photographer for Harper's Bazaar discovered her for modeling. While attending a rock concert, Michelsen was discovered by Liv Tyler's mother Bebe Buell, who became her career manager.
Michelsen played the role of "Debby" in the 1998, award-winning film High Art, and soon after appeared in Martin Scorsese's film Bringing Out the Dead. Michelsen then went to work on the films Wonder Boys and Orphan. She eventually relocated to Los Angeles.
In 1997, Michelsen was the voice for the co-starring role of "Keri Boyer" in I Married A Strange Person, directed by Bill Plympton.
Film critics have declared Michelsen, "a bewitching young thing" -Michael Atkinson (The Village Voice),"sensuous" -Michael Tunison (BoxOffice Magazine); have said that "Charis Michelsen is beautiful, her opaque blue eyes and internal acting make her someone who critics should continue to watch." -Mike Szymanski (Variety), and have said that she has "a fetching, fainty Natalie Imbruglia-ish screen presence" -Brent Simon (Entertainment Today).
Besides Scorsese, Michelsen has worked with Nicolas Cage, Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes, Ving Rhames, and others.
Michelsen played Mrs. Wyatt Cooper (Eric Dane's wife) on an episode of the ABC television drama Gideon's Crossing. She also starred with Peter Steele in his band Type O Negative's music video "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend," and with Liv Tyler in the music video "If" by Coyote Shivers.
She was married to actor and director Josh Evans from 2003 to 2011, and is the former daughter-in-law of the late movie producer Robert Evans and actress Ali MacGraw.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | The Fountain of Death | Alison | |
| 1996 | Tromeo and Juliet | Person of the Female Persuasion with Very Good Hearing | |
| 1997 | I Married a Strange Person! | Keri Boyer | Voice role |
| 1998 | The Last Lie | | |
| 1998 | High Art | Debbie | |
| 1998 | Perfect Lies | Faith | |
| 1999 | Bringing Out the Dead | I.B.'s Girlfriend | |
| 1999 | Men in Scoring Position | Lucy Michaels | |
| 1999 | Every Messiah Is a Liar | | |
| 1999 | Dead Man's Tango | Zia | |
| 2000 | Wonder Boys | Carrie | |
| 2000 | The Price of Air | Anne | |
| 2001 | Orphan | Anna | |
| 2001 | Gideon's Crossing | Mrs. Wyatt Cooper | Episode: "A Routine Case" |
| 2001 | Home Sweet Hoboken | Twyla | |
| 2001 | Eight | Edie | Short film |
| 2003 | Piggie | Robin | |
| 2005 | Erosion | Irene | |
| 2005 | Che Guevara | American Reporter | |
| 2009 | Everybody Dies | Nina Conrad | |
| 2011 | Grace Paine: The Bombay Beach Incident | Grace Paine | Short film |
| 2018 | The Dare | Lead | Short film |

### Music videos

| Year | Song | Artist |
| 1995 | "Technova" | Towa Tei |
| 1996 | "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend" | Type O Negative |
| 1996 | "Neptune Avenue" | Sammy (band) |
| 1997 | "If" | Coyote Shivers |
| 2007 | "Lie" | Black Light Burns |