Mena Suvari

**Mena Alexandra Suvari** (born February 13, 1979) is an American actress, fashion designer, and model. She began acting in guest roles on 1990s television programs such as _Boy Meets World_ and _High Incident_. She made her movie debut in the 1997 drama movie _Nowhere_.

Her first major movie roles were in _American Beauty_ and _American Pie_. Both of these moves were in 1999. She was nominated for a BAFTA Award for _American Beauty_. Next she was in _Loser_ (2000), with her _American Pie_ co-star, Jason Biggs. In 2001, she played the main character in the comedy movie _Sugar & Spice_. She was in the 2002 drama _Spun_ and the 2004 thriller _Trauma_. She was also in the HBO's drama series _Six Feet Under_ in 2004. While working on this series, she was nominated as a member of cast by the Screen Actors Guild for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" in 2005.  In 2008, she was cast in a many movies. These incude _Day of the Dead_, _The Mysteries of Pittsburgh_, and the movie version of _The Garden of Eden_.

Suvari is a model for Lancôme cosmetics. She has been in many fashion blogs and magazines such as _Vogue_. She is an activist for the African relief organization, the African Medical and Research Foundation. Feminist issues are also important to her.  She works with charities whose cause is breast cancer, and "End Violence Against Women" campaign.

## Early life

Suvari was born in Newport, Rhode Island. She is the daughter of Candice, a nurse, and Ando Süvari, a psychiatrist. Her mother is half Greek and her father is part Estonian. She has three older brothers.

Her family moved Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up, Mena wanted to be an archaeologist, astronaut or doctor. A modeling agency came to her all-girls school, Ashley Hall, to offer classes. By the time she started acting, she had been modeling for the New York-based Wilhelmina agency for five years.

After moving to the Los Angeles area, Suvari studied at Providence High School in Burbank. She graduated in 1997.

## Personal life

Suvari married German-born cinematographer Robert Brinkmann on March 4, 2000. Brinkmann was seventeen years older than her. They divorced in May 2005.

In 2007, Suvari began dating Italian-Canadian concert promoter Simone Sestito. She met him at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. They were married on June 26, 2010 in Rome. They chose Rome because most of Sestito's family lives near the city. On January 13, 2012, Suvari said she wanted a divorce from Sestito. The divorce became final in October 2012.

In late 2017, Suvari became a vegan for ethical reasons. Since then she only uses cruelty-free and environmentally friendly products.

In October 2018, she married her boyfriend Michael Hope.

## Filmography

|Year|Title|Role|class="unsortable"|Notes|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1997|_Kiss the Girls_|Coty Pierce|||
|1997|_Snide and Prejudice_|Geli Raubal|||
|1997|_Nowhere_|Zoe|||
|1998|_Slums of Beverly Hills_|Rachel Hoffman|||
|1999|_American Pie_|Heather|Young Hollywood Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performance (also for _American Beauty_)||
|1999|__|Lisa Parker|||
|1999|_American Beauty_|Angela Hayes|Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Young Hollywood Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performance (also for _American Pie_) Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Performance||
|2000|_Loser_|Dora Diamond|||
|2000|_American Virgin_|Katrina Bartalotti|||
|2001|__|Francesca Bonacieux|||
|2001|_American Pie 2_|Heather|||
|2001|_Sugar & Spice_|Kansas Hill|||
|2002|_Sonny_|Carol|||
|2002|_Spun_|Cookie|||
|2004|_Trauma_|Charlotte|||
|2004|_Standing Still_|Lana|||
|2005|_Edmond_|Prostitute|||
|2005|_Rumor Has It_|Annie|||
|2005|_Domino_|Kimmie|||
|2005|_Beauty Shop_|Joanne Marcus|||
|2006|_Factory Girl_|Richie Berlin|||
|2006|_Orpheus_|Sue Ellen|||
|2006|_Caffeine_|Vanessa|||
|2006|__||||
|2006|_Final Fantasy VII Advent Children_|Aerith Gainsborough|Voice||
|2007|_Brooklyn Rules_|Ellen|||
|2007|_Stuck_|Brandi|||
|2008|_Day of the Dead_|Sarah Cross|||
|2008|__|Phlox Lombardi|||
|2008|__|Catherine Bourne|||
|2010|_You May Not Kiss the Bride_|Tonya|||
|2010|_No Surrender_|Amelia Davis|||
|2012|_American Reunion_|Heather|_post-production_||
|2023|_Fireflies at El Mozote_|Sarah|||

|Year|title|Role|class="unsortable"|Notes|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1995–1996|_Boy Meets World_|Laura|Episodes "Danger Boy" and "The Grass Is Always Greener"||
|1996|_Minor Adjustments_|Emily|Episode "A Fish Story"||
|1996|_ER_|Laura-Lee Armitage|Episode "Last Call"||
|1996–1997|_High Incident_|Jill Marsh|3 episodes||
|1997|_Chicago Hope_|Ivy Moore|Episode "Sympathy for the Devil"||
|1999|_Atomic Train_|Grace Seger|TV movie||
|2004|_Six Feet Under_|Edie|7 episodes Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series||
|2008|_Sex and Lies in Sin City_|Sandy Murphy|TV movie||
|2010|_Psych_|Allison Cowley|Episode "Yang 3 in 2D" (5.16)||
|2011|_The Cape_|Dice|Episode "Dice" (1.05)||
|2011|_American Horror Story_|Elizabeth Short|2 episodes: "Spooky Little Girl" and "Afterbirth"||

## Infobox (person)

- **image**: Mena Suvari 2012.jpg
- **caption**: Suvari, 2012
- **birth name**: Mena Alexandra Suvari
- **birth place**: Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
- **occupation**: Actress, fashion designer, model
- **years active**: 1995–present
- **spouse**: Robert Brinkmann
(m. 2000–2005, divorced)
Simone Sestito (m. 2010–2012, divorced)
Michael Hope (m. 2018 -)