Shana Dowdeswell

Shana Elizabeth Dowdeswell (1 April 1989 – 12 December 2012) was a Hollywood actress of Zimbabwean descent.

Personal life Dowdeswell was born on 1 April 1989 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Her father Roger Dowdeswell is a former professional tennis player. Her mother Laurie Smith is a film producer who produced the film The New Twenty. Shana moved to New York City, United States and attended City and Country School, PS 3, and finally PPAS High School. She started acting career at age eight, and later played Anne Frank in a production at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

She had a longtime relationship with her boyfriend Cameron Moneo. She had one younger brother, Jesse.

Shana's uncle Colin Dowdeswell is also a former professional tennis player.

Death On 7 December 2012, Shana went to a New York City Greenwich Village bar, called The Basement and drank several shots of whiskey. While returning, she stumbled and passed out on the doorstep. A dog walker discovered her unconscious body and she was rushed to Beth Israel Medical Center. After the test, it was found she had a blood alcohol content of 0.39 at the time, five times the state's legal limit for driving. She died on 12 December 2012.

Career In 2002, Shana appeared in the Frank Higgins' play Miracles and played the role of Eve, an autistic girl. In 2003 she played the role as young version of Jenna in the film 13 Going on 30. However, her acting was cut from the film after test audiences reacted negatively to the original. She later played four different characters in all three primary shows of the Law & Order franchise. Then she acted in the popular television serials such as Mercy, Family of the Year, and Body of Proof. Meanwhile, she also appeared in the films The Stream, The Winning Season, Asylum Seekers, and Choose before her death.

After her death in 2012, five films were released: The Big Wedding (2013), a short film Going South (2013), An Ornament of Faith (2013), short film Wish You Were Here (2013), and Mistress America (2015).

Filmography Year Film Role Genre Ref. 1999 Fare Well Miss Fortune uncredited Film 2002 Miracles Eve Film 2002 Garmento Shopper Film 2002 The Stream The girl Short film 2003 13 Going on 30 Young Jenna Film 2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jordan Fernholz TV series 2007 Family of the Year Tatum Sue Holloway TV series 2009 Law & Order Karen Johnson TV series 2009 The Winning Season Molly Film 2009 Asylum Seekers Girlfriend Film 2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nikki Sherman / Melissa TV series 2010 Mercy Abby Jansen TV series 2010 Mercy Abby Jansen Film 2011 Choose Sara TV series 2011 Body of Proof Maxine Hall / Maxine TV series 2013 Teamwork Like Wolves Jeanie TV series 2013 The Big Wedding Waitress Film 2013 Wish You Were Here Michelle Short film 2013 Going South Martha Short film 2015 Mistress America Ruth Film 2017 An Ornament of Faith Fatima Film