Vanessa Lee Chester

Vanessa Lee Chester (born July 2, 1984) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor in the films A Little Princess and Harriet the Spy (1996), before her breakthrough role in Steven Spielberg's The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997).

Biography Chester was born on July 2, 1984, at Brooklyn, New York City, to Guyanese parents who immigrated to the United States. In her early childhood, she relocated with her mother to Los Angeles, California, where she began auditioning for and appearing in commercials. The following year, she was cast in a lead role as Kelly in Steven Spielberg's The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), playing the daughter of Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). The film was a box office hit, grossing over $600 million worldwide. Chester later worked mostly in television, most notably appearing in Malcolm in the Middle and The West Wing. She was nominated for a Saturn Award (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Image Award (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Young Artist Award (A Little Princess) and took home the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress (Harriet The Spy). In early 2012, Chester began work on an unnamed film by Ty Hodges.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1993 CB4 Talona 1995 A Little Princess Becky 1996 Harriet the Spy Janie Gibbs 1997 The Lost World: Jurassic Park Kelly Curtis 1999 She's All That Melissa's Friend 2006 The Shift Daughter Short 2008 Extreme Movie Charlotte 2009 17 Again Cheerleader 2014 The Costume Shop Young Janie The Arrangement Emily Myers-Stanley Short 2015 Fated Eliza 2026 The Napa Boys Loretta

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1992 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Stephanie Episode: "Miracle in Oaktown" 1994 Me and the Boys Renee Episode: "Every Good Boy Does Fine" & "Talent Show" 1997 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child School Child #3 Episode: "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" Promised Land Emily Dixon Episode: "Stealing Home: Part 1 & 2" 1999 Get Real Rude Girl Episode: "Anatomy of a Rumor" 1999-2000 Once and Again Annie Recurring cast: season 1, guest: season 22000Stepsister from Planet WeirdMichelleTV movieDreams in the AtticAngel 2002 Family Law Girl #1 Episode: "Celano v. Foster" Malcolm in the Middle Student #3 Episode: "Humilithon" 2004 Crossing Jordan Andrea Episode: "Most Likely" 2005 Without a Trace Dori Episode: "Lost Time" 2006 The West Wing Youth Voter #2 Episode: "Duck and Cover" Veronica Mars Maureen Episode: "I Am God" Justice 2nd Mock Juror Episode: "Filicide" 2010 Lone Star Tamar Wilson Episode: "Small Time" 2011 9ine Candace Episode: "May" Switched at Birth Lizzy Episode: "The Stag Hunt"ReconstructionEleanorTV movie 2012 How I Met Your Mother Mia Episode: "The Autumn of Break-Ups" 2013 Welcome to Sanditon Letitia "Griff" Griffiths 4 episodes 2015 Scorpion Secretary Episode: "Cliffhanger" 2016 Ladies Like Us: The Rise of Neighborhood Watch Natalia Episode: "In a Matrix" 2021 Summer Camp Island Nancy (voice) Episode: "Betsy and the Ghost Chapter 3: There's a Racket In My Hope Chest"