Season: Spring

Restaurant: Sushi

Breakfast Food: I never eat breakfast.  I usually have a protein shake, with all the fruits or vegetables. I don’t mix the two.

Band: Guns n Roses

Hobby: Basketball, it helps me clear my mind

iPhone or Android: iPhone

Pop or Hip Hop: Hip Hop

Talking or Texting: Texting (If the thread gets too long, I’ll just make a phone call) So many things get misconstrued in the text.

Summer or Winter: Summer (I’m done with winter! I’ve scraped the snow off my windows and I’m done with that  Vacationing in Aspen, yes, but not living in it day to day.)

Concert You Went To: Pink (she’s amazing!)

Person You Texted: Publicity agent and my mother

Vacation you Took: Kauai, Hawaii

I grew up in Michigan where my family still lives.  After Michigan, I moved to Chicago, New York City, then LA.

I loved NYC.  I love the people and the culture.  When I would screen test in Chicago, people would always tell me I needed to go to LA or NY.  I always used the excuse that in LA, everyone wanted something from you and in NY nobody has time for you.  That was my excuse.  Then you actually go there and you meet fabulous people in LA and in NY.  If you’re a good person, you will find and surround yourself with good people.  I went to NY initially intimidated, and thought wow this is a great neighborhood feel.  I found how your neighbors would help you in a snowstorm to shovel the walkways and stoops.  Everyone helps each other.  I knew the mailman’s name, the UPS guy, the laundromat guy, etc.  You have a human connection in NY.  New Yorkers are very real and I respect that.

I’m Scandinavian, Irish and a little German.  My mom is Scandinavian, with blue eyes and blonde hair.  My dad is dark with jet black hair. Maybe I need to do Ancestry.com to find out if there is anything else in me.

I do have a younger brother who still lives in Michigan.  We are completely opposite.  I’m more of an extrovert and he’s an introvert.  He’s very hands on and loves woodwork. I’ll try to work on something, screw it up and then I’ll pay someone to fix it.  I tend to think I can do it.

Yes, I have a bunch of cousins and a son who is an amazing musician.  He produces music.  He plays piano and guitar.  I think he is a beast when it comes to producing music.  His name is Kameron Christian. Please visit his website www.kameronchristian.com.  (See a picture of Shawn’s son, Kameron below in the studio)

The biggest thing I always say is to follow your heart.  Everyone has something very unique and special about themselves.  To be able to hear that voice and follow that voice.  We all reach hardships but to continue on that path with dignity and integrity.  Everyone is faced with choices.  Life is not easy.  Listen to your own voice and follow through, even when it’s hard.  When you reach a crisis and something gets difficult, what are you made of?  What choice are you going to make?  You could be having a great time when you’re getting along.  That’s easy, but when things get really hard you may feel like you don’t have a friend in the world.  Know that you do by the way and your sense of self worth will take you so many places.  Don’t let anyone define you but yourself.

Aside from commercials, it was “As the World Turns.”  It was one of the greatest learning experiences for me.  I had to figure out the production and technical part but also how to handle the press and celebrity with grace.  It definitely helped me to get where I’m at right now.

Just living my life!  I say all the time, don’t just be myopic and focused on “I want to be an actor.”  You have to live and have something to draw from.  That really was my life growing up.  I wrote little plays and loved to perform in school plays.  That’s really how I learned.  I will continue to always push myself and learn.  I’ll take my weaknesses and go ok that’s not very good and learn from it.  It’s very beneficial to work with all different producers and single camera productions, 3 camera comedy, drama, feature films from a variety of different directors.  We have had a new director for every episode on “Famous in Love.”  I’ve learned something not only about myself but what I have to offer.  For me, I never stop learning. I just love it.

I just finished filming the first season.  It’s a blessing for sure. “Famous in Love” is like Entourage but with more women and culturally diverse.  It’s a look inside the power, the fame and highs and lows of the Hollywood Business.  My character essentially owns what is “Warner Brothers” in the show.

I’m irreverent.  It’s a wonderful tone that they allow me to play with.  The producers are amazing.  There’s a lot of good energy.

She plays Paige who is thrust into this lifestyle.  She does an amazing job with this character and portrays what it would be like to experience fame from just one in the crowd.  Its a very complex journey for her and she works it so great.