Career
Simmons wanted to become an actress at the age of three but waited until she turned five to pursue a career. She started modeling and appeared in commercials. Simmons' breakthrough was the notable role of Laurie Anne Winterbarger in the award-winning Stephen King's It. She went on to star in the award-nominated family film Bingo, her first theatrical release, and appeared in several television shows as a child star.
Simmons returned to acting seven years later, giving up her modeling career. Simmons played guest appearances on multiple shows before portraying recurring roles in the MTV show MTV'S Now What? and Crystal in Edgemont for 11 episodes. Simmons has also starred in a number of television films, including the 2002 remake of Carrie. Due to Simmons' many roles in the horror genre, such as the television films Snakehead Terror and Chupacabra: Dark Seas, she is considered a modern day scream queen.
In 2005, Simmons was cast in the comedy film The Long Weekend, her first theatrical release in over 10 years. The following year, Simmons starred in the 2006 horror film Final Destination 3, the third installment in the popular Final Destination Franchise. Simmons portrayed the popular cheerleader Ashley Freund, possibly her best-known role to date. The film received mixed reviews but was a success at the box office and was nominated for awards. Simmons also starred in the Direct-to-DVD sequel Dr. Dolittle 3 before appearing in small roles in the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die and the horror Wind Chill.
Simmons won the role of recurring character Hillary Shepard in the ABC Family show Kyle XY. She portrayed Hillary for three years until the show was canceled in 2009 after three seasons. Simmons also had a recurring role in the short-lived comedy series About a Girl. Simmons continued her film roles in Good Luck Chuck alongside Dane Cook and Jessica Alba. The film was critically panned. Simmons portrayed Lindsay Lohan in the television film Paparazzi Princess: The Paris Hilton Story. In 2010, Simmons had a small role as a lotus eater in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. The film grossed $226,497,209 worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film Simmons has appeared in to date. Simmons also starred in the critically well received and award winning comedy-horror film Tucker & Dale vs Evil.
Simmons landed a regular role on the The L.A. Complex as Alicia Lowe, "a sensitive, aspiring dancer from Regina who will do whatever it takes to make ends meet." The show premiered on the Canadian network MuchMusic on Jan. 10, 2012. and aired in the U.S. on The CW. Simmons became a guest star during the shows second season.
Simmons will lend her voice to the upcoming children's animated television show Action Dad set to premiere sometime in 2012. Simmons has been cast in Hannibal, which is to air on NBC. She will reprise her role as Gretchen Speck, in which she protrayed in the short lived series Wonderfalls.
Read more about this topic: Chelan Simmons
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“I restore myself when I’m alone. A career is born in public—talent in privacy.”
—Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)
“Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye.”
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964)
“From a hasty glance through the various tests I figure it out that I would be classified in Group B, indicating “Low Average Ability,” reserved usually for those just learning to speak the English Language and preparing for a career of holding a spike while another man hits it.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)