Sheetal Sheth

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Sheetal Sheth
Sheetal Sheth
Born June 24 [1]
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Alma mater NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Occupation Actress / Producer
Website
www.sheetalsheth.com

Sheetal Sheth (English pronunciation: /ˈʃiːθəlˈʃɛθ/) is an American actress and producer, recognized for her challenging, provocative roles in film and television. Perhaps best known to mainstream audiences for starring opposite Albert Brooks in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, Sheth has become a favorite in the independent film world, known for her critical eye when choosing projects. She debuted in the groundbreaking films ABCD and American Chai, and has earned a loyal following for her award-winning performances in the cult films I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen.

Sheth has also earned a reputation as someone who is heavily involved in community outreach and causes that are important to her. She takes an active interest in politics, she's served in AmeriCorps, she participates in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles as a Big Sister, and she supports and promotes organizations such as Women's Voices Now which encourage communities that are under-represented in American media to make their voices heard. She also regularly speaks on panels and forums internationally.


Contents

[edit] Early Life

Born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Sheetal Sheth is first generation American. Her father, a chemical engineer, and her mother came to the United States from Gujarat, India in 1972.[2] The second of three children, Sheth has an older sister and a younger brother. When she was twelve, her family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where her parents still reside.[1] As a youth she traveled to India frequently with her family, and continues to visit family there regularly.[3] English is her primary language, but she is fluent in Gujarati, and has studied Hindi, French and Spanish.[4]

Sheth was raised in the Jain spiritual tradition. Her father was active in the local Hindu community, and in her teens Sheth took a leadership role in the Hindu youth organization, serving as president and encouraging others to participate.[5] She led volunteering projects, fundraisers, panel discussions, and taught young children dance.

As a child, Sheth loved performing and watching TV and films, but academics were her priority. She also studied multicultural dance[6] and was very involved in athletics, particularly basketball.[7]

In high school, friends encouraged her to audition for the school play. She was offered the lead in the production of "Slight Indulgences".[8] Although rehearsals conflicted with basketball practice, she accepted the role. However, she was very disappointed with her performance. Although she excelled at academics, dance and sports, acting did not feel natural to her. For the first time she felt truly challenged. Accepting the challenge, she began to study, determined to learn and excel at acting. As she studied, her passion for the craft grew, and she soon realized she wanted to make acting her life's work.[9]

[edit] Education

Although her parents were devout Jains and active in the local Hindu community, they enrolled Sheth in Catholic elementary school because of its superior focus on academics and reputation for toughness.[2] Sheth attended Catholic school until age 12, when her family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.[3]

Sheth attended Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), where she was very involved in school organizations and student government, serving on the student advisory board. She received the Student Government Award for her contribution to the school[10], and was one of two students invited to speak at her 1994 commencement.[11]

While in high school, Sheth discovered her passion for acting and was determined to master the craft through study and performance. After considering a variety of undergraduate programs, Sheth applied to the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.[2] She was accepted and awarded a scholarship to attend.[12]

At Tisch Sheth trained extensively in Lee Strasberg's method acting. She studied the classics - her favorite works included Antigone and The Crucible.[13] She spent a summer abroad in Amsterdam as part of the intensive International Theatre Workshop, studying under such renowned acting teachers as Kristin Linklater. Sheth excelled in her studies, earning the honor of being selected to participate in the Tisch Scholar's Program.

While at Tisch Sheth also continued her history of service to her community. She was selected to be a part of AmeriCorps, a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Through Americorps, she worked at an inner-city high school, developing progressive lesson plans, tutoring, and dealing with conflict resolution.[14]

After graduating from Tisch with honors,[1] Sheth continued her studies even as she built a successful career. In New York she studied with Wynn Handman, one of the founders of The American Place Theatre. In Los Angeles she attended weekly invitation-only classes with renowned acting instructor Milton Katselas until his death in 2008.[15]

[edit] Career

Sheth played the lead in ABCD. She starred and danced in "((American Chai))" which won the Audience Award at the Slamdance and Gen Art Film Festivals. She was brought on to play opposite Kal Penn and Mimi Rogers in "((Dancing with Twilight))" and appeared in Shangri-La Entertainment's film "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World" as the female lead, Maya, opposite Albert Brooks. Her films "I Can't Think Straight" and "The World Unseen" won 11 SAFTA's (South African equivalent to the Oscars) and many international awards. Her latest films include "Three Veils", "Stalemate", and "Reign".

[edit] Awards

Best Actress for role in Wings Of Hope at Cinevue Film Festival, 2003.

Best Actress for role in The World Unseen at the Gran Canaria Film Festival, Spain, 2009.

Best Actress for role in The World Unseen at the Festival del Mar, Ibiza 2009.

Best Leading Performance Award for role in The World Unseen at Out Takes Film Festival, Dallas 2009.

[edit] Filmography

Acting performances in film and television
Year Title Role Notes
01999 1999 ABCD at the Internet Movie Database Nina
02001-02-01 February 1, 20012001 American Chai at the Internet Movie Database Maya Choreographer
02001-04-01 April 1, 20012001 The Princess & the Marine at the Internet Movie Database Layla TV movie
02001-06-01 June 1, 20012001 A Pocket Full of Dreams at the Internet Movie Database Sanjana
02001-08-01 August 1, 20012001 Wings of Hope at the Internet Movie Database Kaajal Verma Winner, Best Actress
Cinevue Film Festival, 2003
02003-02-01 February 1, 20032003 The Agency at the Internet Movie Database Layla - Jamar
Akil's sister		 TV series
02003-04-01 April 1, 20032003 Beat Cops at the Internet Movie Database Gwen Lampoor TV movie
02003-06-01 June 1, 20032003 Line of Fire at the Internet Movie Database Fathima TV series
02004-02-01 February 1, 20042004 Strong Medicine at the Internet Movie Database Shaheena TV series
02004-04-01 April 1, 20042004 Indian Cowboy at the Internet Movie Database Sapna
02004-06-01 June 1, 20042004 The Proud Family at the Internet Movie Database Radhika TV series
02005-02-01 February 1, 20052005 Dancing in Twilight at the Internet Movie Database Nicole
02005-04-01 April 1, 20052005 Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World Maya
02007-02-01 February 1, 20072007 The Singles Table at the Internet Movie Database Martina TV series
02007-04-01 April 1, 20072007 The Trouble with Romance Nicole
02007-06-01 June 1, 20072007 First Fear Maya
02008-02-01 February 1, 20082008 I Can't Think Straight Leyla Nominated, Best Actress
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Dallas, 2010
02008-04-01 April 1, 20082008 The World Unseen Amina Harjan Winner, Best Actress
Gran Canaria Film Festival, Spain, 2009

Winner, Best Actress

Festival del Mar, Ibiza, 2009

Winner, Best Leading Performance

Out Takes Film Festival, Dallas, 2009
02009 2009 Why Am I Doing This? at the Internet Movie Database Nira
02010-02-01 February 1, 20102010 StaleMate at the Internet Movie Database Kayleigh Nominated, Best Actress
Staten Island Film Festival, 2011
02010-04-01 April 1, 20102010 Nip/Tuck at the Internet Movie Database Aria TV series
02011-02-01 February 1, 20112011 Three Veils Nikki
02011-04-01 April 1, 20112011 Being Bin Laden at the Internet Movie Database Nabeelah TV movie
02011-06-01 June 1, 20112011 Royal Pains Raina Saluja TV series
02011-08-01 August 1, 20112011 NCIS: Los Angeles Shari Al-Kousa TV series
02011-10-01 October 1, 20112011 Johnny Bravo voice of Sumi,
Shark		 TV series (animated)
02012-02-01 February 1, 20122012 Yes, We're Open at the Internet Movie Database Elena
02012-04-01 April 1, 20122012 Nice Girls Crew Leena
02012-06-01 June 1, 20122012 The Wisdom Tree at the Internet Movie Database Dr. Trisha Rao
02012-08-01 August 1, 20122012 Reign at the Internet Movie Database Fadwa Co-Producer

[edit] Citations

  1. ^ a b c Song, Jenny. "Sheetal Sheth - Gorgeous and Grounded"
  2. ^ a b c Melwani, Lavina. "Lethal Sheetal"
  3. ^ a b Sharma, Jaya. "Simply Sheetal"
  4. ^ Metal, Sheena; Sheth, Sheetal: time 19:17
  5. ^ Pais, Arthur. "Sheetal Sheth"
  6. ^ McManus, Bridget; Sheth, Sheetal - Part 1 of 3: time 1:54
  7. ^ Roy, Sandip. "Straddling Cultures"
  8. ^ Longsdorf, Amy. "Ray of Sunshine": p. 1
  9. ^ Girn, Raj. "Out in the Open with Sheetal Sheth"
  10. ^ 'Transcend Mediocrity,' Liberty Graduates Told, p. 3
  11. ^ 'Transcend Mediocrity,' Liberty Graduates Told, p. 1
  12. ^ 'Transcend Mediocrity,' Liberty Graduates Told, p. 2
  13. ^ Metal, Sheena; Sheth, Sheetal: time 31:05
  14. ^ I Can't Think Straight - Cast - Sheetal Sheth
  15. ^ Metal, Sheena; Sheth, Sheetal: time 23:38

[edit] References

[edit] External links


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