Dominique Swain (born August 12, 1980)[1] is an American actress. She first came to attention as the title character in Adrian Lyne's 1997 adaptation of Lolita, alongside a supporting role in John Woo's Face/Off that same year. She worked predominantly in independent cinema throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, with credits including Girl (1998), Intern (2000), Tart (2001), and Pumpkin (2002). Subsequent credits include Alpha Dog (2006), Road to Nowhere (2010), and a succession of films in the action, thriller, and horror genres.

Dominique Swain
Swain in 2017
Born (1980-08-12) August 12, 1980 (age 44)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active1993–present
RelativesChelse Swain (sister)

Early life

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Swain attended Malibu High School in Malibu, California. Her parents separated when she was 15. She has three siblings, including actress Chelse Swain.[2]

Career

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1997–1999: Film debut and critical acclaim

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In 1995, at the age of 15, Swain was chosen out of 2,500 girls to play the title role of Dolores "Lolita" Haze in Adrian Lyne's controversial screen adaptation of the 1955 novel, Lolita.[2] Released in 1997, the film earned positive reviews from critics, with New York Magazine calling it "superior" to the Stanley Kubrick version from 1962,[3] and Caryn James of The New York Times writing that Swain's performance was "extraordinary," adding:

She is within sight of womanhood yet remains, definitely, a schoolgirl ... Ms. Swain walks this incredibly narrow line between innocent playfulness and adult knowledge without a misstep.[4]

That same year, Swain appeared as John Travolta's rebellious teenage daughter, Jamie, in John Woo's commercially successful action thriller Face/Off,[5] with a positive review from Entertainment Weekly highlighting her chemistry with Travolta.[6] Next, she headlined the 1998 drama Girl, in which she portrayed a high-schooler determined to lose her virginity. Writing for Variety, critic David Stratton called it a "well-cast, modestly effective pic" with "a bright, intelligent performance" by Swain.[7]

Speaking of finding it hard to secure roles in the wake of Lolita, a matter she attributed to typecasting, Swain later commented, "I turned down stuff specifically because of nudity, because it doesn't take a whole lot of class to yank your clothes off ... I had a body double in Lolita [so] I think the goal was 'Let's see what she really looks like.' They were sending me scripts with no substance to them."[2]

2000–2006: Independent films

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Swain had prominent roles in various independent films throughout the early 2000s—The Smokers, Intern, Pumpkin, New Best Friend—and worked on three occasions with Brad RenfroHappy Campers, Tart, The Job—prior to his death.[8] In 2006, she starred as aspiring dancer Lori Gunderson in Totally Awesome, a parody of 1980s teen movies.[9] Next, she played the supporting role of Susan Hartunian in Alpha Dog, the closing night film at that year's Sundance Film Festival.[10] A crime drama based on the murder of Nicholas Markowitz, Swain's character was inspired by Natasha Adams-Young, a key figure in the real case who was granted legal immunity in exchange for her testimony in court.[11]

2007–present: Genre films and television work

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In 2007, Swain headlined the supernatural horror film Dead Mary, which Fangoria felt was successful in setting itself apart from other entries in the genre.[12] She received praise for her performance in the 2010 thriller Road to Nowhere,[13] which Kevin Thomas described as a "stylish, shimmering neo-noir" in his review for the Los Angeles Times.[14]

 
Swain (left) with Mandalynn Carlson (2015)

Following lead roles in the straight-to-video action films The Girl from the Naked Eye, Nazis at the Center of the Earth, Skin Traffik, and Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre, Swain starred in the 2016 thriller The Wrong Roommate; her first of several appearances in the Wrong... series, an anthological group of Lifetime television films.[15]

Campaigning

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In 2001, at the age of 21, Swain posed nude for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur" campaign.[16]

Filmography

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Film

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Film work by Dominique Swain
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Face/Off Jamie Archer
Lolita Dolores "Lolita" Haze
1998 Girl Andrea Marr
2000 Intern Jocelyn Bennett
The Smokers Jefferson Roth
2001 Happy Campers Wendy
Tart Cat Storm
Mean People Suck Kate Short
2002 Pumpkin Jeanine Kryszinsky
Dead in the Water Gloria
New Best Friend Sidney Barrett
Briar Patch Inez Macbeth
2003 As Virgins Fall Ellen Denver
The Job Emily Robin
2004 The Freediver Maggie
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel Monica TV movie
Out of Season Kelly Phillips
2005 Devour Dakota Video
Journeyman Dominique
The Locrian Mode Jill Short
2006 Alpha Dog Susan Hartunian
All In Ace
Totally Awesome Lori TV movie
2007 The Pacific and Eddy Chelsea
White Air Christie
Dead Mary Kim Video
Fall Down Dead Christie Wallace
2008 Prairie Fever Abigail Video
Stiletto Nancy
Noble Things Amber Wades
Toxic Nadia
A Cat's Tale Mom (voice) Video
Capers Mercy
Borders Ashley Short
2009 Nightfall Quinn
Stuntmen Mindy Danger
2010 Road to Nowhere Nathalie Post
Trance Laura
2012 The Girl from the Naked Eye Alissa
Nazis at the Center of the Earth Dr. Paige Morgan Video
Private War LCpl. Roberts Video
2013 Blue Dream Gena
2014 The Knockout Game Citizen Short
Fatal Instinct Aly
The Lost Girls Lucy
Boudoir Colette Short
2015 Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre Honey TV movie
The Mourning The Suited Woman
No Deposit Girl in Bar
Fatal Flip Alex Saunders TV movie
Skin Traffik Anna Peel
6 Ways to Die Steph Garcia
Rock Story Sammy Carlson
Embers Woman in the Long Dress
A Horse Trail Sydney
2016 The Wrong Roommate Janice Dahl TV movie
Widows Amanda Brandt Short
The Demon in the Dark Giganta Short
Fishes 'n Loaves: Heaven Sent Reva Hutchins
The 6th Friend Heather
A Doggone Christmas Dr. Langley
A Husband for Christmas Amanda Hess TV movie
2017 The Matadors Madonna
You Can't Have It Tammy
The Fast and the Fierce Juliette
Boone: The Bounty Hunter Olivia
Hate Horses Wendy Lou Perrin
You Have a Nice Flight Ashley
The Black Room Stacy
Photographic Memory Elisa McAdams Short
Hexing Alice
Spreading Darkness Fiona Funari
2018 Battle Drone Alexandra Hayes
A Doggone Adventure Amy Hill
Astro Julie Adams
Minutes to Midnight Chloe
The Wrong Cruise Monica TV movie
For Jennifer Randi
Nazi Overlord Dr. Eris
The Wrong Teacher Beth TV movie
2019 1st Born Ingrid
Rottentail Anna Banana
Blood Craft Hilde
The Last Big Save Joan
2177: The San Francisco Love Hacker Crimes Guadalupe Santana
The Wrong Mommy Kellyanne TV movie
Eminence Hill Gretchen
2020 Chronicle of a Serial Killer Kelly Smith
Girl Lost: A Hollywood Story Beth
Meteor Moon General Hauser
2021 Obsessed with the Babysitter Silvia Cartwright TV movie
The Wrong Mr. Right Scarlett Shaw TV movie
2022 4 Horsemen: Apocalypse General Bridget Norris
Shadow Master Dewitt's Mother
2023 State of Desolation Tina AKA End Times
Secrets at the Museum Danielle TV movie

Television

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Television work by Dominique Swain
Year Title Role Notes
2005 JAG Lt. Eve Sorrens Episode: "The Sixth Juror"
2006 Ghost Whisperer Stacy Chase Episode: "Friendly Neighborhood Ghost"
2014 Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Julie White/Roger Bart/Dominique Swain/Thomas Ian Nicholas"

Music videos

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Music video work by Dominique Swain
Year Title Artist
1998 "Lullaby" Shawn Mullins
2002 "We Are All Made of Stars" Moby
2004 "Rapid Hope Loss" Dashboard Confessional
2007 "Rockstar" Nickelback

Accolades

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Accolades for Dominique Swain
Year Ceremony Category Work Result
1998 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actress Face/Off Nominated
1999 Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Actress Lolita Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss (with Jeremy Irons) Lolita Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance – Leading Young Actress Lolita Won
YoungStar Awards Best Young Actress Lolita Nominated
2003 DVD Exclusive Awards Best Actress Tart Nominated
2007 San Diego Film Festival Rising Star The Pacific and Eddy Won
Silver Lake Film Festival Best Actress The Pacific and Eddy Won
2013 Downbeach Film Festival Lifesaver Achievement Award Won
2019 Hoboken International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress The Last Big Save Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Dominique Swain - Turner Classic Movies". TCM. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Hampson, Sarah (January 5, 2002). "Skin against skin". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Leonard, John (August 3, 1998). "Vlad the Impaler". New York Magazine. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  4. ^ James, Caryn (July 31, 1998). "Revisiting a Dangerous Obsession". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "Face/Off (1997)". The Numbers. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (July 11, 1997). "Face/Off review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Stratton, David (June 8, 1998). "Girl". Variety. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  8. ^ LaBruce, Bruce (August 23, 2011). "Lost Child Stars and Drag Queens". Vice. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "DVD Review – 'VH1 Films Totally Awesome: The Unrated DVD'". Collider. November 4, 2006. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "'Alpha Dog'". Spin. January 12, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "First the movie - then the trial". The New Zealand Herald. May 30, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "Reviews: DEAD MARY and KNOCK KNOCK". Fangoria. January 10, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Road to Nowhere Review". TV Guide. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Thomas, Kevin (June 11, 2007). "Movie review: 'Road to Nowhere'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  15. ^ Nicolaou, Elena (July 27, 2020). "Vivica A. Fox Tells Us What Makes Her "Wrong" Lifetime Movies So Right". Oprah Daily. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Malkin, Marc S. (December 17, 2001). "December 17, 2001". New York Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
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