Saved!

Background:

The daughter of Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and talented Italian-born filmmaker Franco Amurri, Eva Amurri made her first on-screen appearance at age 7 in her step-father Tim Robbins’ political satire Bob Roberts (1992; written by, directed by and starred Robbins). Afterward, she often teamed with her mother, notably as Sarandon’s 9-year-old version in Dead Man Walking (1995), and as her quirky daughter in The Banger Sisters (2002). And after breaking out on her own as Sara Livey in the indie comedy Made-Up (2002), Amurri landed a bigger role as Cassandra, the lone, rebellious Jewish girl at American Eagle Christian High School, in the coming-of-age drama Saved! (2003).

The 5' 9" tall rising actress with mostly of Italian heritage with a bit of Welsh on her mother's side will play roles in the upcoming films In Bloom and The Education of Charlie Banks.


Oscar Winner’s Daughter

Childhood and Family:

In New York City, New York, Eva Maria Livia Amurri was born on March 15, 1985. She is the daughter of the acclaimed Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and talented Italian-born director Franco Amurri (of De Grande (1987) and Monkey Trouble (1994) fame). Not long after Eva’s birth, her parents parted ways. Eva later has six younger siblings from her parents’ new relationships, including half-brothers Jack Henry Robbins (born on May 15, 1989) and Miles Guthrie Robbins (born on May 4, 1992), from mother Sarandon’s relationship with actor-writer-director Tim Robbins.

Eva graduated from high school in 2003. She then studied anthropology at Brown University (class of 2007).


Made-Up

Career:

Born and grown up in a prominent Hollywood family, Eva Amurri has begun appearing in school productions and her parents’ projects since the age of 7. She made her first big screen appearance as a sick kid in a hospital in the political satire about an arch-conservative folk singer turned politician who runs for the Senate in Pennsylvania, Bob Roberts (1992), written by, directed by and starred step-father Tim Robbins.

Three years later, Amurri portrayed the 9-year-old version of mother Sarandon’s character in the crime drama Dead Man Walking (1995; also starring Sean Penn). Adapted by step-father Robbins from Helen Prejean's book, the film, which also featured Amurri’s step brothers Miles Guthrie Robbins and Jack Henry Robbins, won Sarandon the Oscar for Best Actress. About the film, Amurri recalled: "Tim said, 'You can play Mom younger.' But the movie was so violent. I wasn't allowed to see it when it was released."

In 1999, Amurri reappeared with her mother, playing girl on TV in Wayne Wang's take on Mona Simpson's book, Anywhere But Here. The coming-of-age drama about a mother and daughter search for success in Beverly Hills also stars Natalie Portman who plays Sarandon’s teen daughter.

Meanwhile, TV viewers could catch Amuri and her mother in the TV-movie version of Anne Tyler’s book, Earthly Possessions (1999). They also guest starred in a February 2001 episode of the hit sitcom "Friends" together, playing mother and daughter on the fictional "Days of Our Lives" (a la show within a show).

Amurri eventually landed her first significant role, as Ginger, the quirky daughter to Sarandon’s Lavinia, a one-time rock and roll groupie turned conservative housewife, in writer-director Bob Dolman's drama comedy The Banger Sisters (2002; also starring Goldie Hawn). The role won her a Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress at the Young Artist awards.

Also in 2002, Amurri filmed Tony Shalhoub's mockumentary about reality-TV makeover trend, Made-Up. In the indie film, she played an aspiring cosmetologist who wants to document radical makeover to her aging actress mother (played by Brooke Adams). She then starred in the dark comedy Saved!, which was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2004. In the indie satire, she played a bigger role as Cassandra, the lone, rebellious Jewish girl at American Eagle Christian High School, alongside co-stars Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin and Jena Malone.

Amurri is currently on set and will soon complete her upcoming film projects, Vadim Perelman's adaptation of Laura Kasischke's novel, In Bloom, a drama-thriller starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood, and Fred Durst's drama film, The Education of Charlie Banks.

“The thought of not acting for four years straight… I just can't think that way. I'm trying to act in the summers, but if I have to take a semester or two off I am totally willing to do that!" Eva Amurri.

Awards:

• Young Artist: Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress, The Banger Sisters, 2003