Stephanie Pearson

Stephanie Pearson (born December 16, 1988) is an American actress and filmmaker. She has appeared in the films Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), Downrange (2017), Recovery (2019) and Psychosynthesis (2020). She has been featured in the television series Ray Donovan (2015), Rizzoli & Isles (2014-2015), and Pam & Tommy (2022).

Alongside acting, Pearson is a director and has directed music videos for artists Wolfmother, and 98º.

Early life

Stephanie Pearson was born in Burbank, California on December 16, 1988, the daughter of Lisa Pearson and director and producer Lee Pearson. She has a younger sister, Leila. She grew up in Laguna Beach, California and spent time at her father's production studio watching the shoots.[1] She decided she wanted to become an actor at the age of ten.

Stephanie studied theater at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.[1]

Film career

Pearson began her career as a child actress starring in a dozens of commercials and international ad campaigns during her childhood and teen years.[1] Stephanie caught the eye of director Shane Black and was cast in the 2005 film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Soon after, Pearson landed roles in TV shows The Young And The Restless (2009), 'Til Death (2010), Medium (2010), Rizzoli & Isles (2014–2015), Ray Donovan (2015), and Murder In The First (2016).[2]

In 2013 Pearson starred in James Wan's Insidious: Chapter 2, opposite Rose Byrne and Ty Simpkins. This film kicked off Pearson's career as a "scream queen" in the indie film scene. Most notably, in 2017 Pearson starred in Ryuhei Kitamura's Downrange,[3] which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of their Midnight Madness series and won the Jury Prize for Best Film at Spain's Molins Horror Film Festival. Pearson's "stand out" acting in the film was heralded as "an intense and smart" performance.[4] Subsequent lead roles in horror-thriller films for Pearson included 2019's stunt-heavy Recovery[5], the 2020 release Psychosynthesis directed by Noam Kroll,[6] distributed by Amazon,[1] and 2022's The Sleep.

In 2022 Pearson appeared opposite Sebastian Stan and Lily James in episode two of Hulu's Pam & Tommy.[7]

Directing

In 2019, Pearson directed the music video for Wolfmother's "Chase The Feeling" featuring Chris Cester from JET, and produced promotional key art for the single.[8][9] In the spring of 2021, the song and its body of work was nominated for an APRA Music Award for Most Performed Rock Work[10]

Pearson created a "90's nostalgia throwback"[11] music video and EP cover art for boy band 98º and their pop single "Where Do You Wanna Go" in 2021. Billboard was quoted as saying "the summer just heated up with the new video from 98 Degrees for their hot-weather bop...directed by Stephanie Pearson".

Personal life

Since 2017, Pearson has been in a relationship with Australian musician Chris Cester, with whom she lives with in Los Angeles.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Harmony Faith Lane
2007 Boxboarders! High School Cutie
2009 Meanwhile At The Plaza Chelsea Short
2013 Tuolumne Muse Short
Insidious: Chapter 2 Dark Haired Woman
2016 Wolf Mother Jennie
Oasis Bachelorette Short
2017 Kearny St. Andrea Short
Ultimate Ultimate Dancer
The Binding Olivia Short
Freyja Title Character Short
Downrange Keren TIFF Official Selection
Hospice Sharon Short
2018 Bad Tutor Alexis
Momentum Ruth
Land Of Distraction S Short
2019 Recovery Ronnie Price
Methadone Bunny Outfest Official Selection
2020 Quartine With You Bella Short film
The Turn Tess 48 Hour Film Fest - West Coast Winner
Psychosynthesis Alice
Surrender Me Jennifer Deering Short
2021 Night Of The Witch Deputy Darlene
2022 The Sleep Luna
Josh Taylor's Prom Date Martha

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Riches Tracy Episode: "Dead Calm"
2009 The Young and the Restless Mia
2010 'Til Death Missy Episode: "The Joy Of Learning"
2010 Medium Julie Pinsley Episode: "Alison Rolen Got Married"
2014 -2015 Rizzoli & Isles Danielle Mitchell Guest star
2015 Ray Donovan Domonique Episode: "Breakfast of Champions"
2016 Murder In The First Daisy Episode: "Sam I Am"
2022 Pam & Tommy Jolene Episode: "I Love You, Tommy"

Directing

Year Title Artist Notes
2019 Chase The Feeling Wolfmother feat. Chris Cester APRA Music Award nominated work
2021 Where Do You Wanna Go 98º

References

  1. ^ a b c d Stories, Local (8 October 2020). "Meet Stephanie Pearson - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  2. ^ "Stephanie Pearson". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  3. ^ "[Interview] Horrific 'Downrange' Takes Aim at Social Fears". Bloody Disgusting!. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  4. ^ Hunter, Rob (2017-09-21). "'Downrange' Review: Shoots for Nihilism and Hits the Target". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  5. ^ Muir, Nathaniel (2019-06-03). "An interview with 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang's' Stephanie Pearson: "Is today going to be our last day?" • AIPT". Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  6. ^ Kroll, Noam (2020-07-31). "PODCAST: How To Work With Talent On An Indie Set: An Interview With "Psychosynthesis" Lead Actress Stephanie Pearson". Noam Kroll. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  7. ^ Pam & Tommy (Biography, Drama, Romance), Annapurna Pictures, Annapurna Television, Hulu, 2022-02-02, retrieved 2022-07-11
  8. ^ "Wolfmother Release New Video For Chase The Feeling". Kerrang!. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  9. ^ Pearson, Stephanie (2019-10-24), Chase the Feeling (Short, Music), retrieved 2022-07-11
  10. ^ Cashmere @paulcashmere, Paul (2021-03-30). "The 2021 APRA Awards Nominations List". Noise11.com. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  11. ^ Tailor, Leena (2021-07-14). "98 Degrees Cruises Back in Time With Nostalgic 'Where Do You Wanna Go' Video (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  12. ^ "Stephanie Pearson and Chris Cester arrive for the Premiere Of Epic..." Getty Images. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 2022-07-11.