Meredith Salenger
Encyclopedia
Meredith Dawn Salenger (born 14 March 1970) is an American
actress identified by her performances while a teenager. Her best known role was the title role in the 1985 Disney film The Journey of Natty Gann
.
directed by John Huston
. Salenger also did a number of television advertisements.
Salenger's first starring role was in the Disney film The Journey of Natty Gann
costarring John Cusack
and Ray Wise
, the first US movie to win the gold award at the Moscow Film Festival. The film also garnered her "Best Actress in a Drama" at the Youth in Film Awards for her portrayal of the tomboyish Natty Gann. After starring in four more films by the time she was eighteen years old, including A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
, she left Hollywood for Harvard to further her education.
and currently works as a mediator
for the Agency for Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Beverly Hills, California.
, The Third Wheel, and the upcoming independent film Grownups. Salenger has appeared in several independent films including Quality Time
and Sparkle & Charm. Other major roles include The Kiss
and Dream a Little Dream
(1989).
Salenger appeared in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1998. She also recorded a song entitled "Flow Through Me" with Koishii & Hush; she also appeared as a background member of the Counting Crows
video for "Hanging Around".
Salenger appeared in two episodes of Dawson's Creek
in 2002 as film critic Amy Lloyd.
Salenger guest-starred on Cold Case playing victim Sloane Easton on the episode "Ravaged".
Salenger had a brief role in the Disney film Race to Witch Mountain
in 2009 in which she played television reporter Natalie Gann - a reference to the role she played as a child.
Salenger is the voice of Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
. Her first appearance is in the 6th episode (titled 'Weapons Factory') of Season 2.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress identified by her performances while a teenager. Her best known role was the title role in the 1985 Disney film The Journey of Natty Gann
The Journey of Natty Gann
The Journey of Natty Gann is a 1985 American film directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and released by Buena Vista Pictures.-Plot:Set in 1935, the movie tells the story of a young woman, Natty Gann...
.
Early life and career
Salenger was born and raised in Malibu, California. As a child she enjoyed performing in front of her family and friends. Her mother took her to her first acting class when she was eight years old. Her first role was a small part as a 'singing and dancing orphan' in the feature film AnnieAnnie (film)
Annie is a 1982 American musical film directed by John Huston and choreographed by Arlene Phillips. The film is an adaption of the 1977 stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the 1924 Little Orphan Annie comic strip by Harold Gray. The movie features music by Charles Strouse,...
directed by John Huston
John Huston
John Marcellus Huston was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics: The Maltese Falcon , The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , The Asphalt Jungle , The African Queen , Moulin Rouge...
. Salenger also did a number of television advertisements.
Salenger's first starring role was in the Disney film The Journey of Natty Gann
The Journey of Natty Gann
The Journey of Natty Gann is a 1985 American film directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and released by Buena Vista Pictures.-Plot:Set in 1935, the movie tells the story of a young woman, Natty Gann...
costarring John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
and Ray Wise
Ray Wise
Raymond Nicolas "Ray" Wise is an American actor, known for his roles as Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks, as Leon C. Nash, right-hand henchman to villain Clarence Boddicker in the science fiction classic RoboCop, and recently as the Devil in the CW television series Reaper.-Life and career:Wise was...
, the first US movie to win the gold award at the Moscow Film Festival. The film also garnered her "Best Actress in a Drama" at the Youth in Film Awards for her portrayal of the tomboyish Natty Gann. After starring in four more films by the time she was eighteen years old, including A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon is a 1988 film about a high school graduate who must find out if he wants to go to business school at the request of his father or go his own way and get a full time job. He shows he's rebellious throughout the film but eventually comes to understand what his...
, she left Hollywood for Harvard to further her education.
Education
Salenger attended Harvard University 1988-1992 and graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology. In 2009, she graduated from the Pepperdine University School of LawPepperdine University School of Law
The Pepperdine University School of Law is a law school located on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.The school placed 54th among the nation's "Top 100" law schools according to the 2011 U.S. News and World Report rankings and is the third highest ranked law school in...
and currently works as a mediator
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
for the Agency for Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Beverly Hills, California.
Return to Hollywood
Salenger resumed her acting career upon her return to Hollywood. Recent credits include Lake PlacidLake Placid (film)
Lake Placid is a 1999 American monster movie with elements of comedy, horror, bromance film, and the buddy genre. It was written and produced by David E. Kelley, directed by Steve Miner, and stars Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin Bacon, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Oliver Platt, and...
, The Third Wheel, and the upcoming independent film Grownups. Salenger has appeared in several independent films including Quality Time
Quality Time (film)
My Apocalypse is a 2008 independent film starring Corin Nemec, Bruce Weitz, Nancy Allen, John de Lancie, Gail Strickland, Meredith Salenger and Jesse Harper....
and Sparkle & Charm. Other major roles include The Kiss
The Kiss (1988 film)
The Kiss is a horror/thriller film released in 1988 and set in the United States and Africa. The Kiss is a late occult-horror-voodoo style film starring Joanna Pacula, Meredith Salenger and Nicholas Kilbertus....
and Dream a Little Dream
Dream a Little Dream
Dream a Little Dream is a 1989 teen film directed by Marc Rocco and stars Jason Robards, Corey Feldman, Piper Laurie, Meredith Salenger, Harry Dean Stanton and Corey Haim. It was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. Released in 1,019 theaters, it accumulated $5,552,441. This was the third film...
(1989).
Salenger appeared in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1998. She also recorded a song entitled "Flow Through Me" with Koishii & Hush; she also appeared as a background member of the Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
video for "Hanging Around".
Salenger appeared in two episodes of Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
in 2002 as film critic Amy Lloyd.
Salenger guest-starred on Cold Case playing victim Sloane Easton on the episode "Ravaged".
Salenger had a brief role in the Disney film Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film and a remake of the original 1975 fantasy film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Both versions of the film are based on the 1968 novel Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key...
in 2009 in which she played television reporter Natalie Gann - a reference to the role she played as a child.
Salenger is the voice of Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)
-Production:At April 2005's Star Wars Celebration III, Lucas stated that "we are working on a 3-D continuation of the pilot series that was on the Cartoon Network; we probably won't start that project for another year." In July 2005, pre-production had begun on the series, according to Steve...
. Her first appearance is in the 6th episode (titled 'Weapons Factory') of Season 2.