Shawn Batten (born August 14), is an American actress most known for portraying Sara Cummings from 1997 to 1999 in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach and Natalia Carlisle on Spyder Games (2001).
Early life and education Shawn Batten was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey.Fissinger, Laura. "Batten a Thousand", Soap Opera Digest, July 6, 1999. Accessed April 14, 2024. "On top of the dance lessons she long had been taking, Batten began traveling to Manhattan from her home in Ramsey, N.J., every Saturday for the youth program at the acting school founded by stage legend Lee Strasberg." She earned a BFA in theatre from Syracuse University.
Career Batten began her career with appearances in several commercials, off-Broadway plays, and television pilots. Soon after signing with William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor), Batten worked as a production assistant for VH1 and MTV. She eventually landed the role of Sara Cummings in Sunset Beach. Batten stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1999. She then joined the cast of teen drama Spyder Games, where she played the leading role and appeared in 59 out of 60 episodes.
Batten made numerous guest appearances on TV series, with recurring roles on Beverly Hills 90210, The Sklar Brothers; Apt. 2F, and The Lone Gunman. She also had roles in feature films such as Academy Award Best Picture nominee Quiz Show, and award-winning indie films One Dog Day and Delinquent.
Besides a one-episode appearance on the short-lived Don Johnson series Just Legal in 2006 and several commercials and voiceover projects.
Personal life Batten married her longtime boyfriend, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, in 2002. They had two children and divorced in 2010.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1994Quiz ShowCornwall Cousin1995DelinquentTracy DeLors1997One Dog DayKarina
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1997Apartment 2FBrittany2 episodes1998Beverly Hills, 90210Officer Tammy Hansen1998Sunset Beach: ShockwaveSara CummingsTelevision film1998–1999Sunset BeachSara Cummings243 episodes2001The Lone GunmenNurse MarilynEpisode: "Diagnosis: Jimmy"2001Spyder GamesNatalia Carlisle65 episodes2006Just LegalSophieEpisode: "The Code"
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