Playboy Magazine, December 1990

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After these film experiences, Fenn decided to take control of her career. "I decided to be more myself and not to be pushed into what other people wanted me to be. It's scary how little imagination many people in this business have." [8] Rise to fame (1990–1991) [ edit ] Fenn starred in the 1998 British psychological drama Darkness Falls as a wealthy and neglected wife, who is sequestered with her husband (played by Tim Dutton) by a man ( Ray Winstone) determined to understand the events that led to his wife ending up in a coma. Fenn called the film "a wonderful character piece" [15] While shooting the film in the Isle of Man in late 1997, Fenn considered settling in London to start a European career, but eventually decided to stay in the U.S. [17] [39] Return to television: Rude Awakening (1998–2001) [ edit ] Valcourt, Keith (December 8, 2016). "Sherilyn Fenn: 'Return to Twin Peaks' ". The Washington Times . Retrieved January 8, 2017. Now it's been almost two years since I started. I went to see David. We were drinking coffee, and I said, 'Oh this is wrong. And this.' He said, 'Sherilyn Fenn, you're a mess. You need TM!' He hooked me up with a wonderful teacher. It's life-changing. Kaplan, Ilana (May 21, 2017). "Sherilyn Fenn on the Empowerment of Audrey Horne and the Future of 'Twin Peaks' ". Glamour . Retrieved August 29, 2021.

Sherilyn Fenn, quoted in "Babes in the Woods: Sharing Pie and Secrets With the Mystery Girls of Twin Peaks" by Bill Zehme. Rolling Stone. Issue 588. October 4, 1990. pp. 68–71, 170. Lester Perky, quoted in "Legendary Portrayal" by David Walstad. The Philadelphia Inquirer TV Week (US). May 21, 1995. pp. 4–5. She then starred in Carl Reiner's neo-noir parody Fatal Instinct as Armand Assante's devoted secretary and Sean Young's and Kate Nelligan's rival. She was asked to read for the femme fatale Lola (eventually played by Young), but opted for the secretary role. [34]a b Sherilyn Fenn, quoted in "Fenn-Tastic! Meet Twin Peaks' Mysterious Siren Sherilyn Fenn" by Glenn O'Brien Playboy. December 1990. pp. 82–91, 213–214. Fenn landed her first starring role, as an engaged heiress to an old Southern family who falls for carnival worker Richard Tyson, in Zalman King's erotic drama film Two Moon Junction, after which she wanted to hide for a year: [7] "I was so embarrassed about how it turned out that I went into a cocoon for a year afterwards." [8] Two Moon Junction was meant to be Fenn's big break, but the film turned into another sexploitation film.

Fenn has described many of these early films as sexploitation films "where directors tried to convince [her] to appear naked after the contract was signed." [6] In a February 1993 interview she explained: In 2016, Fenn wrote and published a children's book titled No Man's Land, about a boy who has autism. [52] She was inspired to write the book after her second son, Christian, was diagnosed with autism. [52] a b Glenn O'Brien. "Fenn-Tastic! Meet Twin Peaks' Mysterious Siren Sherilyn Fenn." Playboy. December 1990. pp. 82–91, 213–214.I liked the hard-core truth of Rude Awakening. But when I first read it, I was scared of it. Part of me was, like, it's so unattractive! But I liked that it didn't glamorize alcohol. And what's admirable about Billie is that she's a straight shooter. She doesn't have a lot of pretense. It's like, 'Take me as I am. You like me, fine! You don't, I don't give a damn!' There's something quite empowering about somebody who doesn't care what other people think. Billie is learning about herself. She's recognized that she has a problem with drugs and alcohol, and she's trying to straighten it out. [31] Michael A. Lipton & Joyce Wagner. "Elizabethan Drama". People. Volume 43: Issue 19. May 15, 1995. pp. 142–144. In 2005, Fenn made a appearance on The 4400, playing Jean DeLynn Baker, a 4400 who has the ability to grow toxin-emitting spores on her hands. She also guest-starred on the final episode of Judging Amy. In a 1997 episode of Friends, " The One with Phoebe's Ex-Partner", which was Episode 14 of Season 3 of the show, Fenn guest-starred as Matt LeBlanc's ex-girlfriend Ginger, who has a prosthetic right leg. She stated, "I like the show. I was happy to be a part of it." [15]

CBB Exclusive: Sherilyn Fenn welcomes second son". People. August 15, 2007 . Retrieved October 26, 2019. In 1999, she reteamed with Chris Penn and Adrian Pasdar for Pasdar's art-house directorial debut, the neo-noir Cement, a contemporary retelling of Othello in which she played a tempting but imprudent wife of jealous corrupt cop Penn. "I play a character who's selfish and sloppy with her sexual energy. I saw the film and I was really happy with it. It's got a lot of soul." [28] The film, which won Best Picture awards on the festival circuit, was written by Farscape 's screenwriter, Justin Monjo and also starred Jeffrey Wright and Henry Czerny. She also reteamed with actor/director Bruce Davison for his 2001 family comedy, Showtime's Off Season alongside Rory Culkin, Hume Cronyn, and Adam Arkin. The film was not a hit. Nor were the 13 or so other films she was in over the next seven years. Some weren’t released. Some went straight to video. But she got a lot of on-the-set experience in teen-exploitation movies playing “the pretty one who likes the guy” or “the cute and spunky one,” but her repertoire grew up fast with Two Moon Junction, a sort of combination Gone with the Wind and Emmanuelle directed by Zalman King, the screenwriter and producer of 9½ Weeks. She appeared in the 2007 Dukes of Hazzard prequel, The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning as Lulu Hogg. "It's just a fun silly role," Fenn said. But having already worked with director Robert Berlinger on Rude Awakening, she wanted to do so again. [49] In 1994, Fenn married guitarist-songwriter Toulouse Holliday, [53] whom she met on the set of Three of Hearts.Tranquil, fluid, wavy Sherilyn is an Aquarius. She has psychic abilities; she can tell when people are lying. She doesn’t like parties, she doesn’t like clubs, she likes restaurants, especially ones with great Italian food and good chianti. She is part Italian (Quatro is short for Quatrocchio), part Irish (Fenn), part Hungarian (rebel) and part French (Chanel). She hasn’t had a tan in years and, on reflection, never really liked having one. She likes cold, rainy weather.

I was disillusioned with acting after the pilot of Twin Peaks. I'd been doing low-budget films. I didn't want to walk through movies being a pretty ornament. At 25 I didn't know if I had it. I questioned if there was depth, if there was integrity to me. I was longing to go inside, to do deeper work. [21]Fenn gained newfound enthusiasm with the lead role in Showtime's sitcom Rude Awakening as Billie Frank, an alcoholic ex-soap opera actress, who tries to go sober and become a writer, but continues to struggle with her self-destructive habits. The series ran from 1998 to 2001 and co-starred Lynn Redgrave, Jonathan Penner, and Mario Van Peebles. She said of it: