---
name: "Shawnee Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/shawnee-smith"
fi1m_id: "shawnee-smith"
imdb_id: "nm0809938"
tmdb_id: 2138
wikidata_id: "Q233313"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 July 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-23T04:13:35.173765+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Shawnee Smith

## Identity

Shawnee Smith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/shawnee-smith
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** shawnee-smith
- **IMDb ID:** nm0809938
- **TMDB ID:** 2138
- **Wikidata ID:** Q233313
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawnee_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233313, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809938/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2138

Actor. Born 3 July 1969 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 July 1969, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA
- **Active:** 1982–present
- **Also known as:** Shawnee Rebecca Smith
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 58 (1), 1990s 73 (2), 2020s 64 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 63 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Family 1, Horror 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $786m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawnee_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233313, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809938/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2138

## Fi1m on Shawnee Smith

> Shawnee Smith’s comic timing deserves as much attention as her horror work. We value the vulnerability she brings to Amanda Young, but her bickering with Tobin Bell in *Saw X* is a particular pleasure: ordinary irritation makes frightening people more convincing.

In *Saw X* (2023), Shawnee Smith and Tobin Bell disagree over logistics while somebody screams in the next room. Smith’s Amanda Young treats this as a working arrangement, complete with disputes about responsibility. We laughed because their quarrels over who does what sound so familiar, even in these circumstances. It is a sharp use of an actor whose comic timing can be overlooked when her best-known role involves so much suffering.

Her horror work did not begin with *Saw*: she played Meg Penny in *The Blob* (1988). The other useful starting point is *Becker* (1998–2004), with Smith as the receptionist Linda opposite Ted Danson. That six-season sitcom role matters when considering the ease of her exchanges with Bell. It also makes the usual emphasis on horror seem a rather incomplete account of what she does.

*Saw* (2004) brought wider recognition, and Amanda became the recurring part that defined Smith’s reputation. In that film and *Saw III* (2006), vulnerability and intensity are central to her performance. We value the vulnerability in particular, because sustained distress needs a person attached to it if it is to remain affecting. The return in *Saw X* gives more space to Amanda’s relationship with Bell’s John Kramer. But an account of Smith that stops at Amanda leaves a substantial stretch of television comedy unexplained.

The pleasure of *Saw X* is watching Smith and Bell play their partnership as a small business. The humour comes from taking the work seriously enough to argue about it, and their shared scenes give a ponderous film some welcome briskness. The film still stretches revenge into a lecture, and her performance cannot shorten the running time. That is a limit of the material, not a reason to overlook Smith’s contribution. Give her more people to argue with.

## Biography

Shawnee Smith is an American actress and singer. She began her career as a child, making her feature film debut in *Annie* (1982) and appearing on stage in *To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday* (1984), for which she received a Drama-Logue Critics Award.

She played the recurring role of Linda on the sitcom *Becker* (1998–2004) and later Jennifer Goodson on *Anger Management* (2012–2014). Smith is best known for portraying Amanda Young in the *Saw* franchise, appearing in *Saw* (2004), *Saw II* (2005), *Saw III* (2006), *Saw VI* (2009) and *Saw X* (2023). She also hosted the first season of the VH1 series *Scream Queens* (2008).

Smith has appeared in other films including *The Blob* (1988) and *The Grudge 3* (2009), and has performed with rock bands including Fydolla Ho and Smith & Pyle.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Saw X* (2023), Fi1m 64, as Amanda Young — [page](https://film.one/film/saw-x.md)
- *Armageddon* (1998), Fi1m 64, as Redhead — [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md)
- *Leaving Las Vegas* (1995), Fi1m 82, as Biker Girl — [page](https://film.one/film/leaving-las-vegas.md)
- *Annie* (1982), Fi1m 58, as Dancer — [page](https://film.one/film/annie.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Slay* (2026), Actor
- *The Other* (2025), as Lizzie
- *CURED* (2024), as The Counselor · Producer
- *Bloodline Killer* (2024), as Moira Cole · Producer
- *Saw X* (2023), as Amanda Young — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/saw-x.md)
- *City on Fire* (2023), series, as Ramona
- *Christmas vs The Walters* (2021), as Diane Walters · Producer
- *Day 23 of Quarantine* (2020), as Mom
- *Believe* (2016), as Dr. Nancy Wells
- *Savannah Sunrise* (2016), as Joy Miles
- *Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw* (2015), Thanks
- *Grace Unplugged* (2013), as Michelle Trey
- *Jayne Mansfield's Car* (2013), as Vicky Caldwell
- *Anger Management* (2012), series, as Jennifer Goodson
- *Law & Order: LA* (2010), series, as Trudy Sennett
- *Kill Speed* (2010), as Honey (uncredited)
- *Saw VI* (2009), as Amanda
- *The Grudge 3* (2009), as Dr. Sullivan
- *Repo! The Genetic Opera* (2008), Thanks
- *Saw V* (2008), as Amanda (archive footage)
- *30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust* (2008), series, as Gina Harcourt · Executive Producer
- *The Secret Life of the American Teenager* (2008), series, as Carrie
- *Saw IV* (2007), as Amanda
- *Secrets of an Undercover Wife* (2007), as Lisa
- *Saw III* (2006), as Amanda
- *The Scott Tibbs Documentary* (2006), as Amanda Young
- *Repo! The Genetic Opera* (2006), Actor
- *Full Disclosure Report* (2005), as Amanda Young
- *Saw II* (2005), as Amanda
- *The Island* (2005), as Suzie
- *Saw* (2004), as Amanda
- *The Almost Guys* (2004), as Bigger
- *Never Get Outta The Boat* (2002), as Dawn
- *Kim Possible* (2002), series, as Vivian (voice)
- *Breakfast of Champions* (1999), as Bonnie MacMahon
- *A Slipping Down Life* (1999), as Faye-Jean Lindsay
- *Karen Black: Actress at Work* (1999), Actor
- *Twice Upon a Time* (1998), as Maggie Fowler
- *Becker* (1998), series, as Linda
- *The Party Crashers* (1998), as Carolyn
- *Carnival of Souls* (1998), as Sandra Grant
- *Armageddon* (1998), as Redhead — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md)
- *Every Dog Has Its Day* (1998), as Red Head
- *Men* (1997), as Clara
- *Players* (1997), series, as Lila
- *Bombshell* (1997), as Shelly
- *The Tom Show* (1997), series, as Florence Madison
- *The Shining* (1997), series, as Waitress
- *Dead Men Can't Dance* (1997), as Cooper
- *Dogtown* (1997), as Tammy Hayes
- *Something Borrowed, Something Blue* (1997), as Teri
- *Arsenio* (1997), series, as Laura Lauman
- *Eat Your Heart Out* (1997), as Nicole
- *Female Perversions* (1996), as Make-Up Salesgirl
- *Face of Evil* (1996), as Jeanelle Polk
- *The Low Life* (1995), as 'Little Tramp' Woman
- *Leaving Las Vegas* (1995), as Biker Girl — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/leaving-las-vegas.md)
- *The Stand* (1994), series, as Julie Lawry, Julie Lawry (credit only)
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Jessie O'Neil — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *Lucky Chances* (1990), series, as Olympia Stanislopolous
- *Desperate Hours* (1990), as May Cornell
- *Brand New Life* (1989), series, as Amanda Gibbons
- *Who's Harry Crumb?* (1989), as Nikki Downing
- *The Blob* (1988), as Meg Penny
- *I Saw What You Did* (1988), as Kim Fielding
- *Bluegrass* (1988), series, as Alice Gibbs
- *Summer School* (1987), as Rhonda
- *Easy Prey* (1986), as Tina Marie Risico
- *All Is Forgiven* (1986), series, as Sonia Russell
- *Iron Eagle* (1986), as Joenie
- *Crime of Innocence* (1985), as Jodi Hayward
- *Not My Kid* (1985), as Carol
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Jill Cleveland
- *It's Your Move* (1984), series, as Brenda
- *Silver Spoons* (1982), series, as Tawny
- *Annie* (1982), as Dancer — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/annie.md)
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, as Mrs. Zal’s Daughter — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)

## Gallery

- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-881663d0f227.png) Shawnee Smith — rokphotoz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Shawnee_Smith_gfdl.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Significant cast members of the Saw film series, actors to have appeared in more than one film or received recognition for their participation including (left t (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-116467c65338.jpg) Significant cast members of the Saw film series, actors to have appeared in more than one film or received recognition for their participation including (left t (2012) — Russell,_Betsy_(2007).jpg: pinguino k from North Hollywood, USA
CaryElwesApr10.jpg: Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/
Bell,_Tobin_(2007).jpg: pinguino k from North Hollywood, USA
Danny_Glover_and_Donna_Edwards,_January_14,_2008.jpg: Matthew N. Stoller
Shawnee Smith gfdl.png: rokphotoz
Shawnee_Smitha_and_Costas_Mandylor_Saw_3D_premiere.jpg: Cathy Greutert
derivative work: Darkwarriorblake at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Saw-cast.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actress Shawnee Smith (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-2bb0b3bc156d.jpg) Actress Shawnee Smith (2011) — Commander Idham, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/ShawneeSmithLondonComicCon2011.jpg/1280px-ShawneeSmithLondonComicCon2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-0c709d91a556.jpg) Shawnee Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-2473252dab16.jpg) Shawnee Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-0747e0e49c60.jpg) Shawnee Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-c83a1a5502e7.jpg) Shawnee Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-5804406fdbec.jpg) Shawnee Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Shawnee Smith](https://film.one/media/person/15776/gallery-a9a9bb364a31.jpg) Shawnee Smith — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/shawnee-smith