Background:

"Sometimes I think I might insult people by being openly flirtatious, then snatching it back." Dominique Swain.

With her big screen debut Lolita (1997), Dominique Swain gained both critics and controversy for portraying the title role of pre-teen temptress and the young object of lasciviousness in Adrian Lyne's remake film with the same name, opposite Jeremy Irons' Humbert Humbert. Since then, the young actress nabbed roles in such films as Face/Off (1997), Girl (1999), Intern (2000), The Smokers (2000), Tart (2001), Happy Campers (2001), Pumpkin (2002), New Best Friend (2002), Dead in the Water (2002) and Briar Patch (2002). Her upcoming films include White Air, Alpha Dog, The Pacific and Eddy, All In, Vinyl, and Noble Things.

Dominique Swain, the sister of actress Chelse Swain, is a spokesperson for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). At the age of 21 she became the youngest model to pose nude for PETA. Wide blue-eyed, 5' 9" tall Swain, whose natural hair is dark brown, was one of Stuff magazine’s "102 Sexiest Women In The World." She reportedly dated Charlie Bambrook in 1998.


Datsun Born

Childhood and Family:

On August 12, 1980, Dominique Ariane Swain was born in her father's Datsun on the Santa Monica freeway. She grew up in Malibu with her four siblings, one of whom is actress Chelse Swain (born on May 25, 1983). She was a straight “A” student and a Valedictorian at Malibu High School, Malibu, California. Dominique is currently enrolled in university and living in Santa Monica, California. Adding to her interest in art, sculpture and creative writing, Dominique is also active in sports. She enjoys soccer, softball, swimming and track-field. In her past six summers, a fan of music groups Chemical Brothers and The Orb, Dominique has been a volunteer in a State Junior Lifeguard program.


Briar Patch

Career:

"I'm open to anything. I think everyone should enjoy every moment that they experience." Dominique Swain.

Aspiring actress Dominique Swain knocked Hollywood’s door as a stunt double for Quinn Culkin, Macaulay Culkin's younger sister, in Joseph Ruben's The Good Son (1993; she came up under the ice). She then joined audition for the role of Claudia in Interview with the Vampire (1994), but did not win.

A year later, when Dominique was a 15-year-old Malibu High School sophomore, prominence came. She beat out over 2,500 other girls to portray the titular character of pre-teen temptress and the young object of lasciviousness Dolores “Lolita” Haze in director Adrian Lyne's 90's remake of Stanley Kubrick's 1962 film, Lolita, adapted from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel. In the controversial film, lensed in 1995 and released only in Europe in 1997, Dominique delivered an outstanding performance opposite seasoned actors Jeremy Irons and Melanie Griffith. She later won a Young Artist award for Best Performance in a TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series or Series - Leading Young Actress. Dominique also earned a nomination for Best Kiss at MTV Movie Awards, which she shared with Jeremy Irons.

"Things that bring out your emotions are what should be in theaters and in books. That's what art is. It makes you feel things." Dominique Swain (on the controversy surrounding her film debut, Lolita).

Following her debut work, Dominique went to portray Joan Allen and John Travolta’s rebellious daughter, a typical high school girl Jamie Archer, in John Woo's action/thriller Face/Off (1997). She then starred in the 1998 music video release, for Shawn Mullins's hit song “Lullaby,” with long blonde hair and a lost look, before returning to the big screen costarring with Summer Phoenix in Girl (1999). In the film, Dominique played Andrea Marr, a brilliant teen who leaves the suburbs to explore the Portland rock scene.

More acting jobs arrived in the new century. Dominique played Jocelyn Bennett, a young, under-appreciated intern at the hip magazine, in New York-set film Intern (release date: Sept. 26, 2000) and portrayed 17-year-old, vengeful Jefferson Roth in The Smokers. She also appeared in the comedy Happy Campers (as Wendy), Tart (as Cat Storm) and Pumpkin (as Jeanine Kryszinsky).

Dominique played Gloria, in the thriller about three Americans on a boat trip off the coast of Rio, Dead in the Water and was cast as Sidney Connors in New Best Friend (both in 2002). She then starred as Inez, a wife planning a hit on her husband, alongside Arie Verveen and Henry Thomas, in Briar Patch (a.k.a. Plain Dirty, 2002). As for her music video resume, Dominique had added it with an appearance for Moby's "We Are All Made of Stars" (2002).

2003 saw Dominique played roles in As Virgins Fall, The Job, and Mean People Suck, a comedy about three teenagers who place a bet to see which one is the meanest. She subsequently was cast in Out of Season, The Freediver, The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel (TV, all in 2004), and the 2005 films Devour and The Locrian Mode. TV viewers also caught her guest starring as Lt. Sorrens in an episode of the series "JAG."

Dominique will soon complete her upcoming films; White Air, Alpha Dog, The Pacific and Eddy, Totally Awesome (TV) and All In. She is also set to act in the films Vinyl and Noble Things.

"Since I've had time off from movies, it's made me appreciate what I love about it... I get to experience all these different walks of life without having to deal with the consequences." Dominique Swain.


Awards:

• Young Artist: Best Performance in a TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series or Series - Leading Young Actress, Lolita, 1999