In 1999, Amanda Schull was thrilled to have the honor of being part of the prestigious San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet, but she couldn’t believe what happened soon after. She was offered a starring role in a movie that turned out to be a blockbuster and put her name and talent on the map. Besides making her popular with moviegoers, her first film appearance also introduced her to the idea of a new career that served her well in her retirement from ballet.
Since the end of her ballerina days, Amanda Schull has appeared in no less than thirty screen productions, the bulk of which can be found on TV shows. More fascinating facts about the American actress you read.
Amanda Schull – Organic
The actress who doubles as a retired ballerina was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 26, 1978. Born to Susan Schull, current president of Ballet Hawaii, Amanda naturally set the stage for a career in ballet. She grew up alongside two siblings.
Despite her interest in dance, Amanda made sure to tick all the boxes for her academics. She attended the Punahou School in Honolulu and later had John Landovsky as a coach at the Hawaii State Ballet.
After her college preparatory studies, Schull earned a scholarship to Indiana University where she majored in ballet and journalism. She was 17 when she started college, and in her second year, she participated in the San Francisco Ballet School Summer Intensive, after which she landed a one-year scholarship with SFBS. Her time with the SFBS continued after she graduated from college and attained full-time membership before hanging up her tutu in retirement.
Professional Achievements
Her career spans across ballet and theater and before becoming the popular actress who danced a storm Center Stage, Amanda Schull was active as a ballerina.
When her one-year fellowship with SFBS ended in 1999, she accepted an offer to apprentice with the Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet. Amanda had a defining moment in her career when she secured a spot as a member of the SFB corps de ballet and also joined the cast of Center Stage that same year.
Center Stage showcased his acting and dancing talents and paved the way for more roles on the big and small screens. So far in her acting career, she has been seen in more than thirty movies and TV shows, the latter being the most prominent. Her career as a ballerina spanned from 1999 to 2006 and she has since remained active as an actress.
Movies and TV series
Schull launched an acting career while an apprentice with the San Francisco Ballet. Apparently she hadn’t planned it because she was very surprised and grateful when she was cast as Jody Sawyer, the main character in Center Stage (2000). Her next film role came in 2007 as Becca King in Women on Top. In 2009, she reprized the role of Elizabeth Mackey in an Australian film Mao’s Last Dancer. His other film appearances were made in J. Edgar (2011), I Am Wrathful (2016) and Devil’s Gate (2017).
While her cinematic feats aren’t much, Amanda Schull has made several TV show appearances, some being in starring roles. The same year she made her acting debut (2000), she landed her first television role as Davina Mayhan Van Buren, one of the main characters in Me and My Family. She appeared on the show from season three to nine (2000-2007). A year after her first television role ended, she appeared in an episode of The Cleaner and Case Closed.
2009 brought roles in Ghost Whisperer and Lie to Me where she appeared in one episode each, as well as a Lifetime TV movie Sorority Wars where she played the role of Gwen. She also joined the cast of One Tree Hill in 2009, playing dual roles – as Sara Evan and Katie Ryan in 13 episodes. In 2010, Amanda appeared in an episode of Bones and also joined the cast of Pretty Little Liars, playing the role of Meredith Sorenson in 7 episodes that span from season one through three. Between 2011 and 2012, she reprized an episode on shows like Hawaii Five-0, Castle, Two and a Half Men, Psych, Grimm, The Mentalist, andVegas.
She graced the entire popular Costume series in one of the lead roles (as Katrina Bennett) and has remained on the show from 2013 to date. She also appeared in one episode each on Nikita and Suburgatoire in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Her other TV appearances were in 12 Monkeys in the lead role of Dr. Cassandra Railly (2015-2018) and Murder in the First in 2016.