Biography
Who is Mena Suvari?
Early life and real name
Mena Suvari Alexandra Suvari was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on February 13, 1979. Her mother worked as a nurse, and her father was a psychiatrist. She grew up with six siblings in a large household. The family later relocated to Charleston, South Carolina.
During her school years at Ashley Hall, Mena explored various career interests before starting her modeling work. She modeled for the Wilhelmina agency in New York for several years. Eventually, she moved to California and graduated from Providence High School in Burbank.
How Mena became famous
Mena began her acting career with television guest appearances on shows like Boy Meets World and ER. She made her feature film debut in the independent coming-of-age drama Nowhere. Soon after, she appeared in supporting roles in films such as Slums of Beverly Hills and Kiss the Girls.
Her major breakthrough arrived when she secured roles in two major 1999 releases. She portrayed an innocent choir girl named Heather in the commercial hit American Pie. That same year, she starred in Sam Mendes and Alan Ball's critically acclaimed drama American Beauty, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and earned Mena a BAFTA Award nomination.
Career highlights
Following her breakout success, Mena continued to take on diverse roles in film and television. She reprised her role in American Pie 2 and appeared in romantic comedies like Loser alongside Jason Biggs. Her other film projects from that period include The Musketeer, Sugar and Spice, and Spun.
On television, she took on recurring roles in acclaimed series such as Six Feet Under and American Horror Story. She also voiced characters in video games and animated projects. More recently, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her performance in the short-form series RZR.
Personal life and family
Mena has been married twice, first to Robert Brinkmann and later to Simone Sestito. Alongside her acting career, she has worked as a fashion designer and model, serving as a face for Lancome cosmetics. She also dedicates time to charitable work as a long-time supporter of the Starlight Children's Foundation and the African Medical and Research Foundation.
Birthday and age
Mena Suvari was born on February 13, 1979, which makes Mena 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Mena shares the date with 42 other famous people.
Explore more
