Dominique Swain
Quick Facts
Biography
Dominique Swain (born August 12, 1980) is an American actress and producer. She came to prominence playing the title character in Adrian Lyne's 1997 film adaptation of Lolita, alongside her supporting role as Jamie Archer in John Woo's Face/Off that same year. She worked predominantly in independent cinema throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. Her other film credits include Girl (1998), The Intern, The Smokers (both 2000), Happy Campers, Tart (both 2001), Pumpkin, Dead in the Water (both 2002), The Job (2003), Alpha Dog (2006), and Road to Nowhere (2010). She has since starred in a succession of features in the thriller and horror genres. In 2002, she appeared in the music video for the Moby song "We Are All Made of Stars".
Early life
Swain was born in Malibu, California, the daughter of Cindy (née Fitzgerald) and David Swain Sr., an electrical engineer. She has two sisters, actress Chelse and Alexis.
Career
Swain started her career in Hollywood as a stunt double; she appeared as the double for Macaulay Culkin's younger sister Quinn in Joseph Ruben's The Good Son (1993). In 1995, at the age of 15, she was chosen out of 2,500 girls to play the title role of Dolores "Lolita" Haze in Adrian Lyne's controversial 1997 screen adaptation of Lolita. She was 15 during filming and her performance was praised by critics. She later then played the rebellious teen Jamie Archer in John Woo's Face/Off (1997). She starred in the 1998 drama film Girl, in which she plays a high-schooler who is determined to lose her virginity. She then played a central role in the 2006 film Alpha Dog. In 2009, Swain appeared in Starz Inside: Sex and the Cinema which discussed the depiction of sex in film. That same year, she was featured in the movie Noble Things, about the country star Jimmy Wayne Collins, which also starred country musician Lee Ann Womack. Swain also starred in the horror/slasher film Fall Down Dead as the main character, Christie Wallace. She starred in Monte Hellman's romance thriller Road to Nowhere in 2010. In 2011, Swain was featured in David Ren's action thriller The Girl from the Naked Eye. She starred in the direct-to-video science fiction film Nazis at the Center of the Earth in 2012. In 2013, Swain starred in Gregory Hatanaka's drama film Blue Dream as Gena Townsend. In 2015 she was in the independent action film Skin Traffik alongside Mickey Rourke, Daryl Hannah, Eric Roberts and Michael Madsen.
Campaigning
In 2001, at the age of 21, Swain posed nude for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur" campaign.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Face/Off | Jamie Archer | |
1997 | Lolita | Dolores "Lolita" Haze | |
1998 | Girl | Andrea Marr | |
2000 | Intern | Jocelyn Bennett | |
2000 | The Smokers | Jefferson Roth | |
2001 | Happy Campers | Wendy | |
2001 | Mean People Suck | Kate | Short film |
2001 | Tart | Cat Storm | |
2002 | Pumpkin | Jeanine Kryszinsky | |
2002 | Dead in the Water | Gloria | |
2002 | New Best Friend | Sidney Barrett | |
2003 | Briar Patch | Inez Macbeth | |
2003 | As Virgins Fall | Ellen Denver | |
2003 | The Job | Emily Robin | |
2004 | The Freediver | Maggie | |
2004 | Out of Season | Kelly Phillips | |
2005 | Devour | Dakota | |
2005 | Journeyman | Dominique | |
2005 | The Locrian Mode | Jill | Short film |
2006 | Alpha Dog | Susan Hartunian | |
2006 | All In | Ace | |
2007 | Dead Mary | Kim | |
2007 | The Pacific and Eddy | Chelsea | |
2007 | White Air | Christie | |
2007 | Fall Down Dead | Christie Wallace | Also associate producer |
2008 | Borders | Ashley | Short film |
2008 | Stiletto | Nancy | |
2008 | Prairie Fever | Abigail | |
2008 | Noble Things | Amber Wades | |
2008 | Capers | Mercy | |
2009 | Nightfall | Quinn | |
2009 | Stuntmen | Mindy Danger | |
2010 | Trance | Laura | |
2010 | Toxic | Nadia | |
2010 | Road to Nowhere | Nathalie Post | |
2012 | Private War | LCpl. Roberts | |
2012 | The Girl from the Naked Eye | Alissa | |
2012 | Nazis at the Center of the Earth | Dr. Paige Morgan | |
2013 | Blue Dream | Gena | |
2014 | Rock Story | Sammy Carlson | |
2014 | Fatal Instinct | Aly | |
2014 | Boudoir | Colette | Short film |
2014 | 6 Ways to Die | Steph Garcia | |
2014 | The Lost Girls | Lucy | |
2015 | No Deposit | Girl in Bar | |
2015 | A Horse Trail | Sydney | |
2015 | The Mourning | The Suited Woman | |
2015 | Embers | Woman in the Long Dress | |
2016 | The Black Room | Stacy | |
2016 | State of Desolation | Tina | |
2016 | Skin Traffik | Anna Peel | |
2016 | Widows | Amanda Brandt | Short film |
2016 | Hate Horses | Wendy Lou Perrin | |
2016 | The 6th Friend | Heather | |
2017 | Spreading Darkness | Fiona Funari | |
2017 | Boone: The Bounty Hunter | Olivia | |
2018 | Battle Drone | Alexandra Hayes | |
2018 | Nazi Overlord | Dr. Eris | |
2018 | For Jennifer | Randi | |
2018 | 1st Born | Ingrid | |
2019 | Rottentail | Anna Banana | |
2019 | Eminence Hill | Gretchen | |
2020 | Meteor Moon | General Hauser | |
TBA | Magik | Calysta (voice) | Post-production, also writer |
TBA | Holy Masquerade | Maggie | Post-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel | Monica | TV movie |
2005 | JAG | Lt. Eve Sorrens | 1 episode ("The Sixth Juror") |
2006 | Ghost Whisperer | Stacy Chase | 1 episode ("Friendly Neighborhood Ghost") |
2006 | Punk'd | Herself | 1 episode |
2006 | Totally Awesome | Lori | TV movie |
2015 | Fatal Flip | Alex Saunders | TV movie |
2015 | Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre | Honey | TV movie |
2016 | The Wrong Roommate | Janice | TV movie |
2018 | The Wrong Cruise | Monica | TV movie |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
1998 | "Lullaby" | Shawn Mullins |
2002 | "We Are All Made of Stars" | Moby |
2004 | "Rapid Hope Loss" | Dashboard Confessional |
2007 | "Rockstar" | Nickelback |
Awards and nominations
Year | Ceremony | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Saturn Awards | Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actress | Face/Off | Nominated |
1999 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Actress | Lolita | Nominated |
1999 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss | Lolita | Nominated |
1999 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Movie / Pilot / Mini-Series: Leading Young Actress | Lolita | Won |
1999 | YoungStar Awards | Best Young Actress in a Mini-Series/Made for TV Film | Lolita | Nominated |
2003 | DVD Exclusive Awards | Best Actress | Tart | Nominated |
2007 | San Diego Film Festival | Best Actress | The Pacific & Eddy | Won |
2007 | Silver Lake Film Festival | Best Actress | The Pacific and Eddy | Won |
2013 | Downbeach Film Festival | Lifesaver Achievement Award | — | Won |