Dominique Swain (born August 12, 1980) is an American actress. She first came to attention as the title character in Adrian Lyne's 1997 adaptation of Lolita, alongside a supporting role in John Woo's Face/Off also released in the same year. She worked predominantly in independent cinema throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s with credits including Girl (1998), The Intern (2000), Tart (2001), and Pumpkin (2002). Next she was in Alpha Dog (2006), Road to Nowhere (2010), and a succession of films in the action, thriller, and horror genres.

Early life Swain attended Malibu High School in Malibu, California. Her parents separated when she was 15. She has three siblings including actress Chelse Swain.

Career 1997–1999: Film debut and critical acclaim In 1995, at the age of 15, Swain was chosen from 2,500 girls to play the title role of Dolores "Lolita" Haze in Adrian Lyne's controversial screen adaptation of the 1955 novel, Lolita. Released in 1997, the film earned positive reviews from critics with New York Magazine calling it "superior" to the Stanley Kubrick version from 1962, and Caryn James of The New York Times writing that Swain's performance was "extraordinary," adding:

Also in 1997, Swain appeared as John Travolta's rebellious teenage daughter, Jamie, in John Woo's commercially successful action thriller Face/Off, with a positive review from Entertainment Weekly highlighting her chemistry with Travolta. Next, she headlined the 1998 drama Girl, in which she portrayed a high-schooler determined to lose her virginity. Writing for Variety, critic David Stratton called it a "well-cast, modestly effective pic" with "a bright, intelligent performance" by Swain.

Speaking of finding it hard to secure roles in the wake of Lolita, a matter she attributed to typecasting, Swain later commented, "I turned down stuff specifically because of nudity, because it doesn't take a whole lot of class to yank your clothes off... I had a body double in Lolita [so] I think the goal was 'Let's see what she really looks like.' They were sending me scripts with no substance to them."

2000–2006: Independent films

Swain had prominent roles in various independent films throughout the early 2000s—The Smokers, The Intern, Pumpkin, and New Best Friend—and worked on three occasions with Brad Renfro—Happy Campers, Tart, The Job—prior to his death. In 2006, she starred as aspiring dancer Lori Gunderson in Totally Awesome, a parody of 1980s teen movies. She played the supporting role of Susan Hartunian in Alpha Dog, the closing night film at 2006's Sundance Film Festival. A crime drama based on the murder of Nicholas Markowitz, Swain's character was inspired by Natasha Adams-Young, a key figure in the real case who was granted legal immunity in exchange for her testimony in court.

2007–present: Genre films and television work

In 2007, Swain headlined the supernatural horror film Dead Mary, which Fangoria felt was successful in setting itself apart from other entries in the genre. Her performance in the 2010 thriller Road to Nowhere was lauded, which Kevin Thomas described as a "stylish, shimmering neo-noir" in his review for the Los Angeles Times.

After lead roles in the straight-to-video action films The Girl from the Naked Eye, Nazis at the Center of the Earth, Skin Traffik, and Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre, Swain starred in the 2016 thriller The Wrong Roommate; her first of several appearances in The Wrong... series, an anthological group of Lifetime television films.

Campaign In 2001, at the age of 21, Swain posed nude for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur" campaign.

Filmography

Film +Film work by Dominique Swain Year Title Role Notes 1997Face/Off Jamie ArcherLolita Dolores "Lolita" Haze 1998Girl Andrea Marr 2000Intern Jocelyn Bennett Jefferson Roth 2001Happy Campers WendyTart Cat StormMean People Suck Kate Short 2002Pumpkin Jeanine KryszinskyDead in the Water GloriaNew Best Friend Sidney BarrettBriar Patch Inez Macbeth 2003As Virgins Fall Ellen Denver Emily Robin 2004 Maggie Monica TV movieOut of Season Kelly Phillips 2005Devour Dakota VideoJourneyman Dominique Jill Short 2006Alpha Dog Susan HartunianAll In AceTotally Awesome Lori TV movie 2007 ChelseaWhite Air ChristieDead Mary Kim VideoFall Down Dead Christie Wallace 2008Prairie Fever Abigail VideoStiletto NancyNoble Things Amber WadesToxic NadiaA Cat's Tale Mom (voice) VideoCapers MercyBorders Ashley Short 2009Nightfall QuinnStuntmen Mindy Danger 2010Road to Nowhere Nathalie PostTrance Laura 2012The Girl from the Naked Eye AlissaNazis at the Center of the Earth Dr. Paige Morgan VideoPrivate War LCpl. Roberts Video 2013Blue Dream Gena 2014The Knockout Game Citizen ShortFatal Instinct AlyThe Lost Girls LucyBoudoir Colette Short 2015Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre Honey TV movieThe Mourning The Suited WomanNo Deposit Girl in BarFatal Flip Alex Saunders TV movieSkin Traffik Anna Peel6 Ways to Die Steph GarciaRock Story Sammy CarlsonEmbers Woman in the Long DressA Horse Trail Sydney 2016The Wrong Roommate Janice Dahl TV movieWidows Amanda Brandt Short The Demon in the Dark Giganta Short Fishes 'n Loaves: Heaven Sent Reva HutchinsThe 6th Friend HeatherA Doggone Christmas Dr. LangleyA Husband for Christmas Amanda Hess TV movie 2017The Matadors MadonnaYou Can't Have It TammyThe Fast and the Fierce JulietteBoone: The Bounty Hunter OliviaHate Horses Wendy Lou PerrinYou Have a Nice Flight AshleyThe Black Room StacyPhotographic Memory Elisa McAdams ShortHexing AliceSpreading Darkness Fiona Funari 2018Battle Drone Alexandra HayesA Doggone Adventure Amy HillAstro Julie AdamsMinutes to Midnight ChloeThe Wrong Cruise Monica TV movieFor Jennifer RandiNazi Overlord Dr. ErisThe Wrong Teacher Beth TV movie 20191st Born IngridRottentail Anna BananaBlood Craft HildeThe Last Big Save Joan2177: The San Francisco Love Hacker Crimes Guadalupe SantanaThe Wrong Mommy Kellyanne TV movieEminence Hill Gretchen 2020Chronicle of a Serial Killer Kelly SmithGirl Lost: A Hollywood Story BethMeteor Moon General Hauser 2021Obsessed with the Babysitter Silvia Cartwright TV movieThe Wrong Mr. Right Scarlett Shaw TV movie 20224 Horsemen: Apocalypse General Bridget Norris Shadow Master Dewitt's Mother 2023State of Desolation Tina AKA End TimesSecrets at the Museum Danielle TV movie

Television +Television work by Dominique Swain Year Title Role Notes 2005JAG Lt. Eve Sorrens Episode: "The Sixth Juror" 2006Ghost Whisperer Stacy Chase Episode: "Friendly Neighborhood Ghost" 2014Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Julie White/Roger Bart/Dominique Swain/Thomas Ian Nicholas"

Music videos +Music video work by Dominique Swain Year Title Artist 1998 "Lullaby" Shawn Mullins 2002 "We Are All Made of Stars" Moby 2004 "Rapid Hope Loss" Dashboard Confessional 2007 "Rockstar" Nickelback

Accolades

+Accolades for Dominique Swain Year Ceremony Category Work Result 1998 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actress Face/Off 1999 Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Actress Lolita MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss (with Jeremy Irons) Lolita Young Artist Awards Best Performance – Leading Young Actress Lolita YoungStar Awards Best Young Actress Lolita 2003 DVD Exclusive Awards Best Actress Tart 2007San Diego Film FestivalRising Star The Pacific and Eddy Silver Lake Film Festival Best Actress The Pacific and Eddy 2013 Downbeach Film Festival Lifesaver Achievement Award 2019 Hoboken International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress The Last Big Save

References

External links