Lili Simmons
Lili Simmons (born July 23, 1993)[1] is an American actress and model known for her role as Rebecca Bowman on the Cinemax series Banshee (2013–2016).
Lili Simmons | |
---|---|
Born | Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. | July 23, 1993
Occupation | Actress/Model |
Years active | 2010–present |
Early life
Simmons was born and raised in Cardiff-by-the-Sea in San Diego County, California.[2][3] At age 15, Simmons was discovered by talent manager Kate Linden.
Career
Simmons began her career as a Ford Model,[4] also modelling for Bebe Stores and Roxy and appearing in commercials and print ads for companies like J.C. Penney and Saturn.[5]
She moved into acting in 2010 on the web series Hollywood Is Like High School with Money, based on the book of the same name, playing Quinn Whitaker.[6][7] She also appeared in an episode of the Disney XD sitcom Zeke and Luther and then in the 2011 Disney Channel Original Movie Geek Charming. Also that year, she had a small role in an episode of the sitcom Mr. Sunshine.
In 2012, Simmons starred in the film Fat Kid Rules the World, and guest starred in an episode of Jane by Design. In 2013, she appeared in an episode of Vegas and began playing Rebecca Bowman, a rebellious Amish girl on the Cinemax series Banshee.[8] She originally auditioned for the role of Deva Hopewell, but: "They said, 'She's too old or too sexy' or whatever". While in Philadelphia for her grandmother's funeral, the producers asked her to go back to New York to read for Rebecca, after which she won the role.[9] In March that year, she appeared in a pictorial in Maxim magazine.[10]
In 2014, Simmons began recurring roles on Hawaii Five-0, and the HBO series True Detective.[11] In April 2016, she was cast in what had been stated would be a recurring role in another HBO series, Westworld, though she appeared in only one episode during the first season.[12] In February 2017, Simmons was cast in a season-long arc on the fifth season of the Showtime drama series Ray Donovan, playing Natalie James, "the star of a big movie franchise".[13]
In April 2019, it was confirmed by actress Camren Bicondova that Simmons was cast to replace her in the role of the adult Selina Kyle / Catwoman for the series finale of Gotham, at her request to "give the torch to someone else for her adult self", which was respected by the Fox Broadcasting Company, Warner Bros. Television, and the series' producers. Bicondova and Simmons met beforehand and collaborated on the characterization. Showrunner John Stevens described casting Simmons as "a stroke of incredible good fortune", as well as praising her as "an incredible actress and looks like she could be Cam's sister."[14][15]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Fat Kid Rules the World | Isabel | |
2015 | Bone Tomahawk | Samantha O'Dwyer | |
2016 | Dirty Lies | Michelle | |
2016 | Robyn Hood: I Love NY | Robyn Hood | Short film[16] |
2017 | Deux Face | Sand | Short film |
2017 | Bad Match | Riley | |
2020 | Sound Of Violence | Marie Sotker | In post-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Zeke and Luther | Mia | Episode: "Sludge" |
2011 | Mr. Sunshine | Hot Teenage Girl | Episode: "Employee of the Year" |
2011 | Geek Charming | Lola | Television film |
2012 | Jane by Design | Piper Grace | Episode: "The Teen Model" |
2013 | Vegas | Fay Binder | Episode: "Road Trip" |
2014 | True Detective | Beth | 2 episodes |
2013–2016 | Banshee | Rebecca Bowman | Main role, 32 episodes |
2014–2017 | Hawaii Five-0 | Amber Vitale / Melissa Armstrong | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
2017 | Ray Donovan | Natalie James | Recurring role (season 5), 8 episodes |
2016; 2018 | Westworld | New Clementine | Episodes: "Trace Decay", "Akane no Mai" |
2018 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Gina Goodrich | Episode: "Accredo" |
2018 | The Purge | Lila Stanton | Main role |
2019 | Gotham | Adult Selina Kyle | Episode: "The Beginning..." |
Web
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Hollywood Is Like High School with Money | Quinn Whitaker | 9 episodes |
2013–2016 | Banshee Origins | Rebecca Bowman | 3 episodes |
References
- Simmons, Lili [@Liliflower33] (May 27, 2015). "To correct IMDB and Wikipedia, my birthday is July 23rd 1993. NOT 1992 I'm 21 and will be 22 in July. Thanks guys!😜" (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2017 – via Twitter.
- Simmons, Lili [@Liliflower33] (May 5, 2017). "Love my home town. #cardiffbythesea #bornandraised #socalgirl #cardiffkook" (Tweet). Retrieved November 10, 2016 – via Twitter. |date= mismatches calculated date from |number= by two or more days (help)
- "Lili Simmons". Ladygunn. April 20, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- "New Faces at Ford by Jason Lee Parry". Fashion Gone Rogue. May 31, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Lili Simmons". Pop Tower. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Hollywood Is Like High School with Money". Alloy Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Hollywood Is Like High School with Money". TV.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Exclusive: Disney Channel Starlet Takes Racy Turn in Cinemax Drama Series Banshee". tvline.com. April 10, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Higher Power". tvline.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Lili Simmons Talks "Banshee" and Being Nude In Front of America". Maxim. 22 July 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- Levine, Stuart (January 30, 2013). "Simmons added to HBO's 'True Detective' cast". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Lili Simmons Joins 'Westworld' As HBO Drama Series Resumes Production". Deadline. April 6, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- Sandberg, Bryn Elise (February 13, 2017). "'Ray Donovan' Adds Trio to Season 5 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- Bicondova, Camren [@camren] (April 19, 2019). "#Gotham My heart. 🙏🏽❤️ t.co/0TopulDoHK" (Tweet). Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via Twitter.
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/gotham-series-finale-explained-1204558
- "Watch 'Banshee' Star Lili Simmons in Zenescope's New 'Robyn Hood' (Exclusive Video)". The Wrap. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
External links
- Lili Simmons on Twitter
- Lili Simmons at IMDb