Vinessa Elizabeth Shaw (born July 19, 1976) is an American film actress and model. Her family's surname originally was "Schwartz", while she has mixed English, German, Italian, Irish, Jewish and Mexican ancesty. She began her career as a child actor, and had her break-out role in Disney's 1993 Halloween comedy-fantasy film Hocus Pocus. Shaw also appeared in Ladybugs and L.A. Without a Map.
While attending Barnard College, Shaw was cast in a supporting role in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, after which she decided to pursue acting into her adulthood. Subsequent roles include in the comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights, and the 2006 remake of Wes Craven's horror film The Hills Have Eyes (2006). She was a supporting cast member in the Showtime drama Ray Donovan, and stars as Dr. Jane Mathis in the 2017 horror thriller Clinical.
Filmography
Film
- 1981 Home Sweet Home - Angel Bradley
- 1992 Ladybugs - Kimberly Mullen
- 1993 Hocus Pocus - Allison Watts
- 1996 Coyote Summer - Callie Carpenter
- 1998 L.A. Without a Map - Barbara
- 1999 Eyes Wide Shut - Domino
- 1999 Wayward Son - Cordelia
- 2000 The Weight of Water - Anethe Christenson
- 2001 Corky Romano - Agent Kate Russo
- 2002 40 Days and 40 Nights - Nicole
- 2004 Melinda and Melinda - Stacey
- 2006 The Hills Have Eyes (2006) - Lynn Carter
- 2007 3:10 to Yuma (2007) - Emmy
- 2007 Badland - Nora Rice
- 2008 Two Lovers - Sandra Cohen
- 2008 Garden Party - Sally St. Claire
- 2009 Stag Night - Brita
- 2010 Leave - Amy
- 2011 Puncture - Vicky
- 2012 Big Miracle - Kelly Meyers
- 2012 Come Out and Play - Beth
- 2013 Side Effects - Dierdre Banks
- 2013 Siren - Leigh
- 2013 Dark Around the Stars - Terry
- 2014 Cold in July - Ann Dane
- 2014 After the Fall - Susan Scanlon
- 2017 Clinical - Dr. Jane Mathis
- 2018 Family Blood - Ellie
- 2021 The Blazing World - Alice Winter
Television
- 1992 The Torkelsons - Meredith Reed
- 1992 Great Scott! - Carolyn Cole
- 1993 Fallen Angels - Jeannie Streeter
- 1994 McKenna - Cassidy McKenna
- 1994 Murder, She Wrote - Gloria Bryce
- 1995 New York Undercover - Teen Covergirl
- 2000 The '70s - Eileen Wells
- 2010 House - Dr. Kelly Benedict
- 2012 CSI: NY - Jennifer Walsh
- 2012-13 Vegas (2012) - Laura Savino
- 2014 Ray Donovan - Kate McPherson
