Biography

Shana Elizabeth Dowdeswell (died December 12, 2012) was born on April 1, 1989 in Harare, Zimbabwe. She then moved to New York City where she attended City and Country School, PS 3, and finally PPAS High School. She also began a career as an actress, beginning at age eight. Over the years, she accumulated many credits, including playing Anne Frank at the Papermill Playhouse and working in films and on television. But more than that, she accumulated hundreds of friends and extended family members who loved her as deeply as she loved them. Shana was a bright spirit, a shining, generous, hopeful girl. She traveled the world, returning to Africa, traveling many times to Paris and London where she had beloved family members. Most recently she traveled to Canada with her boyfriend Cameron Moneo.

Shana is survived by her parents, Laurie and Roger, her brother Jesse, her grandparents Willard and Jane Smith, her godmother Karen Wimmer.
- IMDb mini biography by: From NYTimes obituary December 17, 2012

After downing several shots of whiskey over a two and a half hour period in a New York City Greenwich Village bar called The Basement, she stumbled home, but only got as far as her parents' doorstep where she passed out. A dog walker discovered her unconscious and she was rushed to Beth Israel Medical Center where she was found to have a a blood alcohol content of 0.39 at the time, which is five times the state's legal limit for driving. She died five days later of acute and chronic alcoholism.

Was the original actress who played the younger version of Jenna Rink, Jennifer Garner's character, in 13 Going on 30 (2004). After test audiences reacted negatively to the original cut of the film, the role was recast with Christa B. Allen and the scenes were reshot. The original scenes can be seen on the DVD and Blu-ray versions.

Daughter of former professional tennis player Roger Dowdeswell and Laurie Smith.

Sister of Jesse Dowdeswell.