(Long Island, NY) Ms. Sheedy has starred in such 80s classics as “Maid to Order” and “The Breakfast Club” will now co-star in the new high school comedy “Harold” as reported in to The Hollywood Reporter.
In our interview at the Art for Life Event in East Hampton Ally mentioned that her favorite starring flick was “The Breakfast Club.” In her new project a film directed by T. Sean Shannon Ally will portray Maureen, a devoted mother who helps her prematurely aging son deal with early onset of male-pattern baldness who later befriends his high school’s janitor.
Ally has not done anything significant since”High Art” and “Only the Lonely” in the 90’s. Ms. Sheedy was born Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy on June 13, 1962 in New York City. The Gemini actress is the oldest of three children born to an advertising executive father and her famous mom Charlotte Sheedy who is a prominent literary agent in New York.
TV Personality and Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane interviews 80’s movie star Ally Sheedy at the Art For Life Event at Russell Simmoms home in East Hampton
Ally began her career in show business while attending New York’s Bank Street School. At the age of 12 she wrote about a whimsical fantasy encounter between Queen Elizabeth I and a curious mouse. The project written was “She Was Nice to Mice” and was published by McGraw-Hill. The publication became an instant best seller which later elevated her to an acting career. Ally’s fondest memories of growing up were performing in plays dancing and singing. Beginning at the age of six until fourteen, she performed with the American Ballet Theatre.
In the summer her family would vacation at Fire Island. She would put shows on on back lawns and porches with a group of kids. The Village Voice was so impressed with her writing they offered her a job reviewing films also the New York Times asked if she would review children’s books. Offers were coming in from everywhere. She decided to accept an offer from Ms. Magazine, requesting an article about the relationship between her and her mother. Finally It was an appearance on “”The Mike Douglas Show” promoting her new book, that made an agent decide to sign her on as a new client. Ally started going on auditions for commercials and performed on off-Broadway. On her 18th birthday she packed up her bags and went to Hollywood where she decided to study in the drama department at USC. She soon landed roles in the television drama The Best Little Girl in the World (1981) (TV), The Day the Loving Stopped (1981) (TV), Splendor in the Grass (1981) (TV) and Homeroom (1981) (TV), and played a recurring character on “Hill Street Blues” (1981). The strength of her performances led directly to her film debut as Sean Penn’s naive but knowing girlfriend, “J.C.”, in Bad Boys (1983). That same year (1983), she starred as Matthew Broderick’s zany partner in WarGames (1983). After starring as Rob Lowe’s would-be romantic interest in Oxford Blues (1984), the withdrawn adolescent of The Breakfast Club (1985) and Gene Hackman’s adoring daughter in Twice in a Lifetime.
In 1985 Ally performed her first adult role in St Elmo’s fire a story dealing with the trials and tribulations of friendships in college and struggling with adulthood but she is best known for her favorite film and character as Allison Reynolds in the Breakfast Club. The story about five high school students with complex personalities, Andrew, John, Allison, Brian, and Claire, meet in detention one day. The principal requests that they each write an essay. At first, they argue and hate each other, but after being thrown together for an afternoon in detention they pour their hearts out to each other telling of their ambitions, fears, secrets, deepest emotions and problems.
Some of her famous quotes have been “It’s so unfair. The term ‘brat pack’ is so condescending,” and “I started writing because I used to tell stories to the children who lived nearby and when I was six I started writing them down. I write poetry and plays, too, and writing is important to me. It is important for me to express my feelings and thoughts. If I’m feeling angry or wonderful or upset or happy I just write it out and reread the feelings over and over again. When I’m depressed I read something I wrote when I was happy and I can feel a great lift in my spirits. I love writing!”
She married her present husband David Lansbury in 1992 and has one child.
