MEET JORDAN SCHAEFFER

The daughter of a Bond girl and a Spielbergian director, Jordan Schaeffer was born with movies in her blood.  Wanting to be an actress, not a celebrity, she’s toiled happily in indie films for a decade, never imagining that her work would receive any recognition.  Both thrilled and terrified by her Oscar nod, Jordan wonders if she can live up to the expectations everyone has of her because of her DNA.

Author’s Notes:  I was really interested to explore what it’s like to be a second-generation actress, especially when the first-generation was wildly famous, charismatic, and successful.  Jordan grew up in a fishbowl with everyone watching her, wondering what, if any, talents she’d inherited from her parents, and how she would make use of them.  She is the polar opposite of her mother, vivacious, world renowned sex symbol Lisa Merrin (my favorite character in the book because she’s so deliciously outrageous) and that sets up a lot of great conflict between the two of them. 

Jordan Quotes (non-spoilery): “Silly me, I thought the Oscar was for Best Actress, not Best Self-Promoter.”

“Ugh, I’m so bad at this.  I have no fashion vision.  I can’t imagine myself wearing any of these.  I’m all about comfort, not couture.”

“Why do I even bother voicing an opinion?  It’s just a waste of breath with her.  She never listens; she just does what she wants to and expects me to fall in line.  Well, not this time!  The Oscars are going to be my night.  Not hers, MINE!”

Casting:  Jordan is not your typical, glammed up starlet.  As an indie actress, she favors the more casual, funky look, something along the lines of Lena Headey.

Bonus Casting:  Since Jordan’s mom, Lisa, was an iconic sex symbol of the ‘80s and is still a blonde bombshell in middle age, Kim Basinger, who looks gorgeous as ever at 58, would be the perfect embodiment of the character.