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Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity
Lucy Devine
The American Pie movies were some of the most iconic films of the late nineties and early noughties.
The star-studded cast included the likes of Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonne, Alyson Hannigan and Eugene Levy - with many going on to star in other movies and telly shows.
One actor who appeared in two of the movies was breakout star Shannon Elizabeth, now 48. Elizabeth played foreign exchange student Nadia, who had an ongoing romance with protagonist Jim (played by Biggs).
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The actor went on to star in a number of different roles after American Pie, including in Love Actually. But, she also has a pretty unexpected side hustle playing poker, competing in Las Vegas on a regular basis. In fact, according to poker database The Hendon Mob, Elizabeth has earned over a respectable $240,000 (£198,225) playing poker.
Alongside acting and playing poker, Elizabeth is an animal activist and in 2001, founded a non-profit dog and cat rescue centre called Animal Avengers.
She now lives in South Africa and runs an animal rescue foundation, The Shannon Elizabeth Foundation, which supports conservation in the region.
Elizabeth has always credited American Pie with kickstarting her career. Back in 2020, she shared a tribute to the movie on its 21st birthday.
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On Instagram, she wrote: "Happy 21st Birthday American Pie!
"21 years ago today my entire life changed with the release of my first studio film, American Pie. Nadia was never meant to be a main character in the series, but thanks to all of you, she led me into a career I could never have dreamed of. Thank you to each & every one of you. I am eternally grateful & so honored I was chosen to be a part of this incredible franchise."
Speaking of American Pie, last year Tara Reid - aka Vicky - hinted that American Pie 5 could be happening.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight Tara teased that a fifth movie 'might happen' before giving fans the news they've been waiting years for - a fifth instalment in the franchise is definitely in the works.
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"OK, I can't tell you when, because I don't really know when, because we have to get all the actors and at the same time to get our schedules together," she said.
"There is a script out there... I'll put it that way."
Tara went on to explain that she's also read the script and believes it to be 'one of the best ones'.
"It's amazing. This will happen, I just don't know when. But it will happen."