Neve Campbell is “beautiful and accessible,” hardworking and talented, as are her peers, the young and fashionable Hollywood elite. But Campbell is oft cited for that extra something – believability. Time magazine named her, in 1995, TV’s Most Believable Teenager. Critics lauded her for “believable performances” in the horror parody Scream – and if you’re believable in Scream, you’re Believable.

Born in Ontario, Canada, the daughter of a high school drama teacher and a yoga instructor, Campbell was six when first given ballet lessons. At nine she was accepted by the prestigious National Ballet of Canada, and spent five years with the company, studying many forms of dance, and performing such favourites as Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. At 14, the rigours of the art and the demands of a parochial ballet kingdom became too much and she gave it all up. Within months, however, Campbell was back dancing, as the youngest member of the Toronto cast of The Phantom of the Opera. Two years (1988/89) and 800 performances later the dancer briefly tried commercials and modelling, then moved to Canadian and American television: Kids in the Hall (1989), Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1992), Catwalk (1992-93), Web of Deceit (1993), The Forget-Me-Not Murders (1994), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1994), I Know My Son Is Alive (1994), The Dark (1994), Baree (1994), and Paint Cans (1994).

Immediately after acting upon advice that she move to Los Angeles, Campbell was cast as “scholarly rebel” Julie Salinger in the award-winning television series Party of Five (1994-2000), and never stopped working, filling her weekends with talk and comedy show appearances, and hiatus time with movie-making. She did Northern Passage (1995-direct to video), Mad TV (1995), Love Child (1995), The Canterville Ghost (1996 – for a Family Film Award), and the hugely popular Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 3 (1996/97 and 2000). For the latter trilogy she netted a Saturn Award, and MTV and Blockbuster nominations and awards, as well as a Saturday Night Live hosting gig (1997). For The Craft (1996), Campbell was awarded another series of MVT and Blockbuster awards, including Best Female Performance. Between Screams Campbell filmed 54 (1998), Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998-voice), Wild Things (1998), Three to Tango (1999), Panic (2000), and Drowning Mona (2000).

Away from the camera, Campbell is a yoga and meditation enthusiast, and dances in her custom basement studio. She married (1995) and divorced (1998) actor Jeffrey Colt, and has been linked speculatively, by the press, to several leading men. She is one of a handful in Hollywood who refuse roles that require nudity. She speaks for the Tourette Syndrome Foundation on behalf of one brother. She and another brother, Christian, and Matthew Lillard, all actors, have formed the Blue Sphere Alliance Production Company at Los Angeles’ Lex Theater. The Canadian was one of Six Bright Lights in American Network TV while in Party of Five, and has been voted one of the “stars who bring the most money to box offices” by theatre owners (she tied, at 11th, with Brad Pitt).

Upcoming are roles in the filmed and soon-to-be-released Hair Shirt/Red Shoes, and Investigating Sex. Bright, beautiful and believable, Campbell will be a Hollywood fixture for years to come. Believe it.