1. Overview
Susan May Pratt (born February 8, 1974) is an American actress. She is widely recognized for her roles as Mandella in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, Alicia in Drive Me Crazy (1999), and Maureen Cummings in Center Stage (2000). Beyond her acting career, Pratt has pursued higher education and is known for her personal life, including her marriage to actor Kenneth Mitchell.
2. Early Life and Education
Susan May Pratt's early life was rooted in Michigan, where she began her educational journey before venturing into modeling and acting.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Susan May Pratt was born on February 8, 1974, in East Lansing, Michigan. She is the younger of two daughters born to Sally and William P. Pratt. Her father, William P. Pratt, was a professor of physics at Michigan State University.
2.2. Education
Pratt attended East Lansing High School. During her teenage years, she began modeling. While studying architecture at Parsons School of Design in New York City, she also enrolled in acting classes. As of August 2015, Pratt was completing her bachelor's degree in business and concurrently working on the prerequisites for a master's program in occupational therapy at the University of Southern California.
3. Career Start
Pratt's professional career began with modeling before her passion for acting led her to formal training and significant early opportunities.
3.1. Modeling Activities
Pratt started her career as a model during her teenage years. This early exposure to the entertainment industry provided a foundation for her later transition into acting.
3.2. Acting Training and Early Activities
While pursuing her architectural studies at Parsons School of Design, Pratt began taking acting classes. Her commitment to acting solidified when her agency presented her with an audition for a lead role in an independent film. This opportunity marked a turning point, prompting her to seriously pursue a career as an actress.
4. Acting Career
Susan May Pratt has built a diverse acting career with notable appearances in both film and television.
4.1. Film
Pratt has appeared in several films, often taking on roles that highlight her versatility.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | No Looking Back | Annie | |
| 1998 | The Substitute 2: School's Out | Anya Thomasson | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | 10 Things I Hate About You | Mandella | |
| 1999 | Drive Me Crazy | Alicia DeGasario | |
| 2000 | Center Stage | Maureen Cummings | |
| 2002 | Searching for Paradise | Gilda Mattei | |
| 2003 | Undermind | Olivia / Lucy | |
| 2006 | Open Water 2: Adrift | Amy | |
| 2008 | Who's Your Monkey? | Rebecca | Also known as Throwing Stars |
| 2011 | Act Naturally | Kristi Lerner | |
| 2012 | Death Artists, Inc. | Short film | |
| 2015 | The Gift | Rhonda Ryan | |
| 2019 | Act Super Naturally | Kristi Lerner | Post-production |
4.2. Television
Pratt has made numerous guest appearances in popular television series and appeared in several television films.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Law & Order | Leslie Crowell | Episode: "Carrier" |
| 2000 | Third Watch | Shannon | Episode: "After Hours" |
| 2001 | Dead Last | Katie Kaitler | Episode: "The Mulravian Candidate" |
| 2002 | Charms for the Easy Life | Margaret | Television film |
| 2003 | Hunger Point | Shelly Hunter | Television film |
| 2003 | Charmed | Miranda / Nymph #1 | Episode: "Nymphs Just Wanna Have Fun" |
| 2004 | Strong Medicine | Cammie | Episode: "Omissions" |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Tara Newsome, Juror | Episode: "Eleven Angry Jurors" |
| 2004 | L.A. Dragnet | Joanna Kutler | Episode: "Riddance" |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer | Lisa | Episode: "Ghost Bride" |
| 2008 | The Cleaner | Tess | Episode: "Chaos Theory" |
| 2009 | Eleventh Hour | Erica Gillman | Episode: "Minamata" |
| 2009 | Private Practice | Barbara | Episode: "Slip Slidin' Away" |
| 2010 | Mad Men | Mother | Episode: "Hands and Knees" |
| 2010 | The Defenders | Laura Reid | Episode: "Las Vegas vs Reid" |
| 2010 | Off the Map | Becky | Episode: "I'm Home" |
| 2012 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | April Reynolds | Episode: "Altered Stakes" |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | Mrs. Janice Dale | Episode: "650 to SLC" |
| 2012 | Drop Dead Diva | Beth Evans | Episode: "Family Matters" |
| 2015 | CSI: Cyber | Fran Reynolds | Episode: "Kidnapping 2.0" |
| 2015 | Masters of Sex | Joy Edley | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Outcast | Helen Devere | 3 episodes |
5. Personal Life
Susan May Pratt's personal life includes her marriage and family, as well as a significant loss.
5.1. Marriage and Family
In May 2006, Susan May Pratt married Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell. Together, they had two children: a daughter named Lilah and a son named Kallum.
5.2. Husband's Death
Kenneth Mitchell, Pratt's husband, passed away in February 2024 after a battle with ALS.
6. Distinction from Other Actresses
It is important to distinguish Susan May Pratt from another actress named Susan Pratt, who was born in 1949 and is known for her work in daytime soap operas. Despite sharing a similar name, they are distinct individuals with separate careers.