Shannon Elizabeth: Playing for a Good Cause

By Matthew Showell Jul 25, 2006 | 3 years ago

Doyle Brunson, Shannon Elizabeth and Johnny Chan watch the Heads-Up battle

She's best known for her work on the big screen, but Shannon Elizabeth is breaking into the poker world in a big way. Getting her first WSOP cash this year, she's been working hard on her game and it's obviously paid off. Playing to support her own charity, she's found a way to make her passion for poker benefit something other than her bankroll. I spoke with Shannon shortly after she was eliminated from today's $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event, and she told me why poker has become such an important part of her life.

So Shannon, how are things going for you so far at this year's WSOP?

I've played four or five events, and I cashed in the second one I played in. That was my first cash at the World Series. I played last year but only in the Main Event. I'm still learning, so every time I make a mistake I try to learn from it, and I've been talking to as many pros as possible about tips and ways to play.

Is there anyone in particular who's helped you with your poker game?

Yes, Antonio [Esfandiari] was one of the first guys to help me. Antonio and Phil Laak helped me a lot in the beginning, and Negreanu's helped me some. Joe Sebok's been helping me a lot this year.

What was it that got you interested in poker to begin with?

Shannon Elizabeth playing in the $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Event

Well I've been playing for about four years, and I started playing to raise money for my charity, Animal Avengers.

Can you tell us a bit about that organization?

Yeah, it's an animal rescue I started in February of 2001, and we get dogs and cats off the street, out of the pounds, and we get them healthy and fixed and happy, and then we find good loving homes for them.

In your experience here at the World Series, how have you found the level of play in these events?

You know, I think it's such a crap-shoot who you get at your table, what's going to happen that day, and in the beginning, you start with such few chips in most of these events, so you really have to get lucky right away and try to double up unless you hit a lot of good hands.

What do you think poker has in store for you in the future?

Shannon Elizabeth playing in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Event

Playing as much as possible, I want to get better. I really enjoy the game. I have a lot of fun with it. I'm really very competitive, so I hate to make amateur mistakes.

What's your poker schedule like apart from the WSOP?

I'm still learning what the good events to play are, but I've played some WPT [events] and traveled a little bit. Every once in a while I play in home games. There's a game that this guy in LA holds up by his pool that I've been playing in, but it's just a cash game. There's a good level of players in that game, and it's mostly guys, so I like to go there and try to take their money. [laughs]

Is there anything cool happening in your acting career that we should be on the lookout for?

I've done a couple of poker movies this year actually. I don't play a poker player in either one oddly enough. One's called "Deal" and one's called "The Grand." And I've got some other stuff that I'll be doing too.

Great, thanks a lot Shannon and hopefully you can add another WSOP cash to your resume this year.