BriteLites Studio: Mona Lee
Mona Lee is a working actress whose career includes theatre, film, and television. While a student in the Theatre Department of The University of Texas at Austin, she was awarded a full scholarship to the Juilliard School under the tutelage of John Houseman. Most recently she filmed roles in Miss Congeniality and Waking Life, Rick Linklater's new animated feature. Mona can be seen in supporting roles in the 20th Century Fox film, Hope Floats, directed by Forest Whitaker and starring Sandra Bullock; The Only Thrill, a film directed by Peter Masterson and starring Sam Shepherd and Diane Keaton; and the made-for-TV movie, Locked Away, starring Bonnie Bedelia. Most recently she filmed roles in Parmount's Varsity Blues and in three independent films: Texas Funeral, Possums, and Fool's Gold. Look for Mona this fall in the CBS movie of the week, The Soul Collector. Last year she appeared in co-starring roles in the TV mini-series True Women and in the television drama Tornado Alley. Some of her other film credits include Dazed and Confused, in which Mona plays the cool "ear-pulling Mom" of Mitch and Julie. Her first "Mom" role was playing "Donna Davey," the mother of star Christian Slater in The Legend of Billie Jean.
In addition Mona has played co-starring and featured roles in the Texas Justice mini-series in which she has scenes with star Peter Strauss; The Devil's Bed in which she has scenes with star Piper Laurie; Dead Aim, starring Robert Urich; Hard Promises, starring Sissy Spacek; Love Hurts, directed by Bud York of All in the Family fame; Gideon Oliver, starring Lou Gossett, Jr.; Witchfire, starring Shelley Winters; and Bill on his Own, starring Mickey Rooney. For PBS, Mona played a recurring role in the children's series The Real Life Adventures of Sherlock Jones and Proctor Watson.
Her extensive stage work includes appearances as Guest Artist for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; The Prodigious Snob at Lincoln Center; The Second Time Around, starring Pat O'Brien; Marigolds; Crimes of the Heart; and many other stage performances in California, New York, Oregon and Texas.
An actress, a screenwriter, and an acting coach, Mona has taught acting for twenty-two years. Based in Austin, Mona travels around the state coaching actors. She also finds time to author The BIZ.
"...if you want to turn pro, you've got to know what Mona knows..."
- C.K. McFarland