Shannon Elizabeth
Photo: Eric Scot

Most recognizable for her role in American Pie and her turn on Dancing with the Stars, actress Shannon Elizabeth exudes a sweet and wholesome femininity. That endearing sweetness makes her outspoken stands that much more memorable. As an animal-rights activist, almost vegan (more on that later) and environmentalist, Shannon is a woman who acts on her convictions. In celebration of the arrival of spring and Earth Day this month, she shares with us her current environmentally inspired film A Green Story and, of course, her favorite health secrets for feeling and looking good—all just in time for the skin-baring, sun-filled months ahead!

GREEN MEETS GREEN

Shannon’s forthcoming film A Green Story is at its core an inspiring tale about the American dream. Inspired by a true life story, it chronicles the life of Greek immigrant Van Vlahakis. Van arrived in America at age 18 with only $22 in his pocket and went on to create Earth Friendly Products, one of the largest and most successful players in the green-cleaning products industry. When filmmaker Nika Agiashvili needed a beautiful and strong woman who also had softness about her to play Kelly Vlahakis, Van’s daughter and the vice president of Earth Friendly Products, Shannon Elizabeth came to mind. “They knew I was a committed animal-rights activist and that I’m vocal about environmental causes,” Shannon explains.

Shannon was drawn to the father-daughter relationship, which is central to the film. Nika describes Kelly as “the doting daughter” as well as a “shrewd businesswoman.” The relationship takes some dramatic turns, which provided some of the most moving scenes for Shannon to play. She explains, “At one point, Van gets very ill and is not sure if he will make it. He considers selling the company. But Kelly says no. She’s the one who says this is your creation, your vision, and I’m going to take care of you and the company.” Shannon’s passion and warmth lend perfectly to the role, says filmmaker Nika. Shannon elaborates, “Ed O’Ross plays Van. He and I developed a great chemistry—I hope it captures the dynamic between Van and Kelly.”

Ed O’Ross, Kelly Vlahakis and Shannon Elizabeth.

Shannon took on the role for several reasons. “I was impressed with how Kelly Vlahakis had risen in the ranks at Earth Friendly Products through hard work, taking turns at just about every job in the company. She has been a woman in a man’s world, going head-to-head in the boardroom with the toughest of them. I also liked the challenge of playing a real person. As an actor, it took a lot of the guesswork out of it,” Shannon explains. Yet there was even more that attracted her to the project as a whole. A longtime loyal customer of Earth Friendly Products, she felt passionate not only about the company’s innovation and commitment to creating eco-friendly cleaning products that work but equally so about Van’s personal story. She explains, “The message that you can start your own company, whether you are from another country or born here, is a great one. How Van came from nothing and persisted to make his company succeed is inspiring. And then to play an intelligent, talented woman who is key to the company’s success carries a great message for women. It’s a great message for people overall. People need the inspiration and need to know that dreams are possible.” In a country of immigrants, it’s a message that will speak to many.

Shannon Elizabeth (left) consults with Kelly Vlahakis
and director Nika Agiashvili on the set of A Green Story.

THE EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS STORY

The story of Van Vlahakis is indeed a compelling one. When Van first came to America in the 1950s, he intended to study medicine. However, he quickly became fascinated by chemistry—the language of chemistry was one he could speak fluently even as a new immigrant struggling to master English. And he was good at it. He changed his focus and put himself through school. By the late 1960s, he had worked as a research and development chemist for several manufacturers of industrial cleaners and had become an able formulator in his own right. He soon founded his own company, Venus Labs. Having a strong ethical nature and profoundly affected by the Rachel Carson book Silent Spring, which has been widely credited for launching the environmental movement, Van challenged himself to formulate effective cleaners that would not harm or pollute. Shannon explains, “Van witnessed how bad chemicals are for you. I think that’s something that not enough people realize—that chemicals are really harming your health and the environment with everyday items. Companies use them because it is cheaper for them and they can mass produce. They really don’t care about our health and well-being.” By the late 1980s, creating a brand that used only environmentally friendly formulations with no animal testing was a natural progression—hence Earth Friendly Products was born. Shannon admires Van’s gumption and entrepreneurial spirit. “Everyone thought Van was crazy to create this company. They said it wasn’t doable, and it wouldn’t work. And he just went and did it!”

Van Vlahakis, founder of
Earth Friendly Products.

With the company’s success, billions of dollars of corporate profits have been upset. Holding on to its hard-earned green cleaning market segment has been a fight. Shannon explains, “Large corporations were trying to buy Van out. Earth Friendly Products was the new up-and-coming company, and they didn’t want the competition. So they tried in multiple and sometimes underhanded ways to buy Van out.” It didn’t work. As a result, consumers across the world won a better product line, protecting not just themselves but plants, animals and marine life too. With every product used, we save ourselves and the Earth from further exposure to harmful chemicals. As Shannon says, “you can use the natural alternative and it makes a huge difference.” The company’s ECOS laundry detergent is the number one green laundry detergent in the United States today.

Shannon tells me that she is equally impressed with the way Van and Kelly Vlahakis act on their convictions even in their own homes. “We filmed at their homes. Somebody should do a piece just on their homes because they are both green and absolutely gorgeous! They are all about saving the planet,” she says. Using recycled glass, recycled wood and sustainable construction to minimize energy use, their homes showed Shannon going green is in no way a compromise on beauty, quality or function. “You can do anything,” she says.

WALKING THE WALK

As for Shannon herself, while her home is not green top to bottom, she does live in thoughtful ways to minimize her own personal impact on the environment. She has her own water filtration system and fills reusable bottles in order to avoid plastic. She’s also an avid recycler, uses canvas bags for her purchases at the market, buys green cleaning products and shops at markets that use more sustainable practices like Whole Foods and local health retailers.

Having cofounded a nonprofit pet adoption organization and being the proud owner of five dogs, she’s an animal lover too. That’s why she has chosen to be vegetarian. “In Hollywood, that can mean that you still eat fish, but I really am vegetarian—I don’t eat any animals from land or sea.” And she’s “almost” fully vegan. “If I’m at a restaurant and they use cheese or mayonnaise in something, I’ll eat it. But I don’t bring dairy into my home,” she says. Of course, she does not wear fur. She is now finding many fashionable purses and shoes that are alternatives to leather. When it comes to personal-care products, she chooses only brands that are not tested on animals. (Another reason she likes Earth Friendly Products is that their formulations are never tested on animals!) Today, she’s working with Chris DeRose at Last Chance for Animals to lobby for better animal-rights legislation.

LIVING HEALTHY

Just as Shannon does her best to tread lightly on planet Earth and exhibits compassion for animals, she treats herself well too by eating a healthy diet, getting the best nutritional supplements and following a fun and energizing exercise routine. Along with her mostly vegan diet, the fruits and vegetables she eats are almost all organic. Supplements are also key. “I take so many vitamins! I’m always changing it up. My new favorite line of vitamins is Garden of Life’s Vitamin Code, because they are raw. My doctor approved of them. I love that they are raw and unadulterated. I’m currently taking RAW One (a multivitamin), RAW CoQ10 and RAW Antioxidants,” Shannon says. She also takes a vegan omega-3 supplement. For immune health, she takes Chinese herbs—formulas prescribed by her acupuncturist. Shannon’s favorite health secret for general health and detoxification is adding Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar to purified water. She drinks it all day long. “I was told once that my body’s cells were not absorbing enough water and that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water each day would help. So I tried it for 10 days and I felt great. There are so many health benefits to apple cider vinegar. Weight loss is one of them. Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is the one I get,” she says. But she also likes it because it breaks up the monotony of plain water. For natural beauty and anti-aging, Shannon has few products that she especially likes. “I love Episilk Pure Hyaluronic Acid—it makes my skin feel tight and plumped up. I now put this on right after I wash my face both in the morning and evenings. Beauty Without Cruelty Rosemary Mint Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner have a great tingle to them and leave my hair feeling clean and soft. I’m always looking for great supplements and really like the ingredients in Kyolic Detox & Anti-Aging odorless garlic formula,” she says.

For exercise, her latest find is called Cardio Barre, an hour-long amped-up ballet class that works every muscle in the body. She goes two to three times a week and in between hits a power yoga class. And for her mind and spirit, she meditates. “I don’t do it as often as I should. But when I do, I always feel great. I was told, the busier you are the more you need to meditate,” she says.

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY

A Green Story director Nika wraps up the message of the film succinctly. He says, “Green is right. Green is the way to go.” Van Vlahakis and his company Earth Friendly Products are great examples of living green—as is his daughter Kelly and Shannon Elizabeth. They all believe that every choice we make counts, whether it’s the health of the planet or individual health. Here’s to celebrating Earth Day and spring with healthier choices!

Resources

Earth Friendly Products www.ecos.com

Shannon Elizabeth's New Blog Site www.thiswondrousworld.com

Written and directed by Paramyth Film’s Nika Agiashvili, A Green Story stars Ed O’Ross, Malcolm McDowell, Billy Zane, Louis Mandylor, Debbie Matenopoulos, Shannon Elizabeth, Annabella Sciorra, George Finn, Alessandra Torresani, Alexis Georgoulis, Julianna Guill, Mihalis Giannatos and Roger Bart.

Cover Stories from Past Issues

Cover Story 16.3
Bragg Live Food Products Celebrates 100 Years!

Cover Story 16.2
The Power of Fran: The Happily Divorced Star’s Cancer Prevention Mission and Personal Health Secrets Revealed!

Cover Story 16.1
Donna Richardson Joyner’s Tips for a Healthy 2012

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.