{{short description|American actress (born 1993)}} {{Infobox person | name = Lili Simmons | image = | birth_name = Lili Marie Simmons | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|07|23}} | birth_place = Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. | occupation = Actress/model | years_active = 2010–present | relatives = Curt Simmons (grandfather) }}
'''Lili Marie Simmons''' (born July 23, 1993) is an American actress and model known for her roles as Rebecca Bowman in the Cinemax series ''Banshee'' (2013–2016) and Claudia Flynn in the Starz series ''Power Book IV: Force'' (2022–2025).<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Simmons |first=Lili |user=Liliflower33 |number=603645782084943873 |title=To correct IMDB and Wikipedia, my birthday is July 23rd 1993. NOT 1992 I'm 21 and will be 22 in July. Thanks guys!😜 |date=May 27, 2015 |accessdate=May 5, 2017}}</ref>
==Early life== Simmons was born and raised in Cardiff-by-the-Sea in San Diego County, California.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Simmons |first=Lili |user=Liliflower33 |number=385138065179566080 |title=Love my home town. #cardiffbythesea #bornandraised #socalgirl #cardiffkook |date=October 1, 2013 |accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ladygunn.com/people/lili-simmons|title=Lili Simmons|work=Ladygunn|date=April 20, 2016|accessdate=September 28, 2016}}</ref> At age 15, Simmons was discovered by talent manager Kate Linden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ozzy |date=2023-07-18 |title=Lili Simmons: Actress, Model, Singer |url=https://fashionrepublicmagazine.com/lili-simmons/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Fashion Republic Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== Simmons began her career as a Ford Model,<ref>{{cite web | title= New Faces at Ford by Jason Lee Parry| url= http://www.fashiongonerogue.com/portrait-faces-ford-jason-lee-parry/ |work= Fashion Gone Rogue |date=May 31, 2010 |accessdate= January 25, 2014}}</ref> also modelling for Bebe Stores, Roxy, J.C. Penney and Saturn.<ref>{{cite web |title= Lili Simmons |url= http://web.poptower.com/lili-simmons.htm |work= Pop Tower |accessdate= January 25, 2014 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202103234/http://web.poptower.com/lili-simmons.htm |archivedate= February 2, 2014 }}</ref>
She moved into acting in 2010 on the web series ''Hollywood Is Like High School with Money'', based on the book of the same name, playing Quinn Whitaker.<ref>{{cite web|title= Hollywood Is Like High School with Money|url= http://alloyentertainment.com/shows/hollywood-is-like-high-school-with-money-series/|work= Alloy Entertainment|accessdate= January 25, 2014|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120423221922/http://alloyentertainment.com/shows/hollywood-is-like-high-school-with-money-series/|archivedate= April 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hollywood Is Like High School with Money |url=http://www.tv.com/web/hollywood-is-like-high-school-with-money/ |work=TV.com |accessdate=January 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009010638/http://www.tv.com/web/hollywood-is-like-high-school-with-money/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also appeared in an episode of the Disney XD sitcom ''Zeke and Luther'' and then in the 2011 Disney Channel Original Movie ''Geek Charming''. Also that year, she had a small role in an episode of the sitcom ''Mr. Sunshine''.
In 2012, Simmons starred in the film ''Fat Kid Rules the World'', and guest starred in an episode of ''Jane by Design''. In 2013, she appeared in an episode of ''Vegas'' and began playing Rebecca Bowman, a rebellious Amish girl on the Cinemax series ''Banshee''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exclusive: Disney Channel Starlet Takes Racy Turn in Cinemax Drama Series Banshee|url=http://tvline.com/2012/04/10/lili-simmons-banshee-cinemax/|work=tvline.com|date=April 10, 2012 |accessdate=January 25, 2014}}</ref> She originally auditioned for the role of Deva Hopewell, but: "They said, 'She's too old or too sexy' or whatever". While in Philadelphia for her grandmother's funeral, the producers asked her to go back to New York to read for Rebecca, after which she won the role.<ref>{{cite web|title=Higher Power|url=http://aritzia.com/Profile%3A-Lili-Simmons/ea3-lili-simmons,default,pg.html|work=tvline.com|accessdate=January 25, 2014}}</ref> In March that year, she appeared in a pictorial in ''Maxim'' magazine.<ref name="Maxim">{{cite web|title=Lili Simmons Talks "Banshee" and Being Nude In Front of America|url=http://www.maxim.com/tv/lili-simmons-talks-banshee-and-being-nude-front-america|work=Maxim | date= 22 July 2013 |accessdate=January 25, 2014}}</ref>
In 2014, Simmons began recurring roles on ''Hawaii Five-0'', and the series ''True Detective''.<ref name="True Detectives 3">{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Stuart|title=Simmons added to HBO's 'True Detective' cast|url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/simmons-added-to-hbo-s-true-detective-cast-1118065450/|work=Variety|date=January 30, 2013 |accessdate=January 25, 2014}}</ref> In April 2016, she was cast in what had been stated would be a recurring role in another series, ''Westworld'', though she appeared in only one episode during the first season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/lili-simmons-cast-westworld-hbo-drama-series-resumes-production-1201733075/|title=Lili Simmons Joins 'Westworld' As HBO Drama Series Resumes Production|work=Deadline|date=April 6, 2016|accessdate=September 28, 2016}}</ref> In February 2017, Simmons was cast in a season-long arc on the fifth season of the Showtime drama series ''Ray Donovan'', playing Natalie James, "the star of a big movie franchise".<ref>{{cite web|first=Bryn Elise|last=Sandberg|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ray-donovan-adds-trio-season-5-975719|title='Ray Donovan' Adds Trio to Season 5 (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 13, 2017|accessdate=May 5, 2017}}</ref>
In April 2019, it was confirmed by actress Camren Bicondova that Simmons was cast to replace her in the role of the adult Selina Kyle / Catwoman for the series finale of ''Gotham'', at Bicondova's request to "give the torch to someone else for her adult self", which was respected by the Fox Broadcasting Company, Warner Bros. Television, and the series' producers. Bicondova and Simmons met beforehand and collaborated on the characterization. Showrunner John Stevens described casting Simmons as "a stroke of incredible good fortune", as well as praising her as "an incredible actress and looks like she could be Cam's sister."<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Bicondova |first=Camren |user=camren |number=1119316098166423552 |date=April 19, 2019 |title=#Gotham My heart. 🙏🏽❤️ https://t.co/0TopulDoHK |language=en |access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/gotham-series-finale-explained-1204558|title='Gotham' Boss Explains Why Batman Was Barely in the Series Finale|date=April 25, 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
In 2022, she played a pool shark in the independent feature film ''Double Down South''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turitz |first=Neil |date=2024-01-25 |title=How 5 Hours of Billiards Training a Day Turned Lili Simmons into a Pool Shark in Tom Schulman’s ‘Double Down South’ - Casting Networks |url=https://www.castingnetworks.com/news/lili-simmons-double-down-south/,%20https://www.castingnetworks.com/news/lili-simmons-double-down-south/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was released in 2024 which also saw her complete the final season of ''Power Book IV: Force''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dailly |first=Paul |date=2024-06-21 |title=Power Book IV: Force's Cancellation Reminds Me Of Another Starz Underrated Drama's Demise |url=https://screenrant.com/power-book-iv-force-canceled-hightown/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2012 | ''Fat Kid Rules the World'' | Isabel | |- | 2015 | ''Bone Tomahawk'' | Samantha O'Dwyer | |- | rowspan="2" | 2016 | ''Dirty Lies'' | Michelle | |- | ''Robyn Hood: I Love NY'' | Robyn Hood | Short film<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch 'Banshee' Star Lili Simmons in Zenescope's New 'Robyn Hood' (Exclusive Video)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/watch-banshee-star-lili-simmons-in-zenescopes-new-robyn-hood-exclusive-video/|website=The Wrap|date=13 October 2016 |accessdate=13 November 2016}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" | 2017 | ''Deux Face'' | Sand | Short film |- | ''Bad Match'' | Riley | |- | 2021 | ''Sound of Violence'' | Marie Sotker | |- |2022 |''Double Down South'' |Diana |Lead role |- |2023 |''Clive Boomer's Success'' |Rita |Main role |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2010 | ''Zeke and Luther'' | Mia | Episode: "Sludge" |- | rowspan="2" | 2011 | ''Mr. Sunshine'' | Hot Teenage Girl | Episode: "Employee of the Year" |- | ''Geek Charming'' | Lola Leighton | Television film |- | 2012 | ''Jane by Design'' | Piper Grace | Episode: "The Teen Model" |- | 2013 | ''Vegas'' | Fay Binder | Episode: "Road Trip" |- | 2013–2016 | ''Banshee'' | Rebecca Bowman | Main role, 32 episodes |- | 2014 | ''True Detective'' | Beth | 2 episodes |- | 2014–2017 | ''Hawaii Five-0'' | Amber Vitale / Melissa Armstrong | Recurring role, 6 episodes |- | 2017 | ''Ray Donovan'' | Natalie James | Recurring role (season 5), 8 episodes |- | 2016; 2018; 2022 | ''Westworld'' | New Clementine / Sophia | Episodes: "Trace Decay", "Akane no Mai", "Well Enough Alone" |- | rowspan="2" | 2018 | ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' | Gina Goodrich | Episode: "Accredo" |- | ''The Purge'' | Lila Stanton | Main role |- | 2019 | ''Gotham'' | Adult Selina Kyle | Episode: "The Beginning..." |- | 2022–2025 | ''Power Book IV: Force'' | Claudia Flynn | Main role |}
===Web=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2010 | ''Hollywood Is Like High School with Money'' | Quinn Whitaker | 9 episodes |- | 2013–2016 | ''Banshee Origins'' | Rebecca Bowman | 3 episodes |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Twitter}} * {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Lili}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:People from La Jolla, San Diego Category:Actors from Encinitas, California Category:Actresses from San Diego Category:21st-century American actresses