Shawn Batten

Shawn Susan Batten (born August 14, 1975) is an American actress most known for her role as the second Sara Cummings (1997–1999) in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach and Natalia Carlisle on Spyder Games (2001). Batten made numerous guest appearances on TV series, with recurring roles on Beverly Hills 90210, The Sklar Brothers; Apt. 2F (with Zach Galifinakis, Alanna Ubach and Michael Showalter) and X-Files spinoff, The Lone Gunman. Roles in feature films such as Academy Award Best Picture nominee Quiz Show,[1] and award-winning indie films One Dog Day and Delinquent.[1] After graduating with a BFA in Theatre from Syracuse University,[1][2] Batten studied modern dance at NYU while appearing in a laundry list of commercials, off broadway plays and filming TV pilots that ultimately went nowhere. Tired of getting thisclose time and time again, she decided to head out to Los Angeles and try her luck on the left coast. Soon after signing with William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor) and powerhouse manager Bob McGowan, Batten was auditioning non-stop while working as a production assistant for VH1 and MTV. After reading for every Aaron Spelling production, sometimes for 2 or 3 roles in the same episode, she landed the role of Sara Cummings in Spelling's first daytime drama, Sunset Beach.[1][3] Batten stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1999. She then joined the cast of teen drama Spyder Games[4] where she played the leading role and appeared in 59 out of 60 episodes.

Besides a one-episode appearance on the short-lived Don Johnson series Just Legal in 2006 and several commercials and voice over projects, Batten has yet to return to acting since Games ended rather choosing to stay home to parent her two children. Batten grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey. She married longtime boyfriend, Toto guitarist, Steve Lukather, in 2002.[2] They were divorced in 2010.