Mena Adrienne Suvari was born February 9, 1979, in Newport, Rhode Island. Her father was Ando Suvari an Estonian psychiatrist and her mother was Candice a registered nurse. Mena's first name comes from her British Aunt named after the "House of Mena" Hotel. Mena started modeling at the tender age of 12. She was recognized by modeling agencies as something very special. Her acting career began when she did a Rice-a-Roni commercial at age 13. She was also a Wilhelmina model for a few years.

Mena’s success came only by the age of 17, her family moved to Los Angeles to give her every chance at success. Mena found a career beyond modeling in her acting when she reached L.A, Suvari started in on TV work almost immediately - commercials at first, followed by guest appearances on "Boy Meets World" (1993), "er" (1994), and "Chicago Hope" (1994).

She launched her movie career in 1997, picking up small roles in Gregg Araki's Nowhere (1997) and the Morgan Freeman-Ashley Judd thriller Kiss the Girls (1997). She popped up again in the background of Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), then landed a slightly meatier role as the best friend of the telekinetic heroine in Rage: Carrie 2 (1999).

In spite of being busy with her up-rising career, Mena continued attending school during this time and fellow schoolmates noticed their less than popular classmate turning up in everything they were watching. Mena attended middle school at the Ashley Hall all-girls school in Charleston, South Carolina, and graduated from Providence High School in Burbank, California.

Suvari’s ticket to fame was the teen sex quest in American Pie (1999) which cast her as a wholesome high-schooler who falls for a jock (Chris Klein). A few months later Mena’s real breakthrough came with her portrayal as the vampish cheerleader who captures Kevin Spacey's unwholesome imagination in American Beauty (1999).

The sultry-but-fragile character earned Suvari a British Academy Award nomination, and shared Online Film Critics Society and Theatrical Motion Picture ensemble awards, as well as an outbreak of job offers and gushing fansites. Mena was also named a Vanity Fair Star of Tomorrow, and one of Young Hollywood.com's Most Promising Faces.

Suvari kept her chin up heading back to high school for her most recent project, Sugar and Spice (2001). This new project critically acclaimed for a range that takes her characters from sweet to vulgar, innocent to criminal. She also joins the cast of the period film The Musketeer (2001).
Mena has found her calling in acting, yet she still hopes of a future behind the camera work, in the vein of writing, directing or producing.