A friend emailed me this afternoon about the sudden passing of actress and director Adrienne Shelly, who was found dead in her office yesterday. This Newsday article has a few more details, but the cause of death is unknown.

As an actress Shelly is best known for her work in Hal Hartley’s first two features, The Unbelievable Truth and Trust. A true original in the world of American independent film, she projected a fascinating, low-key charisma on screen and, in Hartley’s work in particular, captured the essence of a brainy and slightly lost young generation trying its hardest to figure out the mysteries of life. She went on to act in many other movies, including this summer’s Factotum, and as well as to direct two features. Suddenly, Manhattan was completed in 1997 and, according to the Newsday piece, she had just sent her most recent film, Waitress, off to the Sundance selection committee.