Jennifer Tilly is an American-Canadian actress and professional poker player, born on September 16, 1958, in Harbor City, Los Angeles.
She is known for her distinctive voice and comedic timing.
Tilly gained recognition for her roles in films like Bullets Over Broadway (1994), for which she received an Oscar nomination and Bride of Chucky.
She also voices Bonnie Swanson in Family Guy and has won awards for her poker skills, including a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005.
Parents
Jennifer’s parents are Harry Chan, a used car salesman of Chinese descent, and Patricia Tilly, a Canadian schoolteacher and former stage actress of Irish and Finnish ancestry.
Her parents divorced when she was five years old. Following the divorce, Jennifer was raised by her mother and stepfather, John Ward, on Texada Island in British Columbia.
Career
Tilly’s career spans multiple facets, including acting and professional poker.
In acting, she is renowned for her distinctive voice and comedic timing, earning her a Saturn Award, a Fantasporto Award, and a GLAAD Award, among other nominations.
Her breakthrough role came with Bullets Over Broadway (1994), for which she received an Academy Award nomination.
She gained further recognition for her portrayal of Tiffany Valentine in the Child’s Play series and voicing Bonnie Swanson in Family Guy.
Tilly’s acting career is marked by her versatility and ability to take on a variety of roles, from comedy to drama and horror.
She appeared in films like Bound (1996), a crime thriller where she starred alongside Gina Gershon, showcasing her ability to play complex characters.
Her role in Bride of Chucky (1998) became a cult classic, further cementing her status as a versatile actress.
Additionally, she received a San Diego Film Festival Achievement in Acting Award for her performance in Intervention in 2007.
In poker, Tilly has also achieved significant success. She began playing poker seriously in the early 2000s and quickly made a name for herself in the poker world.
Her most notable achievement in poker came in 2005 when she won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Ladies’ No Limit Hold’em event, earning her a WSOP bracelet.
This victory made her the first celebrity to win a WSOP bracelet.
In addition to her WSOP win, Tilly has participated in numerous other poker tournaments, including the World Poker Tour (WPT).
She won the WPT Ladies Invitational Tournament in 2005, further solidifying her reputation as a skilled poker player.
Her live tournament winnings have exceeded $1 million, demonstrating her success in the competitive world of professional poker.
Tilly’s achievements in both acting and poker have earned her several accolades.
Her Academy Award nomination for Bullets Over Broadway highlights her talent in acting.
In poker, her WSOP bracelet and WPT tournament win showcase her skill and dedication to the sport.
