Jen Lilley

Jen Lilley

Lilley in 2013
Born (1984-08-04) August 4, 1984
Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 2007–present
Known for
Days of Our Lives
Spouse(s) Jason Wayne (m. 2007)

Jen Lilley (born August 4, 1984[1][2]) is an American actress and singer. After playing a supporting role in the 2011 French film The Artist, she portrayed Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital from September 2011 to August 2012, while Kirsten Storms was on medical leave. In April 2013, Lilley joined the cast of Days of Our Lives, making her on-screen debut as Theresa Donovan, daughter of Shane Donovan and Kimberly Brady, on July 3, 2013.

Personal life

Lilley was born in Roanoke, Virginia to Ellen and Vincent Lilley. She is the second oldest of four children. She has two brothers, Michael and Ryan, and one sister, Katherine.[3] Lilley graduated from Cave Spring High School in 2003.[4] She went on to attend University of Virginia and graduated early with magna cum laude honors.[5]

Lilley revealed in a May 2014 issue of Soap Opera Digest that she has been married to her husband, Jason Wayne, since May 26, 2007.[6][7] The couple has been together since 2004.[8]

Career

Acting

She has been in numerous films. Her career began at The University of Virginia in a film called The Loss of Life.[9]

In 2011, she had a supporting role in director Michel Hazanavicius's silent movie The Artist, starring John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Jean Dujardin, and Bérénice Bejo.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

In 2011, Lilley played various characters on MTV's Disaster Date, alongside Lauren Zima, Jason Karasev, Cale Hartmann, Hasan Minhaj, Russell Pitts, and Kara Luiz. She also appeared as Monie in the iCarly TV movie, "iParty with Victorious".[12][17]

In the fall of 2011, Lilley took over the role of Maxie Jones, as a temporary recast for Kirsten Storms on General Hospital while she was on medical leave for endometriosis. She made her on-screen debut on September 28, 2011.[18] In August 2012, Lilley confirmed that she had finished taping and made her on-screen exit on August 20, 2012;[19][20][21] Storms later returned on September 5.[22]

In April 2013, Lilley joined the cast of Days of Our Lives as a newly created character.[23] She made her on-screen debut as Theresa Donovan on July 3, 2013.[24] In June 2016, she confirmed she was exiting the soap due to the demanding filming schedule hindering her ability to pursue other commitments and opportunities.[25]

Following the announcement of her casting with Days of Our Lives, Lilley also made her debut in The Book of Esther, portraying the titular character. During an interview with Christian Post, Lilley said of her casting: "That opportunity came from the Lord. I prayed and fasted to decide whether I would accept the role or not, but this is the one that I was to take. I had other offers, and they all fell through, so I'm grateful that I took the opportunity to be on 'Days'. At the time, I asked for certain things in my contract that people said would be impossible. But I stood on my faith, and against all odds, I got those things. I daily pray for God to help me be a peacekeeper and help me through my scenes; my character is so evil that it's just unlike me. And obviously there is a lot of sex on the show. When the time comes, I'm going to use it as an opportunity to show the importance of abstinence, which I fully believe in. [...] I don't understand how my friends can do things in this industry without faith. I can't do things without prayer."[26]

Singing

Lilley performed multiple concerts in Guatemala at the age of 16, garnering her group The National Educators Award of Guatemala.[27] In the summer of 2014, Lilley traveled to Georgia, where she hosted and sang in a benefit concert with SOWEGA Art Performance to raise funds for ONEless Ministries.[28]

Lilley performed at a benefit concert in New York on December 5, 2014 and is also set to record a full-length album with Capitol Records and several of the label's producers.[29][30]

On November 24, 2015, Lilley released her first Christmas album, "Tinsel Time." The album's title track premiered on TV Guide Magazine's TV Insider.[31] She sold out of copies of the first pressing within three days. The album, which hit Number one on the Amazon Swing charts, was subsequently released for CD and download sale on Amazon.com.[32]

Filmography

Film

Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Suburban Skies Janey Richardson
2008 A Step Toward Heaven Wife Short film
Changeling Switchboard Operator
2009 Flicker Lydia Short film
2010 Fiddler in the Darkness Lisa Coryelle
2011 The Back-up Bride Daisy Spur
Obsolescence Annie Short film
The Artist On-looker
The Sticky Chocolate Kingdom Audrey
2012 One Small Hitch Larissa
The Olivia Experiment Felicia
Love Refreshed Angel Short film
2013 Revelation Road: The Beginning of the End Rachel McManus
The Book of Esther Esther
Revelation Road 2: The Sea of Glass and Fire Rachel McManus
2014 Turnaround Jake Jessica Henry
2015 Crossing Streets Cate Anderson
2016 Where Are You, Bobby Browning? Patsy In post-production

Television

TV roles
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Hannah Montana Swimsuit Model Episode: "That's What Friends are For" (season 2)
2008 Two and a Half Men Bridesmaid No. 4 Episode: "Rough Night in Hump Junction" (season 5)
Ingles Ya! Sirena / Mandy 19 Episodes
2009 Criminal Minds Megan Chertow Episode: "The Eyes Have It" (season 5)
2010 Castle Julia Foster Episode: "Punked" (season 3)
2011 Rules of Engagement Barista Episode: "The Power Couple" (season 5)
Disaster Date Various Series regular (18 episodes)
iCarly Monie Crossover episode: "iParty with Victorious"
Victorious
PrankStars Herself Episode: "Something to Chew On" (premiere)
2011–12 General Hospital Maxie Jones Series Regular (113 episodes)
2012 The Dark Knight Retires Carly Web series; recurring role
Petty Offense Laura Series regular
2013 The Crazy Ones Claire Episode: "Bad Dad"
2013–2016 Days of Our Lives Theresa Donovan Series regular; July 3, 2013 to November 18, 2016
2014 Dating in LA and Other Urban Myths Chloe Series regular (8 episodes)
2014–15 Youthful Daze Natalie Cardin Series regular (48 episodes)
2015 The Spirit of Christmas Kate Jordan Lifetime movie
2016 Grey's Anatomy Kara Episode: "I Ain’t No Miracle Worker" (season 13)

Accolades

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
2014 Indie Series Awards Best Lead Actress – Drama Youthful Daze Nominated [33]

Charity work

Lilley is known for advocating for children's rights and supports charities that focus on protecting children against physical and sexual abuse, human trafficking, homelessness, and the world water crisis.[34][35]

In 2011, Lilley became a celebrity ambassador for Childhelp, a charity that specializes in the prevention and treatment of child abuse. In 2012, she hosted the Childhelp Wings Fashion Show in Washington D.C., alongside Cynthia Steele Vance.[36] In the Spring of 2013, Lilley collaborated with Be Your Own You, a lifestyle brand that empowers women and girls, and designed her own Signature Series clothing and apparel line to benefit Childhelp.[37][38]In the Spring of 2014, Jen Lilley was the grand marshal for the 2014 Beaumont Cherry Festival Parade.[39] In the Fall of 2014, Lilley hosted the First Annual Stars Strike Out Child Abuse, a celebrity bowling tournament, to raise money for Childhelp.[40][38]

In 2013, she joined the board of the Innocent Justice Foundation, a charity that leverages high technology solutions to help rescue millions of American children who are being sexually abused and prevent future abuse.[41]

In 2014, Lilley became a school tour speaker on behalf of The Thirst Project. She gave lectures on many Florida school campuses, including The University of Florida.[42][43][44] The Thirst Project is a non-profit organization in America which aims to bring safe drinking water to communities around the world.

She also works to help the homeless and is often seen at the Los Angeles Mission.[45]

Each year, she donates her birthday for a charitable cause. For her 30th birthday, Lilley raised money for Children of the Night, the A21 Campaign, Oneless, and the Innocent Justice Foundation.[46] Lilley and her girlfriends also made 100 care kits for the homeless to celebrate her "dirty 30".[47]

To combat human trafficking, Lilley partnered with Oneless Ministries in the summer of 2014. She traveled to cities across the state of Georgia, speaking to local police departments and news stations to raise awareness about human trafficking here in the United States. While in Georgia, She hosted and sang in a benefit concert with SOWEGA Art Performance to raise funds for ONEless Ministries on Saturday, June 28.[28]

Lilley has a Christmas CD coming out in 2014, with proceeds benefitting wounded veterans.[47] She performed in a benefit concert in New York on December 5, 2014.[29][48]

In November 2015, Childhelp honored Lilley with the "For the Love of a Child" award for her work to end child abuse.

References

  1. ↑ Lilley, Jen. "I came home to the sweetest birthday surprise!". Instagram. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ Lilley, Jen. "Today is my birthday!". Twitter. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  3. ↑ "ACT TWO". Soap Opera Digest. August 12, 2013. p. 39.
  4. ↑ "Free Lilley." Soap Opera Digest. May 8, 2012. p. 55.
  5. ↑ Durrell, Angela (August 26, 2015). "Slicing: Pie with Jen Lilley - Interview". Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Wed Alert." Soap Opera Digest. p. 40. May 19, 2014 (Vol. 39, No. 20).
  7. ↑ Lilley, Jen (May 26, 2016). "9 Years Ago Today I Married The Most Amazing Man On Earth". Instagram.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  8. ↑ Lilley, Jen (July 8, 2016). "Been Making Out With This Hottie For 12 Years". Instagram.com. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ Williams, Jeannette (September 22, 2005). "Loss depicts the reel world". Cavalier Daily.
  10. ↑ Sandhu, Sukhdev (May 17, 2011). "Cannes 2011: The Artist, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  11. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (May 15, 2011). "The Artist: Cannes Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  12. 1 2 Norris, Jane (May 27, 2011). "UVa graduate gains notice in Hollywood". The Daily Progress. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ Smith, Emily (May 17, 2011). "Harvey Silent?". The New York Post.
  14. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (May 15, 2011). "Cannes 2011: Can 'The Artist' cross over from art-house novelty to mainstream hit?". Los Angeles Times.
  15. ↑ Germain AP, David (May 15, 2011). "Ssh, No Talking: Silent Movie Charms Cannes Fest". ABC News. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  16. ↑ Stone, Sasha (May 15, 2011). "Cannes Reviews: 'The Artist' Brings Happiness, 'Michael' Brings Dread". The Wrap. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  17. ↑ MTV (May 12, 2011). "Disaster Date " Cast " Jen Lilley". Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  18. ↑ Kroll, Dan J. (September 14, 2011). "Illness sidelines Kirsten Storms, forces Maxie recast". Soap Central. Soapcentral. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  19. ↑ Kroll, Dan J. (July 22, 2012). "Emotional Jen Lilley thanks fans for support". Soapcentral. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  20. ↑ Simms, Richard M. (July 23, 2012). "Storms Is Back As Maxie". ABC Soaps In Depth. ABC.Soapsindepth.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  21. ↑ Roots, Kimberly (July 23, 2012). "General Hospital Casting News: Kirsten Storms to Return! Jen Lilley Out!". TV Line. TVLine.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Kirsten Storms Back To Work At GH". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  23. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE! Jen Lilley joins DAYS". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Comings and Goings". Soap Opera Digest (July 9, 2013). 2013.
  25. ↑ Pederson, Erik (June 6, 2016). "Days Of Our Lives Star Jen Lilley Exiting After 3 Years". Deadline.com. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  26. ↑ Martin, Sam J. (June 11, 2013). "Jen Lilley on 'The Book of Esther': 'God Has a Plan for Each One of Us'". Christian Post. Christianpost.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Days Of Our Lives Actor - Jen Lilley". Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Actress in town for anti-human trafficking awareness". Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Days' Jen Lilley At Westchester All Stars Christmas Concert". Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  30. ↑ Clifford, Kambra (December 31, 2014). "Jen Lilley recording an album; will she leave DAYS for music?". www.soapcentral.com.
  31. ↑ Logan, Michael (November 18, 2015). "First Listen: Days of Our Lives Star Jen Lilley Gets Into the Holiday Spirit With New Christmas Album". www.TVinsider.com.
  32. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018VBN268/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp
  33. ↑ "6th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominees". indieseriesawards.com. 2014. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  34. ↑ "100 Huntley Street-Upcoming Guests". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  35. ↑ "Jen Lilley Charity Work, Events and Causes". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  36. ↑ "Cynthia Steele Vance" (PDF). Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  37. ↑ "Jen Lilley Designs Apparel Line to Prevent Child Abuse". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  38. 1 2 Di Lauro, Janet (15 January 2016). "'DAYS' Jen Lilley Designs Limited Edition Clothing Line for Childhelp". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  39. ↑ "Beaumont Cherry Festival, Parade Information". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  40. ↑ "Stars Strike Out Child Abuse, A Celebrity Bowling Tournament hosted by Jen Lilley". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  41. ↑ "Innocent Justice Foundation-About Us". Innocent Justice Foundation. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  42. ↑ "Jen Lilley at the 5th Annual Thirst Gala". Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "The Thirst Project at UF!". Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  44. ↑ "100 Huntley Street-Upcoming Guests". Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  45. ↑ "Los Angeles Mission Rocks End Of Summer Block Party". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  46. ↑ "Jen Lilley on Crowdrise". Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  47. 1 2 "Arts & Extras: Roanoke County-raised actress Jen Lilley reveals her age for charitable causes". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  48. ↑ "Jen Lilley". All Stars Christmas. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jen Lilley.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.