Born on September 16, 1958, in Harbor City, Los Angeles, Jennifer Tilly is a versatile actress and a professional poker player. She began her acting career in 1983 with a small role in ‘Hill Street Blues’ and made her film debut the following year as Mona in ‘No Small Affair’. Since then, Tilly has built an impressive list of credits in both film and television, while also achieving success as a poker player, winning a bracelet in the World Series of Poker Ladies’ Event. Let’s take a look at five of the best movie roles of Jennifer Tilly’s career.
1. Bullets Over Broadway
Jennifer Tilly’s performance as young actress Olive Neal in ‘Bullets over Broadway’ earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Olive, the girlfriend of a gangster, is hired by a young playwright whose boyfriend has amazing ideas for the play. This 1994 black comedy-crime film was written and directed by Woody Allen and featured a star-studded cast, including Jim Broadbent, John Cusack, Harvey Fierstein, Chazz Palminteri, and Mary-Louise Parker.
2. Bride of Chucky
In this 1998 supernatural comedy slasher movie, Jennifer Tilly takes on the lead role of Tiffany Valentine. Her character brings Chucky back to life, believing her ex-boyfriend’s soul resides within the doll. When she gives Chucky a doll in a bride’s dress to mock him, he kills her and transfers her soul into the doll. The pair then devise a plan to obtain an amulet to transfer their souls into the bodies of their neighbors. Directed by Ronny Yu and based on Don Mancini’s novel ‘Characters’, the film also starred Brad Dourif, Katherine Heigl, John Rutter, and Nick Stabile.
3. Liar Liar
In ‘Liar Liar’, a comedy film starring Jim Carrey as lawyer Fletcher Reede, Jennifer Tilly plays the role of Samantha Cole, his money-grabbing client. Directed by Tom Shadyac and written by Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, this 1997 movie also featured Maura Tierney, Swoosie Kurtz, Amanda Donohoe, Anne Haney, and Justin Cooper. ‘Liar Liar’ was a massive commercial success, grossing $302.7 million at the box office on a budget of $45 million.
4. Made in America
Jennifer Tilly played the role of Stacy in ‘Made in America’, a 1993 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson, and Nia Long. The movie follows an intellectual black woman who uses a sperm donor to conceive her daughter. When her daughter discovers her biological father, she is shocked to find that he is an obnoxious, white car salesman. Directed by Richard Benjamin and written by Marcia Brandwynne, Nadine Schiff, and Holly Goldberg Sloan, the film made almost $105 million at the box office on a budget of $22 million.
5. The Fabulous Baker Boys
Although Jennifer Tilly’s role as Blanche ‘Monica’ Moran in ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ is not as prominent as some of her other roles, it is significant because the movie was nominated for numerous awards and helped Tilly secure bigger roles in future films. This 1989 romantic comedy-drama starred Michelle Pfeiffer, Beau Bridges, and Jeff Bridges. Written and directed by Steve Kloves, the film featured an award-winning score by David Grusin.
Follow Us
