Дженнифер Эльфман: Американдық актриса және продюсер

American actress and producer

Jennifer Mary Elfman (née Butala, born September 30, 1971) is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999, and three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. After making her film debut in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), she has appeared in Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), Dr. Dolittle (1998), EDtv (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), Town & Country (2001), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004), and Big Stone Gap (2014). Elfman has also played leading roles on other television comedies, including Courting Alex (2006), Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010), 1600 Penn (2012–2013), Growing Up Fisher (2014), and Imaginary Mary (2017). She also had a recurring role on the FX legal drama Damages in 2012, and has been a series regular on the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead since 2018.

Elfman was born Jennifer Mary Butala in Los Angeles, California. She was the youngest of three children born to homemaker Sue Butala (née Grace) and Richard Butala, a Hughes Aircraft executive. Her paternal uncle is Tony Butala, lead singer of the American vocal trio The Lettermen since 1958. She is of Croatian ancestry on her father's side and was raised Roman Catholic. Elfman attended high school at St. Genevieve High School in the San Fernando Valley for a year, before eventually graduating at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; she then attended college at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She trained in ballet from age five, but later gave it up when a tendon separated from bone. She studied at the Westside School of Ballet, receiving a full scholarship.

Elfman began her professional career as a dancer, appearing in music videos for Depeche Mode ("Halo", 1990), Anthrax ("Black Lodge", 1993), and Chris Isaak ("Somebody's Crying", 1995), and touring with the rock band ZZ Top on their 1994 tour as a "Legs Girl". After appearing in television commercials, Elfman co starred in the made for television movie Double Deception (1993) and guest starred on Roseanne, NYPD Blue, Almost Perfect and Murder One. In 1996, she was cast as a lead character alongside Molly Ringwald and Lauren Graham in the short lived ABC sitcom Townies. The series was cancelled after one season and 15 episodes. The following year, she made her big screen debut appearing in the black comedy film, Grosse Pointe Blank.

In 1997, Elfman was cast in the ABC comedy series Dharma & Greg playing the leading role of Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery. She received positive reviews from critics for her breakthrough performance. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999 for the show's second season, as well as three Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Elfman also received TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy nomination in 1998, as well as three Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy nominations. The show ran for five seasons until its cancellation in 2002. During her time on Dharma & Greg, Elfman starred in a number of movies. In 1998, she starred alongside Richard Dreyfuss in the comedy film Krippendorf's Tribe. The film received generally negative reviews from critics. In 1999, she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in the satirical comedy film EDtv. The film received mixed to positive reviews, with some criticizing its similarity to The Truman Show (1998), but was a box office flop, grossing only $35.2 million compared to its $80 million production budget. The following year, she starred in the romantic comedy film Keeping the Faith opposite Ben Stiller and Edward Norton (who also directed). The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $60 million. Elfman received Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination for her performance. In 2001, she appeared in the romantic comedy film Town & Country, a $105 million production budget box office bomb. The film was filmed in 1998, and after 12 release date changes, the film finally made it into theaters on April 27, 2001, nearly three years after filming began. It received negative reviews from critics. Elfman has also done voice over work in the animated films Dr. Dolittle (1998) and CyberWorld (2000).

After Dharma & Greg, Elfman played against the type role as a psychotic woman in the made for television thriller film, Obsessed (2002). She received positive review from Chicago Tribune for her performance. In 2003, she starred in the live action/animated comedy film, Looney Tunes: Back in Action. The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics and was a box office bomb, grossing $68.5 million worldwide on an $80 million budget. In 2005, she starred and produced the romantic drama film, Touched. In 2006, Elfman returned to television with the leading role in the CBS sitcom, Courting Alex. The series was cancelled after one season. She guest starred on Two and a Half Men, My Name Is Earl and Brothers & Sisters. In 2009, she appeared in the comedy films The Six Wives of Henry Lefay and Love Hurts. In 2011, she played Justin Timberlake's character sister in the romantic comedy film, Friends with Benefits. In 2012, Elfman and her husband Bodhi started their podcast, Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman. Elfman starred in another short lived CBS sitcom, Accidentally on Purpose during the 2009–10 season. In 2012, she took a recurring role in the FX legal thriller series, Damages. In 2013, Elfman starred in the NBC comedy series, 1600 Penn and later in Growing Up Fisher, which were each cancelled after a single season. She starred in the romantic comedy film, Big Stone Gap (2014) opposite Ashley Judd, and appeared in the drama film Barry about Barack Obama's life at Columbia University in 1981. In 2017, she starred in another one season sitcom, Imaginary Mary on ABC. Like 1600 Penn and Growing Up Fisher, the series was cancelled after its first season. In 2018, Elfman was cast in the AMC horror drama series, Fear the Walking Dead playing the mysterious nurse June "Naomi/Laura" Dorie. She made her debut in the fourth season and stayed on show to the eighth and final season. In 2020, she starred in an episode of the horror anthology series, The Twilight Zone.

In February 1991, she met actor Bodhi Pine Elfman (né Saboff) during an audition for a Sprite commercial. Four years later, they were married on February 18, 1995. Bodhi is of Jewish descent, and Jenna was raised Catholic. When they met, he was a practicing Scientologist. She became a Scientologist as well after her husband introduced her to its teachings. By 2001 she had attained the State of Clear, and by 2020 she was on the OT VII level. Since the early 1990s Elfman had studied acting with prominent acting teacher and long time Scientologist Milton Katselas, but cut ties with him in 2004 when Katselas had fallen into disfavor with Scientology. In 2001, Elfman opened a Scientology mission in San Francisco. She and husband Bodhi are listed on the CCHR website as members of the board of advisers. On May 24, 2006, she was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Hero Award event in participation with the Scientology affiliated groups Youth for Human Rights International and Artists for Human Rights (AFHR), an organization formed with the purpose of bringing artists together with the common cause of raising awareness of human rights around the world. On March 27, 2008, she and actor Charlie Sheen co hosted the Scientology affiliated New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project charity event at Geisha House in Hollywood.

Elfman participated in fundraising activities, including donating an hour of her time for auction, donating a print of her lips, participating in a telethon fundraiser, hosting a comedy show, and asking for charity donations instead of birthday presents. Elfman participated in awareness raising initiatives, including modeling for a fashion show, reading to schoolchildren as part of the National Education Association Read Across America program, and hosting a party in her home to raise awareness for causes headed by the Environmental Working Group. Elfman is on the board of directors of the Dizzy Feet Foundation.

Year Title Role Notes1997Grosse Pointe BlankTanya1998Dr. DolittleOwlVoiceCan't Hardly WaitThe AngelUncreditedKrippendorf's TribeProf. Veronica Micelli1999EDtvShariVenusVenus2000LoreleiVoiceCyberWorldPhigVoiceKeeping the FaithAnna Riley2001Town & CountryAuburn2003Looney Tunes: Back in ActionKate Houghton2004Clifford's Really Big MovieDorothyVoice2005TouchedAngela MartinExecutive producerWhat's Hip, Doc?SupermodelVoice2008StruckPregnant dateShort film2009OpheliaLove HurtsDarlene2011Friends with BenefitsAnnie2014Big Stone GapMiss Iva Lou Wade2016BarryKathy Baughman

Year Title Role Notes1992Murder, She WroteBallet Dancer in backgroundUncredited; Episode: "Dance Diabolique" 1993Double Deception Lisa MajorskiTelevision film1994Psychedelic girlAs Jenna Butala; Episode: "George Does A Bad Thing"1995LilyEpisode: "Bottoms, Up"1995RoseanneGarlandEpisode: "The Getaway, Almost"1996Her Last Chance LeslieTelevision film1996TowniesShannon CanotisMain cast; 15 episodes1996Murder OneAngela ScaleseEpisode: "Chapter Seventeen"1996Almost PerfectBecky TollEpisode: "Being Fired Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry"1996NYPD BluePatty SnowEpisode: "The Nutty Confessor"1997JordanEpisode: "Just Friends? "1997–2002Dharma & GregDharma Freedom Finkelstein MontgomeryMain cast; 119 episodes2002ObsessedEllena RobertsTelevision film2004Two and a Half MenFrankie2 episodes2006Courting AlexAlex RoseMain cast; 13 episodes2007Brothers & SistersLizzie Jones BakerEpisode: "Game Night"2008My Name Is EarlKimmi HimmlerEpisode: "We've Got Spirit"2009–2010Accidentally on PurposeBillieMain cast; 18 episodes2011Two and a Half MenDharma MontgomeryEpisode: "Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt"2012ShamelessJillEpisode: "Fiona Interrupted"2012DamagesNaomi Walling7 episodes2012–20131600 PennEmily Nash GilchristMain cast; 13 episodes2013Royal PainsLacyEpisode: "Open Invitation"2014Growing Up FisherJoyce FisherMain cast; 13 episodes2014So You Think You Can DanceHerselfGuest judge2015The Perfect StanleysEllenTelevision film2017Imaginary MaryAliceMain cast; 9 episodes2018–2023Fear the Walking DeadJune "Naomi/Laura" DorieMain cast; 39 episodes2018–2021Talking DeadHerself6 episodes 2020 The Twilight Zone Barbara Episode: "A Human Face" 2024 Will Trent Director GBI Episode: "Cpt. Duke Wagner"