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Jenna Dewan
Jenna Dewan 2012.jpg
Dewan at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon 2012
Born
Jenna Lee Dewan

(1980-12-03) December 3, 1980 (age 43)
Other names Jenna Dewan-Tatum
Alma mater University of Southern California
Occupation Actress, dancer
Years active 1990–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2009; div. 2019)
Partner(s) Steve Kazee (2018–present; engaged)
Children 2

Jenna Lee Dewan (/dəˈwɑːn/; born December 3, 1980) is an American actress and dancer. She started her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson, and later worked with artists including Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Missy Elliott. She is known for her role as Nora Clark in the 2006 film Step Up. She also had a recurring role on the FX series American Horror Story: Asylum. She portrayed Freya Beauchamp on the Lifetime series Witches of East End, Lucy Lane in The CW series Supergirl and Superman & Lois, and Joanna in Soundtrack on Netflix. Dewan has hosted the reality television shows World of Dance and Flirty Dancing and served as a judge on Come Dance with Me. She currently stars as Bailey Nune on ABC's The Rookie. She also had a recurring role on the FOX medical drama The Resident.

Early life

Dewan was born December 3, 1980 in Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of Nancy Smith (née Bursch) and Darryll Dewan, who was a running back on the 1972 Notre Dame football team. Her father is of Lebanese and Polish descent and her mother is of German and English ancestry.

As a child, Dewan moved frequently; she mentioned in an interview that she lived in seven cities before reaching the seventh grade. While attending high school at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland, Dewan was a varsity cheerleader. She transferred to Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas. She was also a varsity cheerleader there and was voted prom queen during her senior year. She went to University of Southern California and was a member of the California Gamma chapter of Pi Beta Phi.

Career

Dancing

Dewan first appeared in Janet Jackson's "Doesn't Really Matter" video in 2000 and later in "All for You" and the All for You Tour in 2001. She credits working with Jackson for aiding her career, allowing her to later work with many other artists and giving her the experience necessary to co-star in the dance film Step Up. In 2016, Dewan modeled as the face of dancewear manufacturer Danskin in a campaign and photo shoot that captured and featured her athleticism as a dancer.

Acting

In 2006, Dewan co-starred with Channing Tatum in Step Up, as well as starring in Take the Lead that same year.

In August 2008, Dewan starred in the Lifetime made-for-television film Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal which follows five rule-breaking teens. She portrayed the role of disciplinarian Coach Emma Carr. In November 2009, she appeared in the straight-to-DVD comedy American Virgin alongside Rob Schneider.

In November 2011, Dewan starred in the film The Jerk Theory. This was first released in Germany in 2009. It was later released in the United States in November 2011.

Dewan appeared in the romantic-comedy film 10 Years, alongside her then-husband Channing Tatum, who also co-produced. The film was released on September 14, 2012. That same year, she appeared as Teresa Morrison in American Horror Story: Asylum, the second season of the horror television series.

In 2013, Dewan began starring in the Lifetime series Witches of East End as Freya Beauchamp, one of the lead characters. In late 2015, she began a recurring role in the CBS/CW series Supergirl as Lucy Lane, and reprised the role in its spinoff Superman & Lois. She also had a recurring role in FOX's The Resident. Dewan's upcoming projects include The Wedding Year, Berlin, I Love You and Soundtrack.

She joined the cast of ABC's The Rookie as Bailey in its third season, and was promoted to series regular in its fourth season.

In 2018, Dewan makes an appearance on the television series Seatbelt Psychic and receives a spooky reading from the famous medium Thomas John.

In 2022, Dewan starred and executive produced in the Lifetime film Let's Get Physical as part of the "Ripped from the Headlines" feature film.

33andOut Productions

Along with friends Reid Carolin, Adam Martingano, Brett Rodriguez and Channing Tatum, Dewan started a production company called 33andOut Productions. Their first production is a documentary called Earth Made of Glass that follows Rwandan President Paul Kagame and genocide survivor Jean-Pierre Sagahutu. It premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. Dewan and Tatum collaborated in a YouTube Premium/Starz television series Step Up, where they executive produced together.

Personal life

In 2006, Dewan started dating actor Channing Tatum after meeting on the set of their film Step Up. They married on July 11, 2009, in Malibu, California. They have one daughter, born in 2013. On April 2, 2018, the couple announced that they were separating. Six months later, Dewan filed for divorce from Tatum. Their divorce was finalized in November 2019.

In October 2018, it was confirmed that Dewan was in a relationship with actor Steve Kazee. In February 2020, she and Kazee announced their engagement. They have one son, born in 2020.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Hot ... Bianca Salsa Girl
2005 Tamara Tamara Riley
2006 Take the Lead Sasha Bulut
The Grudge 2 Sally
Step Up Nora Clark
2008 Love Lies Bleeding Amber Direct to video
Assorted Nightmares: Janitor Jennifer Short film
2009 Falling Awake Alessandra
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay Sarah Jane
The Jerk Theory Molly Taylor
American Virgin Priscilla White
2011 The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy Katherine Prescott
Balls to the Wall Rachel Matthews
10 Years Jess
Setup Mia
2012 Slightly Single in L.A. Hallie
2019 Berlin, I Love You Mandy
The Wedding Year Jessica

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Quintuplets Haley Episode: "Little Man on Campus"
The Young and the Restless Donna 2 episodes
Dark Shadows Sophia Loomis Unsold television pilot
2005 Joey Tanya Episode: "Joey and the Break-Up"
2008 Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal Emma Carr Television film
Dancing with the Stars Herself Episode: "Round 2: Results"
2009 Melrose Place Kendra Wilson 2 episodes
2011 The ... Club Bunny Janie Main cast; 3 episodes (4 unaired)
2012–2013 American Horror Story: Asylum Teresa Morrison 5 episodes
2013 She Made Them Do It Sarah Pender Television film
2013–2014 Witches of East End Freya Beauchamp/Ambrose Bancroft Main cast - 23 episodes; Episode: "Poe Way Out"
2014 The Mindy Project Brooke Episode: "Be Cool"
So You Think You Can Dance Herself Guest judge; 3 episodes
2015–2016 Supergirl Lucy Lane Recurring role, 13 episodes
2016 Lip Sync Battle Herself Episode: "Channing Tatum vs. Jenna Dewan-Tatum"
No Tomorrow Tuesday Episode: "No Holds Barred"
2017–2018 Man with a Plan Jen 2 episodes
2017–2018 & 2019 World of Dance Herself (host) Host (seasons 1 & 2); Guest mentor (season 3)
2017 Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry Herself Episode: "July 12, 2017"
2018 Blaze and the Monster Machines Little Bunny (voice) Episode: "Breaking the Ice"
Seatbelt Psychic Herself 1 Episode
2018–2019 The Resident Julian Booth Recurring role (season 2)
2019 Soundtrack Joanna Main cast
2019–2020 Flirty Dancing Herself (host)
2020 Robot Chicken (voice) Episode: "Buster Olive in: The Monkey Got Closer Overnight"
2021–present The Rookie Bailey Nune Recurring role (season 3); main role (season 4-5)
2022 Superman & Lois Lucy Lane Recurring role
Come Dance with Me Herself (judge)
Let's Get Physical Sadie Smith Television film; also executive producer

Producer

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Earth Made of Glass Executive producer Documentary
2018–2022 Step Up Executive producer
2019–2020 Flirty Dancing Producer

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s)
1999 "So Real" Mandy Moore
2000 "He Wasn't Man Enough" Toni Braxton
"Upside Down" A-Teens
"Doesn't Really Matter" Janet Jackson
"Honey Bee" Belle Perez
2001 "All for You" Janet Jackson
"You're No Good" Ellie Campbell
2002 "Gossip Folks" Missy Elliott
2003 "One Heart" Celine Dion
"Juramento" Ricky Martin
2006 "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me" Sean Paul featuring Keyshia Cole
"Get Up" Ciara featuring Chamillionaire
2010 "Not Myself Tonight" Christina Aguilera
2019 "Happy Anniversary, All I Want for Christmas Is You!" Mariah Carey

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2007 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Dance Scene (with Channing Tatum) Step Up Won
2012 Peabody Award Executive producer (with Channing Tatum) Earth Made of Glass

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jenna Dewan para niños

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