Jenna Ushkowitz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jenna Ushkowitz
Ushkowitz in 2011
Born	Min Ji (1986-04-28) April 28, 1986 (age 39) Seoul, South Korea
Education	Marymount Manhattan College (BA)
Occupation	Actress singer dancer producer podcaster
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	David Stanley ​ (m. 2021)​
Children	2
Korean name
Hangul	민지
Hanja	閔篪
RR	Minji
MR	Minji

Jenna Noelle Ushkowitz (born April 28, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and producer. Her Korean birth name is Min Ji (Hangul: 민지). She is famous for playing Tina Cohen-Chang in the musical TV show Glee. She has also starred in Broadway musicals like The King and I and Waitress. As a producer, she has won two Tony Awards, one for the musical Once on This Island and another for the play The Inheritance.

Early Life and Education

Jenna Ushkowitz was born in Seoul, South Korea. When she was four months old, she was adopted and grew up in East Meadow, New York. Her family is Catholic, and her adoptive paternal grandfather was Jewish. From a young age, she appeared in ads for brands like Playskool, Toys R Us, Burger King, and Jell-O.

In high school, Ushkowitz was very active in theater. She performed in many musicals, including Les Misérables, Into the Woods, and Honk!. After graduating in 2004, she went to Marymount Manhattan College. There, she studied theatre arts and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Career

Acting on Stage and Screen

Ushkowitz at San Diego Comic-Con in 2010

Ushkowitz started her career when she was only three years old, appearing on Sesame Street. In 1996, she made her debut on Broadway in the musical The King and I. When she was 13, she sang the American National Anthem at a New York Knicks basketball game. Before her big break, she was also an understudy (a backup actor) in the Broadway musical Spring Awakening in 2008.

In 2009, Ushkowitz got the part of Tina Cohen-Chang in the TV series Glee. The show's creator, Ryan Murphy, was looking for actors with real theater experience and found Ushkowitz on Broadway. Glee became a huge hit, and Ushkowitz was a main character for five seasons.

On the show, she sang many popular songs. Some of her famous solos include "True Colors", "I Follow Rivers", and "Because You Loved Me". Her version of "True Colors" was praised by critics for her strong and clear voice.

Tours, Music Videos, and More

Ushkowitz, Chris Colfer and Heather Morris performing "Single Ladies" on the Glee Live! In Concert! tour in 2011.

In 2010 and 2011, Ushkowitz toured with her Glee castmates. They performed live concerts across the United States, Canada, England, and Ireland. In 2011, she also made a small appearance in Lady Gaga's music video for the song "Marry the Night".

In 2013, she wrote a book called Choosing Glee, which is part autobiography and part advice book. After her character graduated on Glee, Ushkowitz continued to work in theater. In 2014, she played Jeannie Ryan in a production of the musical Hair at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2016, she played the role of Dawn in the Broadway musical Waitress.

Success as a Producer

Besides acting, Ushkowitz has had great success as a producer for Broadway shows. In 2018, she won a Tony Award when Once on This Island won for Best Revival of a Musical. In 2020, she won her second Tony Award as a co-producer for The Inheritance, which won for Best Play.

Podcasting

In 2019, Ushkowitz started a podcast called Showmance with her former Glee co-star Kevin McHale. They talked about their friendship and their time on the show.

In 2022, they launched a new podcast called And That's What You Really Missed. On this podcast, they rewatch every episode of Glee from the beginning and share behind-the-scenes stories and memories.

Activism and Personal Life

Ushkowitz is passionate about helping others. In 2014, she co-founded the Kindred Foundation for Adoption with fellow adoptee Samantha Futerman. The foundation helps adoptees and their families connect and find support. She also supports ocean conservation and has worked with the group Oceana to raise awareness about protecting marine life.

In 2012, she took part in the NOH8 Campaign, which supported marriage equality in California.

Ushkowitz married David Stanley on July 24, 2021. They have a daughter, Emma, born in June 2022, and a son, Graham, born in November 2024.

Stage

As actress

As producer

Filmography

Television

As actress

As herself

Film

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jenna Ushkowitz para niños