Jessica Szohr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jessica Szohr
|
|
|---|---|
Szohr in 2019
|
|
| Born | March 31, 1985 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Brad Richardson
(m. 2024) |
| Children | 1 |
Jessica Szohr (born March 31, 1985) is an American actress. She became well-known for her role as Vanessa Abrams in the popular teen drama series Gossip Girl (2007–2012).
Before Gossip Girl, Jessica appeared in TV shows like My Wife and Kids (2003) and CSI: Miami (2007). After Gossip Girl, she acted in movies such as the horror film Piranha 3D (2010) and the comedy The Internship (2013). More recently, she joined the main cast of the science fiction series The Orville in 2018, playing Talla Keyali.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Jessica Szohr was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She has a mixed background, with Hungarian and African-American roots. She is the oldest of five children.
When she was younger, Jessica was very active. She played soccer, was part of the student council, and cheered for her school's team. She even started a small cleaning business with a friend, helping their teachers.
Jessica began modeling when she was only six years old. By age ten, she was in a national ad campaign for Quaker Oats. She also appeared in ads for stores like Kohl's and brands like Mountain Dew. After finishing high school early, Jessica moved to Los Angeles at 17 with her mom to start her acting career.
Acting Career Highlights
Jessica Szohr's first acting role was in 2003, in an episode of the TV show My Wife and Kids. She also had a small part in the movie Uncle Nino that same year. She then appeared in many popular teen TV shows, including That's So Raven, Drake & Josh, and Joan of Arcadia. She also had a recurring role in CSI: Miami.
Breakthrough Role in Gossip Girl
In 2007, Jessica got her big break on the hit TV show Gossip Girl. She played the character Vanessa Abrams. Vanessa was known for being true to herself and speaking her mind. Jessica was a main cast member for four seasons. She also made a special appearance in the series finale in 2012.
Movies and Other TV Shows
Jessica has acted in several films. She was in the horror movie Piranha 3D (2010), where she played Kelly. She also appeared in the romantic comedy Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011) and the comedy The Internship (2013). For her role in Piranha 3D, she received the Breakthrough Actress in Film award in 2010.
In 2013, Jessica appeared in Taylor Swift's music video for the song "22". She continued to work in television, joining the medical drama Complications in 2015 and the MMA drama Kingdom.
Since 2018, Jessica has been a main cast member on the science fiction series The Orville. She plays Talla Keyali, a strong and brave security officer.
Podcasting
In 2022, Jessica started her own podcast called XOXO with Jessica Szohr. On the podcast, she talks with the cast and crew of Gossip Girl, sharing fun behind-the-scenes stories and memories from the show.
Personal Life
Jessica Szohr loves outdoor activities and sports. She enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and yoga. She is also a big fan of football, especially the Green Bay Packers team, which is from her home state of Wisconsin.
Jessica is married to former professional ice hockey player Brad Richardson. They have one daughter, who was born in January 2021. Jessica and Brad got engaged in May 2022 and were married in August 2024.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Uncle Nino | The MC | |
| 2007 | Somebody Help Me | Nicole | |
| 2009 | Fired Up! | Kara | |
| 2010 | Piranha 3D | Kelly Driscoll | |
| 2011 | Love, Wedding, Marriage | Shelby | |
| I Don't Know How She Does It | Paula | ||
| Tower Heist | Sasha Gibbs | ||
| 2012 | Hirokin | Orange | |
| Art Machine | Cassandra Moon | ||
| Love Bite | Juliana | ||
| 2013 | Pawn | Bonnie | |
| The Internship | Marielena | ||
| Brightest Star | Lita Markovic | ||
| 2014 | House at the End of the Drive | Krista | |
| 10 Cent Pistol | Chelsea | ||
| Two Night Stand | Faiza | ||
| 2015 | Club Life | Tanya | |
| Ted 2 | Allison | ||
| 2020 | Clover | Angie | |
| 2025 | All-Star Weekend  |
Abby | Completed |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | My Wife and Kids | Dee-Jay | Episode: "Not So Hostile Takeover" |
| 2004 | What I Like About You | Liz | Episode: "Lunar Eclipse of the Heart" |
| Drake & Josh | Episode: "Two ... and a Baby" | ||
| Joan of Arcadia | Nikki | Episode: "Double Dutch" | |
| 2005 | That's So Raven | Jordache Hilltopper | Episode: "The Big Buzz" |
| The Reading Room | Dayva | Television film | |
| 2007 | What About Brian | Laura | 6 episodes |
| CSI: Miami | Samantha Barrish | 3 episodes | |
| 2007–2012 | Gossip Girl | Vanessa Abrams | Recurring cast (season 1); main role (seasons 1–4); uncredited (season 6) |
| 2007 | Somebody Help Me | Nicole | Television film |
| 2010 | The City | Herself | Episode: "The Belle of Elle" |
| 2012 | Punk'd | Herself | Episode: "Hayden Panettiere" |
| 2013 | Men at Work | Jenny | Episode: "Long Distance Tyler" |
| 2014 | Lucky in Love | Mira Simon | Television film |
| 2015 | Complications | Gretchen Polk | Main role |
| Kingdom | Laura Melvin | 5 episodes | |
| CSI: Cyber | Carmen Lopez / Blaze / Det. April Castilla | Episode: "Gone in 6 Seconds" | |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Renee | 3 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Shameless | Nessa Chabon | 11 episodes |
| 2019–present | The Orville | Talla Keyali | Main cast (seasons 2–present) |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Best Days" | Matt White | |
| "Over You" | Daughtry | Sarah | |
| 2011 | "Sunday" | Hurts | Eurydice |
| 2013 | "22" | Taylor Swift | Swift's best friend |
| 2014 | "Already Home" | A Great Big World | |
| 2016 | "Where's the Love?" | The Black Eyed Peas featuring The World | Cameo |
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Workstation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | MTV Movie Award | Best Scared-As-St Performance | Piranha 3D | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Jessica Szohr para niños
