--- name: "Jennifer Tilly" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jennifer-tilly" fi1m_id: "jennifer-tilly" imdb_id: "nm0000236" tmdb_id: 7906 wikidata_id: "Q495549" roles: ["Actor"] born: "16 September 1958" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 74 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-21T04:14:19.678943+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jennifer Tilly ## Identity Jennifer Tilly - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jennifer-tilly - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jennifer-tilly - **IMDb ID:** nm0000236 - **TMDB ID:** 7906 - **Wikidata ID:** Q495549 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Tilly, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q495549, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000236/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7906 Actor. Born 16 September 1958 in Harbor City, California, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 16 September 1958, Harbor City, California, USA - **Active:** 1982–present - **Also known as:** Jennifer Ellen Chan, Jennifer Chan - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 70 (2), 1990s 74 (4), 2000s 86 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 69 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 6, Fantasy 4, Crime 2, Family 2, Adventure 1, Animation 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,236m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Tilly, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q495549, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000236/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7906 ## Coming up - *A Dog’s Perfect Christmas* (2026-11-04), as Lucille — [page](https://film.one/film/a-dogs-perfect-christmas.md) ## Streaming the US now - **Netflix:** [*Liar Liar*](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md) (68), [*Stuart Little*](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md) (66) - **Disney+:** [*Monsters, Inc.*](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) (86) - **The Criterion Channel:** [*Bound*](https://film.one/film/bound.md) (80) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Bullets Over Broadway*](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md) (80) - **Apple TV:** [*High Spirits*](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md) (52) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jennifer Tilly > Jennifer Tilly's breathy voice is easy to recognise; the determination beneath it deserves as much attention. We enjoy her broad comedy, but rate her most in *Bound*, where attraction gives us a reason to care about the crime. In *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), Jennifer Tilly's Olive Neal wants attention and sees little reason to wait for it. Dianne Wiest's Helen Sinclair has the grander manner, but Tilly makes Olive's less polished self-regard equally insistent. She plays the caricature forcefully, without softening it to ask for our affection. Woody Allen's backstage comedy gives her a useful task: keep the character's determination visible through the exaggeration. We can laugh at Olive without forgetting what she wants. The breathy voice and comic timing make her easy to cast as someone ditzy or seductive, as she frequently has been. Her early parts often reinforced that narrow image. The risk is that we recognise the type before we have much reason to think about the woman. Olive was her breakthrough, but *Bound* (1996) gave those familiar qualities a more demanding use. As Violet, she makes seduction, vulnerability and cunning believable together. The Wachowskis pair her with Gina Gershon's Corky, an ex-con, while Violet is involved with Joe Pantoliano's mobster Caesar. Tilly and Gershon make the attraction persuasive without treating the romance as something that needs announcing. We were more anxious about whether the women could trust each other than about the mechanics of the crime, because they make planning together feel intimate. That concern carries the thriller through some conspicuously clever plotting. Bill Pope's glossy cinematography sometimes competes with the performers, and Eve Cauley's polished, retro surroundings can make the danger look too carefully arranged. The Wachowskis also write complications that seem more concerned with proving their ingenuity than with these women. Tilly and Gershon keep us interested when the film starts admiring its own cleverness. *Bride of Chucky* (1998) began her long association with Tiffany Valentine, with writer and director Don Mancini a recurring collaborator across the franchise. The combination of horror, comedy and camp makes clear use of her broad playing; voice work, including Celia in *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), gives that recognisable delivery another use. We would welcome another director as interested in her vulnerability as the Wachowskis are. For anyone who knows only Tiffany, *Bound* is the next film to try. ## Biography Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan) is an American-Canadian actress and poker player. She trained in theatre at Stephens College and began her career with stage work and small film and television roles in the 1980s. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Olive Neal in Woody Allen's *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994). She is also known for her performances in *Bound* (1996), voice roles including Celia in *Monsters, Inc.* (2001) and Bonnie Swanson in *Family Guy* (1999–), and as Tiffany Valentine in the *Chucky* franchise. Tilly won a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet in 2005 and is the sister of actress Meg Tilly. She received a Theatre World Award in 1993 for her stage work in *One Shoe Off*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), Fi1m 86, as Celia (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) - *Stuart Little* (1999), Fi1m 66, as Mrs. Stout (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md) - *Liar Liar* (1997), Fi1m 68, as Samantha Cole — [page](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md) - *Bound* (1996), Fi1m 80, as Violet — [page](https://film.one/film/bound.md) - *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), Fi1m 80, as Olive Neal — [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md) - *High Spirits* (1988), Fi1m 52, as Miranda — [page](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md) - *Cheers* (1982), Fi1m 88, as Candi Pearson — [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md) ## Complete filmography (127) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *A Dog’s Perfect Christmas* (2026), as Lucille — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/a-dogs-perfect-christmas.md) - *The Adding Machine* (2026), as Mrs. Zero - *Sallywood* (2024), as Joann - *School Spirits* (2023), series, as Dr. Deborah Hunter-Price - *Bee and PuppyCat* (2022), series, as Violet (voice), Cardamon's Mom (voice) - *High Holiday* (2021), as Stephanie Corksey - *Chucky* (2021), series, as Tiffany Valentine, Tiffany Valentine / Jennifer Tilly / Tiffany Doll, Tiffany Valentine / Jennifer Tilly - *Monsters at Work* (2021), series, as Celia Mae (voice) - *Calls* (2021), series, as Mother (voice) - *7 Days to Vegas* (2019), as Jennifer - *Ray Meets Helen* (2018), as Ginger - *Cult of Chucky* (2017), as Tiffany - *A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits* (2016), as Divine - *Unity* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *Femme Fatales with Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly* (2014), Thanks - *Curse of Chucky* (2013), as Tiffany - *The Secret Lives of Dorks* (2013), as Ms. Stewart - *Return to Babylon* (2013), as Clara Bow - *Amelia's 25th* (2013), as Miss Celie - *Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja* (2012), series, as Amanda Levay / Sorceress (voice) - *30 Beats* (2012), as Erika - *The Making of Plus One* (2010), as Amber - the lead actress - *The Cleveland Show* (2009), series, Actor - *Modern Family* (2009), series, as Darlene — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md) - *Drop Dead Diva* (2009), series, as Ginny - *Empire of Silver* (2009), as Mrs. Landdeck - *An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong* (2009), as Mrs. Rundell - *Inconceivable* (2008), as Salome 'Sally' Marsh - *Bart Got a Room* (2008), as Melinda - *The Caretaker* (2008), as Miss Perry - *Deal* (2008), as Karen "Razor" Jones - *The Pixar Story* (2007), as Celia Mae (voice) (archive footage) - *Intervention* (2007), as Jane - *The Initiation of Sarah* (2006), as Dr. Eugenia Hunter - *Tideland* (2005), as Queen Gunhilda - *Out of Practice* (2005), series, as Crystal - *Saint Ralph* (2005), as Nurse Alice - *Bailey's Billion$* (2005), as Dolores Pennington - *Chucky's Family Vacation* (2005), as Tiffany (Voice) - *The Civilization of Maxwell Bright* (2005), as Dr. O'Shannon - *Lil' Pimp* (2005), as Miss De La Croix (voice) - *Seed of Chucky* (2004), as Tiffany (voice) / Jennifer Tilly - *Love on the Side* (2004), as Alma Kerns - *El padrino: The Latin Godfather* (2004), as Sebeva - *A Dairy Tale* (2004), as Grace (voice) - *Home on the Range* (2004), as Grace (voice) - *Perfect Opposites* (2004), as Elyse Steinberg - *Hollywood North* (2004), as Gillian Stevens - *Second Best* (2004), as Carole - *Happy End* (2003), as Edna - *The Haunted Mansion* (2003), as Madame Leota - *Jericho Mansions* (2003), as Donna Cherry - *Strip Notes* (2002), Actor - *The Women* (2002), as Crystal Allen - *The Cat's Meow* (2002), as Louella Parsons - *The Magnificent Ambersons* (2002), as Fanny Minafer - *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), as Celia (voice) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) - *Gahan Wilson's The Kid* (2001), as The Waitress - *Dancing at the Blue Iguana* (2001), as Jo - *Relative Evil* (2001), as Dot - *Fast Sofa* (2001), as Ginger Quail - *Sister Mary Explains It All* (2001), as Philomena Rostovich - *Dirt* (2001), as Hooker - *The Chris Isaak Show* (2001), series, Actor - *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Terpsie Pratt - *The Crew* (2000), as Ferris 'aka Maureen' Lowenstein - *Hide and Seek* (2000), as Helen - *Bruno* (2000), as Dolores - *Pigs Next Door* (2000), series, as Cookie (voice) - *Play It to the Bone* (1999), as Jennifer Tilly (Ringside Fan) - *Stuart Little* (1999), as Mrs. Stout (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md) - *Do Not Disturb* (1999), as Cathryn Richmond - *Goosed* (1999), as Charlene - *Bartok the Magnificent* (1999), as Piloff (voice) - *The Muse* (1999), as Jennifer Tilly - *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Petunia (voice) - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Bonnie Swanson (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *Bride of Chucky* (1998), as Tiffany - *Hoods* (1998), as Mary Crippa - *Relax... It's Just Sex* (1998), as Tara - *Music from Another Room* (1998), as Nina Swan - *Bella Mafia* (1997), as Moyra Luciano - *The Wrong Guy* (1997), as Lynn Holden - *Gun* (1997), series, as Phyllis - *Liar Liar* (1997), as Samantha Cole — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md) - *Bird of Prey* (1996), as Kily Griffith - *Bound* (1996), as Violet — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bound.md) - *American Strays* (1996), as Patty Mae - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *House Arrest* (1996), as Cindy Figler - *The Pompatus of Love* (1996), as Tarzaan - *Edie & Pen* (1996), as Edie - *Man with a Gun* (1995), as Rena Rushton / Kathy Payne - *Embrace of the Vampire* (1995), as Marika - *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), as Olive Neal — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md) - *Double Cross* (1994), as Melissa - *The Getaway* (1994), as Fran Carvey - *Heads* (1994), as Tina Abbot - *Frasier* (1993), series, as Kim — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md) - *At Home with the Webbers* (1993), as Miranda Webber - *Key West* (1993), series, as Savannah Sumner - *Made in America* (1993), as Stacy - *Shadow of the Wolf* (1992), as Igiyook - *Scorchers* (1991), as Talbot - *The Doors* (1991), as Okie Girl - *Dream On* (1990), series, as Ryan - *Bodyguard* (1990), as Melanie Whitaker - *The Fabulous Baker Boys* (1989), as Monica Moran - *Let It Ride* (1989), as Vicki - *Far from Home* (1989), as Amy - *High Spirits* (1988), as Miranda — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md) - *Rented Lips* (1988), as Mona Lisa - *Remote Control* (1988), as Allegra - *Johnny Be Good* (1988), as Connie Hisler - *He's My Girl* (1987), as Lisa - *Inside Out* (1987), as Amy - *It's Garry Shandling's Show* (1986), series, as Angelica - *Stir Crazy* (1985), series, as Karen - *Moving Violations* (1985), as Amy Hopkins - *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Nurse Saundra — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md) - *No Small Affair* (1984), as Mona - *Shaping Up* (1984), series, as Shannon Winters - *Imps** (1983), as Joni - *Oh Madeline* (1983), series, Actor - *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Eva Wilson / Blitzen - *Cheers* (1982), series, as Candi Pearson — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md) - *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md) ## Gallery - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-c4542e5e0198.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Jennifer_Tilly_in_2024_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Jennifer_Tilly_in_2024_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Bella Higginbotham, Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth.](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-407583ba46a5.jpg) Bella Higginbotham, Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth. — Chris Roth 1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Chucky_NYCC_2022_11.jpg/1280px-Chucky_NYCC_2022_11.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth.](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-1a92573b873e.jpg) Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth. — Chris Roth 1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Chucky_NYCC_2022_12.jpg/1280px-Chucky_NYCC_2022_12.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jennifer Tilly, Devon Sawa and Lachlan Watson at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth.](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-9f73d7ae31ce.jpg) Jennifer Tilly, Devon Sawa and Lachlan Watson at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth. — Chris Roth 1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Chucky_NYCC_2022_15.jpg/1280px-Chucky_NYCC_2022_15.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-73c2a576dcf6.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Image via TMDB - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-c24869328c14.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Image via TMDB - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-539513fc171b.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Image via TMDB - ![Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth.](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-1f2e756a06f7.jpg) Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth. — Chris Roth 1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Chucky_NYCC_2022_17.jpg/1280px-Chucky_NYCC_2022_17.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth.](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-b2a90f46f411.jpg) Jennifer Tilly and Devon Sawa at the New York Comic Con (October 7, 2022). Photo by Chris Roth. — Chris Roth 1, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Chucky_NYCC_2022_18.jpg/1280px-Chucky_NYCC_2022_18.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-b51fabff2ef4.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Image via TMDB - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-0841f567f4cd.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Image via TMDB - ![Jennifer Tilly](https://film.one/media/person/84880/gallery-86c35ad0c924.jpg) Jennifer Tilly — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1995: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Bullets Over Broadway* ### Other awards — 1 won - Theatre World Award 1993: Theatre World Award (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jennifer-tilly