Jenny Mollen
{{short description|American actress}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jenny Mollen
| image = Jenny Mollen.jpg
| caption = Mollen in 2005
| alt =
| birth_name = Jenny Ann Mollen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|5|30}}
| birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
| alma_mater = University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
| other_names = {{hlist|Jenny Mollen Biggs|Jenny Biggs}}
| occupation = {{cslist|Actress|writer}}
| years_active = 2000–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Jason Biggs|2008}}
| children = 2
| website = {{URL|jennymollen.com}}
}}
Jenny Ann Biggs ({{nee}} Mollen; born May 30, 1979) is an American actress and writer. She played Nina Ash on the television series Angel (2003–04). She appeared on the series Viva Laughlin (2007), Crash (2008), and Girls (2014).{{Cite web |title=Jenny Mollen – Actress |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jenny-mollen/ |access-date=October 4, 2023 |website=TV Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Jenny Mollen |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jenny-mollen/credits/3000488528/ |access-date=October 4, 2023 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}} Mollen has published two collections of essays, and has written articles for various publications, including Cosmopolitan and Parents. She has appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list twice with her books I Like You Just The Way I Am (2014) and Live Fast Die Hot (2016).{{Cite web |title=Jenny Mollen Official Website |url=https://jennymollen.com/ |access-date=October 4, 2023 |website=Jenny Mollen |language=en-US}}
Early life
Mollen was born in Phoenix, Arizona.{{cite news|last1=Hawkes|first1=Marilyn|title=Valley Kids: Jenny Mollen Biggs Author/Actress/Media Personality|url=https://www.phoenixmag.com/2019/02/01/valley-kids/|work=Phoenix Magazine|date=February 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728221721/https://www.phoenixmag.com/2019/02/01/valley-kids/ |url-status=live |archive-date=July 28, 2019}} Mollen's father is Jewish and her mother is Christian; she was raised culturally Jewish.{{cite news|url=https://azjewishlife.com/run-dr-art-mollen-busy-guy/|title=On the Run: Dr. Art Mollen is a busy guy|date=October 1, 2012|work=Arizona Jewish Life}}{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Amy|url=http://www.haaretz.com/life/movies-television/.premium-1.597213|title=Jason Biggs Loves Being Mistaken as Jewish|date=June 5, 2014|work=Haaretz|language=en}} She has a sister and a half-brother.{{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a28197/jenny-mollen-biggs-brother-hospital/|title=Actress and Author Jenny Mollen Opens Up About Her Family's Scary Health Crisis|date=July 17, 2017|work=Marie Claire}} In the late 1990s, Mollen graduated from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. She studied theater and graduated from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/wake-up-call/that-time-jenny-mollen-and-jason-biggs-tried-to-set-boundaries-7d36cc86b619|title=That Time Jenny Mollen and Jason Biggs Tried to Set Boundaries…|last=Mollen|first=Jenny|date=January 24, 2020|website=Medium|language=en|access-date=April 1, 2020}} Mollen briefly attended graduate school to study psychology.{{Citation needed |date=January 2023}}
Mollen worked in local theater as a child. She worked at Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, the Idyllwild Arts Academy, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.{{cite web|url=https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Jenny+Mollen|title=Biography of Jenny Mollen|website=AllAmericanSpeakers.com|access-date=October 17, 2016}}{{Cite web|date=November 3, 2017|first=Naveen |last=Rao|title=Jenny Mollen Wiki: 5 Facts to Know about Jason Biggs' Wife|url=https://www.earnthenecklace.com/jason-biggs-wife-jenny-mollen-wiki-age-net-worth-facts/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=Earn The Necklace|language=en}}
Career
File:Jenny Mollen 2005 (cropped).jpg
In 2005, Mollen announced in an interview about her plans to perform in London in a play she wrote about her dog.{{cite web|title=An interview with Jenny Mollen|url=http://www.returnofthelivingdead4and5.com/actors/jm/jmint.html|work=Return of the Living Dead official website|access-date=July 18, 2013|archive-date=April 8, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408041145/http://returnofthelivingdead4and5.com/actors/jm/jmint.html|url-status=usurped}}
In 2009, Mollen wrote the short film Kidnapping Caitlynn, starring Jason Biggs, Julie Benz, and herself. The film was directed by Katherine Cunningham Eves.
In 2016, Mollen co-starred with her husband Jason Biggs as fictional husband and wife characters in comedy film Amateur Night.{{cite news|last1=Gifford|first1=Kathie Lee|last2=Kotb|first2=Hoda|title=Jason Biggs, Jenny Mollen team up for new comedy 'Amateur Night'|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/jason-biggs-jenny-mollen-team-new-comedy-amateur-night-t101206|work=Today Show|date=July 27, 2016}}
In 2012 and 2013, Mollen wrote a humor column for The Smoking Jacket, a website affiliated with Playboy,{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/author/jmollen|title=What She Said|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|work=The Smoking Jacket|publisher=Playboy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706034537/http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/author/jmollen|archive-date=July 6, 2013|access-date=July 28, 2013}} as well as an advice column for Playboy.{{cite news|last1=Denninger|first1=Lindsay|url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/101852-who-is-jenny-mollen-this-bachelor-in-paradise-after-show-host-is-a-super-fan-and|title=Who Is Jenny Mollen? This 'Bachelor In Paradise' After Show Host Is A Super Fan (And A 'New York Times' Best Seller)|date=August 3, 2015|work=Bustle}}
In January 2013, Mollen signed with St. Martin's Press to write a book of comedic essays, I Like You Just the Way I Am.{{cite news|last1=Fauskee|first1=Katie|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jenny-mollens-chelsea-handler-like-412415|title=Comedian Jenny Mollen Signs Deal For Chelsea Handler-Like Book (Exclusive)|date=January 14, 2013|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} The book reached #10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Print & E-Book Nonfiction on its debut in June 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2014-07-06/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/list.html|title=Best Sellers: Combines Print & E-Book Nonfiction|date=July 6, 2014|work=The New York Times}} On August 4, 2016, it was announced that ABC Digital acquired a single-camera comedy written by and starring Mollen based on her NYT Best Seller I Like You Just The Way I Am.{{cite news|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/abcd-orders-forever-31-iliza-shlesinger-jenny-mollen-project-1201798532/|title=ABCd Orders More 'Forever 31', Acquires Jenny Mollen Project & More – TCA|date=August 4, 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|language=en}}
In June 2016, Mollen published a follow-up, Live Fast Die Hot,{{cite book|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Live Fast Die Hot|date=2016|publisher=Doubleday|isbn=978-0-385-54070-4|location=New York|oclc=951807583}} which also subsequently became New York Times Best Seller at #8 in Humor. In August 2016, it was reported that the film rights had been acquired by Warner Bros. with Anne Hathaway attached to star and Mollen attached to write and executive produce.{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Anne Hathaway Starring in Adaptation of Jenny Mollen's Novel 'Live Fast Die Hot'|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/anne-hathaway-live-fast-die-hot-jenny-mollen-book-1201847594/|work=Variety|date=August 30, 2016|language=en}}
Personal life
Mollen met actor Jason Biggs while filming My Best Friend's Girl and they were engaged by January 2008. On April 23, 2008, the couple eloped and got married in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/607/jason-biggs-little-wedding|title=Jason Biggs' Little Wedding|last=Finn|first=Natalie|date=May 1, 2008|website=E! Online|language=en-US|access-date=April 1, 2020}} In July 2008, they had a formal wedding ceremony in Napa Valley.{{cite news|first1=Suzanne Condie|last1=Lambert|title='We Do,' Again|url=https://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/2008/07/16/20080716people0716.html|work=The Arizona Republic|date=July 16, 2008|archive-date=May 26, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526190145/https://www.webcitation.org/6IDWFcJRb?url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/2008/07/16/20080716people0716.html%3Fnclick_check=1|url-status=live}} Their son, Sid, was born on February 15, 2014. Their second son, Lazlo, was born on October 2, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Jason Biggs Reveals the One Sweet Thing He Makes His Son Do Every Time They Leave Home|url=https://people.com/parents/jason-biggs-son-sid-teaching-manners/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=people.com|language=EN}} After living in Los Angeles for some time, the Biggs family moved to New York City in 2018.{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Elizabeth Quinn|title=Jason Biggs and Wife Jenny Mollen Are Auctioning Off 400 Items from Inside Their Home|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/jason-biggs-and-wife-jenny-mollen-are-auctioning-off-400-items-from-inside-their-home|work=Architectural Digest|date=May 4, 2018|language=en}}
Mollen speaks German fluently.{{Cite web|last=Edelman|first=Amelia|date=February 3, 2020|title=Jason Biggs on The Real Reason His Kids Speak German|url=https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2157694/jason-biggs-kids-names-exclusive/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=SheKnows|language=en-US}}
After the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Mollen signed an open letter by Creative Community for Peace calling for the world to "stand with Israel as it defends itself against a terrorist regime in Gaza that seeks Israel’s destruction."{{Cite web |last=CCFPeace |date=2023-10-12 |title=Israel Under Attack – Open Letter |url=https://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/blog/2023/10/12/israel-under-attack-open-letter/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Creative Community for Peace - |language=en-US}} Mollen, alongside her husband Biggs, also signed the "No Hostage Left Behind Letter", demanding the release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the attack.{{Cite web |last=Culture |first=Ryan Smith Senior Pop |last2=Reporter |first2=Entertainment |date=2023-10-24 |title=Full List of celebrities demanding release of all Hamas hostages |url=https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-celebrities-demanding-release-all-hamas-hostages-1837190 |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} In November 2023, Mollen spoke at a Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces fundraiser that doubled as a Shabbat dinner in Atlanta.{{Cite web |last=Heller |first=Sasha |date=2023-11-29 |title=Bank/Schoenbaum Turn Out for FIDF Shabbat |url=https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/bank-schoenbaum-turn-out-for-fidf-shabbat/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Atlanta Jewish Times |language=en-US}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2002
| Influence | Jessica the Influencer |
| 2003
| Searching for Haizmann | Grace Robin | |
| 2003
| What Was That? | The Damsel | Video short |
| 2003
| Billy Makes the Cut | Ashley |
| 2004
| D.E.B.S. | German Deb | |
| 2004
| The Raven | Lenna |
| 2005
| Fear Itself | Wendy | |
| 2006
| Ring Around the Rosie | Wendy Baldwin | Video |
| 2006
| Marina Dell | |
| 2008
| Colleen, the new girl | |
| 2008
| An Inconvenient Penguin | Dr. Gootentag | Video short |
| 2008
| Amber-Elizabeth | |
| 2009
| Kidnapping Caitlynn | Emily; screenplay |
| 2011
| Rita the Receptionist | |
| 2011
| Lisa | |
| 2012
| Abbey | |
| 2016
| Anne Carter | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2000
| Susan Curran | Episode: "Mr. Invisible" |
| 2001
| Blonde | Episode: "Black 'n' Flu" |
| 2003–04
| Angel | Nina Ash | Episodes: "Unleashed", "Smile Time", "Power Play" |
| 2005
| Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave | Jenny | Television film |
| 2006
| Medium | Lydia Kyne | Episode: "Method to His Madness" |
| 2007
| Geneva's sister Amy | Unaired episodes |
| 2008
| Crash | Tess Nolan / Theresa Nolanski | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2009
| Herself (Round Table) | Episode: "Episode dated 28 October 2009" |
| 2010
| Carly Morris | Episode: "Playa Vista" |
| 2011
| CSI: NY | Detective Angela Sayer | Episode: "Life Sentence" |
| 2011
| Suits | Gabby Stone | Episode: "Tricks of the Trade" |
| 2013
| Dakota Hayes | Episode: "Pa'ani" |
| 2013
| Wilfred | Kim | Episode: "Sincerity" |
| 2014
| Herself (Round Table) | Episode: "Episode #8.98" |
| 2014
| Girls | Courtney | Episodes: "I Saw You", "Two Plane Rides" |
| 2015
| Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise | Co-Host | 6 episodes |
| 2016–17
| Chelsea | Herself; also writer | 7 episodes |
| 2016
| Herself; writer | TV series documentary |
| 2016
| Detective Bianca Holloway | Episodes: "What Happened to Courtney", "I Will Be Walking", "The Last One for Mom" |
| 2016
| I Like You Just the Way I Am | Jenny; producer, writer | Episodes: "Drone Attack", "You Were ALMOST Kidnapped", "Teets on a Plane", "Sex with Luke" |
| 2019
| Herself | Episodes: "Week 3" |
Selected works and publications
= Books =
- {{cite book|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=I Like You Just the Way I Am: Stories About Me and Some Other People|date=2014|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4668-3858-1|oclc=886584103}}
- {{cite book|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Live Fast Die Hot|date=2016|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|isbn=978-0-385-54070-4|oclc=951807583}}
= Periodicals =
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Blood on the Couch: A Tale of Making a Good First Impression|url=http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/humor/blood-on-the-couch-a-tale-of-making-a-good-first-impression|work=The Smoking Jacket|publisher=Playboy|date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128060914/http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/humor/blood-on-the-couch-a-tale-of-making-a-good-first-impression|archive-date=January 28, 2012}}
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=What She Said: Jenny Mollen Goes Fifty Shades of Grey|url=http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/entertainment/what-she-said-jenny-mollen-goes-fifty-shades-of-grey|work=The Smoking Jacket|publisher=Playboy|date=May 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520082008/http://www.thesmokingjacket.com/entertainment/what-she-said-jenny-mollen-goes-fifty-shades-of-grey|archive-date=May 20, 2012}}
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=First Comes Miscarriage, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes Baby|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a5314/first-comes-marriage-then-miscarriage-then-baby/|work=Cosmopolitan|date=January 7, 2014|language=en}}
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Why Can't We Unfollow Our Exes?|url=http://jennymollen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Jenny-Mollen-Cosmo-July-2016.pdf|work=Cosmopolitan|date=July 2016|pages=48–49|language=en}}
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Actress and Author Jenny Mollen Opens Up About Her Family's Scary Health Crisis|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a28197/jenny-mollen-biggs-brother-hospital/|work=Marie Claire|date=July 17, 2017}}
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Bedtime at the Biggs House|url=https://www.parents.com/parenting/celebrity-parents/moms-dads/bedtime-at-the-biggs-house/|work=Parents|date=March 1, 2018|language=en}}
- {{cite news|last1=Mollen|first1=Jenny|title=Jenny Mollen Shares How Her Own Childhood Inspired Her to Pack Her Son's 'Dictator Lunches'|url=https://www.parents.com/parenting/celebrity-parents/jenny-mollen-dictator-lunches/|work=Parents|date=February 6, 2019|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|jennymollen.com}}
- {{IMDb name|1200748}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mollen, Jenny}}
Category:Actresses from Phoenix, Arizona
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:21st-century American memoirists
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni
Category:Jewish American actresses
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:Writers from Phoenix, Arizona
Category:American women memoirists
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Jewish American columnists
Category:American sex columnists