With statuesque sex appeal and an adorably loopy persona, Elfman made her name on the small screen in the sitcom
Dharma & Greg. Originally a dancer, she switched to acting in her twenties and soon began landing guest spots on a variety of TV shows. A regular gig on the short-lived sitcom
Townies led to her breakthrough role. During her tenure on
Dharma & Greg, she earned three Emmy nods and a Golden Globe, cohosted the Emmys and attempted to launch a film career, mostly in romantic comedies (
Edtv,
Keeping the Faith). But despite her height, the big screen somehow dwarfed her charms. In the early '00s, after the demise of her series, she slowed the pace and reportedly devoted much of her time to her religion, Scientology. She re-emerged in 2006 as the star of the single-in-the-city sitcom
Courting Alex.
Jenna Elfman Fast Facts:
- Started dance lessons at the age of 5.
- Began her acting career in commercials, including ads for Sprite and Clearasil.
- Performed as a dancer in a 1994 ZZ Top tour and in videos for Depeche Mode and Anthrax.
- Was supposed to make her Broadway debut in the revival of Nine in 2003, but ended up being replaced.
- Member of the Church of Scientology along with her husband, actor Bodhi Elfman.
- Uncle-in-law is composer Danny Elfman.
- Jenna Elfman Relationships:
- Debbie Butala - Sister
- Richard Butala - Father
- Rick Butala - Brother
- Sue Butala - Mother
- Tony Butala - Uncle
- Story Elias Elfman - Son
- Bodhi Elfman - Husband
- Jenna Elfman Awards:
- 1998 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1999 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 2000 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1999 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- College:
- Attended California State University, Northridge, CA
