Celebrity Poker Player: Jennifer Tilly

As an actress Jennifer Tilly vamped it up in the movie Liar, Liar, screamed it up as the Bride of Chucky, a wildly successful computer-animated film Monsters Inc., and landed more than a few cameo roles in Marvel comic books and as a voice over character on the Family Guy cartoon series and movie Stuart Little.

An Academy Award nominee for Bullets Over Broadway in 1994. And now, a celebrity poker champion! Jennifer Tilly has made impressive showings in a variety of prominent poker tournaments.

Jennifer Tilly came to poker through acting: Her role in Let It Ride in 1989 sparked an interest, and shortly after making the film, Tilly began playing regularly at home with friends.

In 2003, Tilly, who had already started dating Phil Laak, entered a few tournaments, her boyfriend 's wheedle and her poker fame took off.

Jennifer Tilly has asserted 2 championship bracelets in the year 2005, a World Series Of Poker Women's No Limit Hold'em Tournament outlasting 600 other players and the World Poker Tour Ladies Night III held at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles .

Only Tilly in the history as a female poker player has accomplished these 2 feats in the same year! Her playing style is an almost extraordinary aggressive on, taking absolutely any and every opportunity to put her opponents’ to the test by applying continual pressure that makes it difficult for them to proceed.

She has been known to play literally any 2 cards from any position, even in spots where some of her equally aggressive contemporaries would dodge. Though criticized in some venues for almost going overboard with the concept, clearly her application has paid off in its own way.


Jennifer Tilly has since placed in numerous events including World Poker Tournament Season 6, L.A. Poker Classic. She has also appeared on the GSN Poker Royale series, Poker Superstars and Celebrity Poker Showdown.

Despite her obvious skill at the game, Tilly continues to be billed as a celebrity player rather than an expert; however that could change given a little more time, opportunity and hands.

Tilly's appearances on the World Poker Tour, Poker After Dark, and other such reputable venues have demonstrated her ability to play.


On the interview in about.com on Jennifer Tilly,

Jennifer Tilly's on Whether She's a Poker Pro:


After winning at the World Series of Poker, Tilly said this to Jay Leno:

"I won two thousand dollars more than Phil Laak and I won a gold bracelet. I’m not rubbing it in…but I think that that makes me a professional poker player, I don’t care what the other poker players say." Jennifer Tilly said.

Jennifer Tilly on Winning the World Poker Tour Ladies Night:

"I felt like I was suffering from the 'impostor syndrome, I had these niggling self-doubts. But now I know I can really play. These women were extremely tough pros with blood lust at the poker table."

"My goal has always been to win a World Poker Tour event and now I've done it!" said Jennifer Tilly.

With such an energetic character as Phil Laak-her boyfriend and a poker coach Tilly's own superb resume of good work and uniqueness, with 2 poker tournament championships and the poker fever that has seized the globe at an all-time high, it is certain Jennifer Tilly will be delighting fellow players and TV viewers with her poker game for years to come.

Interview courtesy of http://www.about.com