Jessica Szohr Biography

Date of Birth

31 December 1985, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Birth Name

Jessica Karen Szohr

Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Biography

Szohr was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She is of Hungarian and black ancestry. Szohr played soccer, served on the student council, and was part of the cheerleading squad while in school. She started a cleaning company with a friend, cleaning their teachers' houses. Szohr started modeling at age six. Her first national campaign was for Quaker Oats at age ten, and she also appeared in print ads for Kohl's department store. Subsequent modeling gigs followed, including prints for Crate & Barrel, Mountain Dew, Sears, Jockey and JanSport. Szohr graduated from Menomonee Falls High School a semester early and moved to Los Angeles with her mother at the age of 17 to pursue an acting career. She initially aspired to become an interior designer and had enrolled in Columbia College Chicago, but her agent ultimately convinced her to try pilot season auditions. Szohr made her debut as an actress in 2003 in an episode of the third season of My Wife and Kids (2001), titled My Wife and Kids: Not So Hostile Takeover (2003). Her first film was Uncle Nino (2003) playing a minor role as The MC. She appeared in numerous guest teen television series such as That's So Raven (2003), Drake & Josh (2004), What I Like About You (2002), and Joan of Arcadia (2003). She also appeared in three episodes of CSI: Miami (2002) as Samantha Barrish.

In 2007, she appeared in a major recurring role as Laura for six episodes in the ABC drama series What About Brian (2006). She also appeared in the music videos for Daughtry: Over You (2007) by Daughtry, in which she played Sarah. In the same year, Szohr earned her breakthrough role on the hit CW teen drama series Gossip Girl (2007). She plays Vanessa Abrams. The portrayal of Vanessa has drawn criticism from Ziegesar. Originally cast as a recurring role, Szohr was promoted to series regular after the season one episode Gossip Girl: The Blair Bitch Project (2008) in April 2008. In May 2011, it was confirmed Szohr would not be returning for the fifth season. She returned in for a cameo appearance on the series finale, Gossip Girl: New York, I Love You XOXO (2012), on December 17, 2012. Szohr has appeared in small roles in films such as Somebody Help Me (2007), The Reading Room (2005) and Fired Up! (2009). She signed on to Dimension Films' horror Piranha 3D (2010), in the role of Kelly. She also appeared in a Funny or Die video promoting the film alongside Kelly Brook and others. In April 2010, Szohr joined the cast of the romantic comedy Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011), along with Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz. Szohr has a role in the 2012 independent post-apocalyptic sci-fi film Hirokin: The Last Samurai (2012). Her role as Orange has been described as a "cunning temptress". Szohr stars in the indie drama Art Machine (2012) as an outlaw hipster and a pyrotechnic artist. In October 2011, she finished filming a horror comedy film in East Lothian, Scotland titled Love Bite (2012) with co-star Ed Speleers. Szohr appeared in Taylor Swift's 2013 music video for the song Taylor Swift: 22 (2013). In March 2013, she was cast as the female lead in the Fox drama pilot The List (2013), playing FBI agent Natalie Voss. However, it was reported on May 8, 2013 that Fox had passed on the pilot. In November 2013, Szohr was cast as Gretchen in USA Network's medical drama pilot Complications (2015). In June 2015, Szohr was set as a recurring on the upcoming second season of DirecTV's MMA drama Kingdom (2014). Szohr will play Laura Melvin, an artist/photographer who has "read everything, been everywhere," and immediately intrigued by Jay (Jonathan Tucker) whom she wants to hire for a photo shoot.

Trivia

Graduated from Menomonee Falls High School, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Did print modeling for Kohl's Department Store during high school.

Her father is of African-American and European descent. Her mother, whose maiden name is Szohr, is of Hungarian, German, English, and Irish descent. Szohr is a Hungarian name.

Once cleaned her teachers' houses to earn money.

Last name pronounced "zor" or "sawr".

Announced her first pregnancy with boyfriend Brad Richardson on September 24th 2020 (via Instagram).

Trademarks:

Exotic look with dark hair and light eyes

Quotes

A lot of times when I'm not at work I like to let my face breathe and not put makeup on.

A lot of people say about Gossip Girl (2007), 'Well, how do you feel about gossip?' Well, who really likes gossip? No one likes to be talked about if it's not flattering or a compliment.

There's a very small percentage of people that take limos to school and have $2000 handbags - no one in my high school had that!

I'm from Wisconsin, and I love snowboarding, hiking, yoga and soccer.

My personal style is kind of tomboy-boho chic! Sort of funky but simple.

I don't read blogs, I don't have MySpace, I don't have Facebook or Twitter - none of that.

I don't like it when you look too styled and wear one designer from head to toe.

I do a lot of dry shampoo. My hair just works better when it's not as clean!

Ghost stories always creep me out and weird me out. Those are always interesting to watch.

After being in a gym, you're super hungry all the time because you're burning all these calories.

I'm a huge fan of Cheetos.

I want to entertain.

I love seeing live music.

I have a very close relationship with my mom, and I'm able to talk to her about anything.

I enjoy yoga a lot, not even for the workout.

Just don't pull out your phone at all on the first date.

I'm not the healthiest eater, but I try to watch what I eat during the week. I kind of splurge on the weekends and eat french fries and pizza.

I'm just a normal girl who really enjoys her job, and so you have to take the other things that come with being in the public eye.

I'm going to have fans and I'm going to have people who don't like everything I do. All I can really do is go to work and do my job.

I'm always appreciative of fans.

The sexiest thing about style is if you kind of just take your personality and put it in what you wear. That's what I think is cool.

That's the great thing about New York, there's always something to do.

So basically, I graduated high school a semester early.

One product that you can never go wrong with is sunglasses because they are easy to misplace. I always get a couple of pairs every year.

My schedule can be hectic, so I'm always trying to find time to see my friends and family.

My style has definitely grown since moving to New York and working on Gossip Girl (2007). I'm more aware of a lot of designers and I'm more aware of fashion.

You do a film for a short time period - you put it all out there and move on.

With things in my personal life, if I talk about it, it doesn't stay personal.

Whenever I do my own makeup, I usually only do foundation, bronzer, and mascara.

When you're working on a lake and it's dark and cold out and you can't see what's underwater, it is freaking scary!

The fact of the matter is that when there are feelings involved and you like someone, it doesn't matter if you're an actor, a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a receptionist - you can't really help it when you have feelings for someone.