How Jennifer Earned Her Spurs

Jennifer Tilley is an actress who has earned her spurs as a poker player.

The star of 'The Fabulous Baker Boys,' 'Liar Liar,' 'Bullets Over Broadway,' and 'Bride of Chucky' overcame boredom on the sets of movies she was filming by playing poker with the cast and technicians. Why not? Her daddy had taught her how to play the game and as Jennifer so sweetly put it, 'I't's hard to be bored when you're taking other people's money.'

Born in Harbor City, CA. on Sept. 16, 1958, Jennifer found herself relocating to Texada Island, British Canada, at the age of five when her parents divorced. Her mother, a school teacher and stage actress, divorced again when Jennifer turned 16 and moved to Victoria.

Jennifer took up acting and began her successful career when she was still in her teens. Her good looks helped land her the role of a singing waitress in 'The Fabulouis Baker Boys' starring Beau and Jeff Bridges. The screenwriter was so impressed with her talent that he wrote the role specifically for her.

She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Olive, the nasal actress in the Woody Allen comedy, 'Bullets Over Broadway.' Although Tilley did not win an Oscar, Hollywood noticed her talents and the better scripts began being sent her way.

She married television producer Sam Simon, producer of 'The Simpsons,' in 1984. The marriage lasted seven years and they are still good friends.

Poker was always interesting to her and in May 2006, she began taking it seriously. She won a World Series of Poker bracelet and $158,625 in the Ladies No Limit Hold'em tournament, defeating 600 other players. To prove that was no fluke, she followed it up by winning the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational at the Bibycle Club in Los Angeles.

When an interviewer asked if her acting ability played any part in her poker talents, she answered 'Absolutely. Actors make good poker players because a lot of poker involves bluffing. I can make myself believe I have pocket aces or completed a flush and use my body language to make the other players believe the same.

'Actors become very good at reading other people, and that is another plus. It has helped me win almost $1 million at the poker tables.'

On the poker circuit she met Phil Laak and today they are 'a couple.' While Jennifer does not consider herself a professional -- she called poker 'my hobby' -- she spends much of her leisure time playing in poker tournaments or in cash games when she doesn't have an acting job.

In addition to acting, Jennifer does a lot of voice-over work.

She thinks men play poker different than women because they are naturally aggressive and notes that the best female players take on an aggressive stance at the table.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).