Jennifer Gareis

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Jennifer Gareis (Donna, B&B)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Acting wasn't always at the forefront of Jennifer Gareis' "beautiful" mind. With algebra and geometry as her favorite subjects in school, she took the advice of her older sister and worked toward a career in accounting. She attended Franklin & Marshall College located in her hometown, Lancaster, PA, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Although she was offered a job from a well-respected accounting firm in her senior year of college, she thanked them for the opportunity and chose to follow her dream: acting.

Trained as a swimmer since she was five years old, Gareis' avid fitness regime proved a career asset when she moved to New York City, where she studied in the studios of Wynn Handman and William Esper. She worked as a model, appearing in the pages of high-profile magazines such as Glamour, Fitness, and Esquire. In 1994, she earned the title of Miss New York, and then became a top six finalist in the Miss USA pageant of that year.

Breaking into the business, she earned a supporting role in Barbara Streisand's The Mirror Has Two Faces (2006). A few years later, she landed the contract role of Grace Turner on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, her first long-term daytime stint. Adding film roles to her resume, she worked in the sci-fi flick, The 6th Day, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and later joined the comedy Boat Trip with Cuba Gooding, Jr.

In 2006, Gareis joined the cast of BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL as Donna, another man-manipulating Logan sister. In her spare time (when there is such!), she works on completing her MBA from Pepperdine University. Juggling a full-time gig at B&B and managing class projects and papers, Gareis' mathematical skills should prove useful in time management.

Et Cetera

Five Random Facts
—Co-hosted a live, year-long fitness show in New York City.
—Enjoys biking, hiking, and yoga.
—Was Miss New York 1994, and a Top 6 finalist for Miss USA.
—Loves french fries.
—Has two brothers and two sisters.

Career Highlights

Other Soap Roles
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (Grace Turner, 1999-2004)

Other TV Roles
VERONICA MARS (Cheyenne, 2005)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (Thalia Roselawn, 2001)
Film Roles
Boat Trip
Lucky Town
Airstrike
Miss Congeniality
The 6th Day
The Mirror Has Two Faces
Theater Roles Father's Day
Crimes of the Heart
The Death of Bessie Smith

She Said What?

"Sometimes I'll see the breakdown with the nice girl and the other kind of girl, and I'm like, 'I can play the nice girl. The wife.' My agents will say, 'Hon, we've already submitted you for both parts and they don't see you that way. You're going to be the mistress.' I'm like, 'Okay. That's cool.'" — On the kind of roles she plays, Soap Opera Weekly, 8/21/07

"What's not to love? Everything she's ever wanted has been handed to her. Donna was expecting to save her sister from 'The Crazy Captain' (Nick), that possessive husband she has, but she's being given life on a sliver platter." — On getting to love her new character, Donna,Weekly, 9/5/06

"When I'm in love. It doesn't matter if I have on any makeup or what I'm wearing. When you're in love, you're shining, glowing and happy!" — On when she feels most beautiful, Soap Opera Digest, 10/17/06

You Should Hear What People Say About You!

"The first time we saw her figure she was modeling lingerie in the living room for Brooke and Nick, and you're like 'Oh, my God, this body....' She's very, very sexy. No matter what you put her in, she looks incredibly sexy. She has that Playboy Bunny look about her." — Birgit Muller, B&B costume designer, www.soapoperaweekly.com

Official Web Site

www.jennifergareis.com

RELATED RESOURCES