Vanessa Lengies | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1996–present |
Known for | American Dreams Glee Turner & Hooch |
Vanessa Lengies (born July 21, 1985) [1] is a Canadian actress, dancer, and singer. She is known for starring in the drama American Dreams as Roxanne Bojarski. She appeared as Charge Nurse Kelly Epson on the TNT medical drama HawthoRNe , and has appeared in the recurring role of Sugar Motta in the third, fourth, and sixth seasons of the Fox series Glee. In 2021, Lengies played Erica on Turner & Hooch .
Lengies was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a German father and an Egyptian mother. She grew up in Hudson, Quebec, where she graduated from Hudson High School in 2002.[ citation needed ]
Lengies got her start in Canadian television on shows such as Sponk! , Are You Afraid of the Dark? , Radio Active , and Popular Mechanics for Kids . Her voice was lent to Emily on the PBS animated series Arthur . In 2000, she had the lead role in the Showtime film Ratz.
In 2002, she was cast as a series regular in the NBC comedy-drama American Dreams , playing teenager Roxanne Bojarski. The show was set in Philadelphia in the mid-1960s, and Roxanne becomes one of the dancers on the American Bandstand television show hosted by Dick Clark. The series ran for three seasons, with the final episode broadcast in March 2005.
In August 2005, she co-starred with Hilary Duff and Heather Locklear in the comedy The Perfect Man . She also plays a supporting role as the jailbait hostess, Natasha, in the 2005 American film Waiting... , [2] and reprised the role in the film's 2009 sequel, Still Waiting... . In 2006, she co-starred with Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym as a gymnast in the film Stick It .
For The Grudge 2 , the role of Vanessa was originally written for Lengies, who eventually turned it down to film My Suicide ; the part still bears her name. She has also appeared in CBS show Ghost Whisperer in an episode titled "The Vanishing" and the NBC show Medium in the episode "Apocalypse... Now?". She made another appearance in an episode of the short-lived CBS show Moonlight .
Lengies was seen as Sophia in the Lifetime original drama series Monarch Cove . She also co-starred in the ABC online comedy Squeegees. [2]
She appeared as Nurse Kelly Epson on the TNT medical drama Hawthorne from 2009 through 2011. The role was a recurring one for the first season, and Lengies became a series regular for the following two seasons. The show, which ran for three seasons of ten episodes starting each June, was not renewed for a fourth summer. [3] She appeared in the role of Loco Uno in an online mockumentary and sitcom called MyMusic .[ citation needed ]
She was cast as Kacey, a bubbly cocktail waitress, in the sitcom Mixology . However, ABC canceled Mixology after only one season. [4] Originally cast in a guest role, Lengies was upped to a main cast role on FOX's 2016 drama Second Chance (earlier titled Lookinglass). [5]
In August 2011, Lengies was cast in the recurring role of Sugar Motta for the third season of Glee . Sugar, who is well-off, self-confident, and has a tin ear, first appeared in the season premiere on September 20, 2011. [6] [7] Since then, Sugar's singing has greatly improved, and she now performs with the main glee club, New Directions; she had her first solo line in the season's tenth episode, "Yes/No". [8] In 2013, Lengies visited her old high school to see how much it had changed, and to speak to the Student Life and Drama students about her journey of how she got to be on Glee.
According to Lengies, Sugar's self-diagnosed Aspergers is part of her character. She said that it was difficult to sing poorly on purpose, especially with piano accompaniment. [9] Sugar's debut was praised by Salon 's Matt Zoller Seitz, who said of the new addition to McKinley, "She's awful. She's also an entitled little snot... She's a great character, and I hope we haven't seen the last of her." [10] Entertainment Weekly 's Abby West praised Sugar, and with Sue otherwise occupied hoped to see more of Sugar as "a thorn in the Glee club's side". [11] On the other hand, TV Guide "jeered" Sugar, calling her "an off-key addition to the cast". [12] The A.V. Club 's Emily VanDerWerff concurred, and said of "I Am Unicorn", "Sugar continues to be one of my least favorite new characters in ages". [13] The Huffington Post named Sugar Motta one of the "Worst TV Characters" in 2012. [14] Respers France was entirely unimpressed with the routine. For her, Sugar's scene following it was one of the episode's few highlights, although she described Sugar as having "a horrible voice". [15]
Following the end of the fourth season, Lengies announced her departure from Glee, citing frustration with not having the opportunity to act as she was hired per episode, [16] though she did return for two appearances in the sixth season.
She came out as genderfluid and bisexual in her own documentary series The 'S' Word with Vanessa Lengies in 2017. [17]
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2005 | Waiting... | Natasha |
2005 | The Perfect Man | Amy Pearl |
2006 | The Substance of Things Hoped For | Daphne |
2006 | Stick It | Joanne Charis |
2008 | Foreign Exchange | Robyn |
2008 | Extreme Movie | Carla |
2009 | Archie's Final Project | Mallory |
2009 | Still Waiting... | Natasha |
2015 | We Are Your Friends | Mel |
2016 | Happy Birthday | Katie Elizondo |
2018 | Immortal | Alex |
2018 | I'd Like to Be Alone Now | Lisa |
2018 | Married Young | Talya |
2019 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Additional voices |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995–1996 | The Little Lulu Show | Annie Inch | Voice role |
1996–2002 | Arthur | Emily | 24 episodes |
1997 | Lassie | Charity | Episode: "The Manhunt" |
1997–1999 | The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures | Various | 25 episodes |
1998 | Radio Active | Sarah Leigh | 78 episodes |
1998 | Caillou | Boy / Girl | 3 episodes |
1998 | The Tale of the Great Bunny | Abigail | Television film |
1999–2000 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Vange | 26 episodes |
1999–2001 | Popular Mechanics for Kids | Herself | Host |
2000 | For Better or For Worse | Elizabeth Patterson | 5 episodes |
2000 | Ratz | Marci Kornbalm | Television film Nominated — Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy) - Leading Young Actress |
2002–2005 | American Dreams | Roxanne Bojarski | Main Role Nominated — Young Artist Awards for Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) Nominated — Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actress Nominated — Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Sidekick |
2003–2005 | Pet Star | Herself / Judge | 4 episodes |
2005 | 8 Simple Rules | Monica | Episode: "The After Party" |
2006 | Ghost Whisperer | Caitlin Emerson | Episode: "The Vanishing" |
2006 | Monarch Cove | Sophia Preston | Main role |
2006 | Split Decision | Ashley | Television film |
2007 | Moonlight | Leni Hayes | Episode: "Fever" |
2007 | The Cleaner | Lolly | Episode: "Rag Dolls" |
2007 | Untitled David Kohan/Max Mutchnick TV Project | Tessa | Television film |
2008 | Squeegees | Annie Hackett | |
2009 | Medium | Zoey Lehman | Episode: "Apocalypse... Now?" |
2009–2011 | Hawthorne | Kelly Epson | Recurring role (Season 1); main role (Seasons 2–3); 29 episodes |
2010 | Accidentally on Purpose | Tracy | Episode: "Back to School" |
2010 | CSI: Miami | Shea Williamson | Episode: "Reality Skills" |
2010 | Rules of Engagement | Julia | Episode: "Refusing to Budget" |
2011 | Castle | Eliza Winter | Episode: "Poof! You're Dead" |
2011–2013, 2015 | Glee | Sugar Motta | Recurring role (Seasons 3–4, 6); 26 episodes Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series |
2012–2013 | MyMusic | Loco Uno | Recurring role (Season 1); 7 episodes |
2014 | Mixology | Kacey | Main role |
2014 | Llama Cop | Dr. Kristen Reynolds | 2 episodes |
2015 | Resident Advisors | Marissa | 4 episodes |
2016 | Second Chance | Alexa | Main role |
2016 | The Detour | Elf | Episode: "The Drop" |
2016–2017 | Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures | Kordi Freemaker | Main role |
2017 | The 'S' Word with Vanessa Lengies | Herself / Host | Miniseries; also producer |
2018 | I.R.L. | Catherine VanRicher | 2 episodes |
2018 | Lego Star Wars: All-Stars | Kordi Freemaker | Episode: "From Trenches to Wrenches: The Roger Story" |
2019 | A Date By Christmas Eve | Chelsea Simms | Television film (Lifetime) |
2020 | Heart of the Holidays | Sam | Television film (Hallmark) |
2021 | Turner & Hooch | Erica | Main role |
2022 | Christmas in Toyland | Charlie Sawyer | Television film (Hallmark) |
2023 | True Lies | Quinn | Episode: "Independent Dependents" |
2023 | Take Me Back for Christmas | Renee | Television film (Hallmark) |
2024 | Sweet Summer Love | Lindie Summer | Television film (Hallmark) |
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2006 | "We Run This" | Missy Elliot |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy) - Leading Young Actress | Ratz | Nominated |
2003 | Young Artist Awards | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | American Dreams | Nominated |
2004 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actress | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Sidekick | Nominated | ||
2013 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Glee | Nominated |
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | CAN | UK | ARIA | ||||||
2011 | "Candyman" | - | - | 158 | - | ||||
"Survivor/I Will Survive" | 51 [18] | 47 [19] | 97 | 78 | |||||
2012 | "Cell Block Tango" | - | - | 175 | - | ||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Rose Rollins is an American actress. She is known for her role as Tasha Williams in the Showtime drama series, The L Word (2007–09) and as Valerie Anderson in the ABC crime drama series, The Catch (2016–17).
Shelby Corcoran is a recurring fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. Portrayed by actress Idina Menzel, Shelby was introduced in the fourteenth episode of the show as the coach of Vocal Adrenaline, a rival show choir to New Directions, the show's primary musical group. Fans had lobbied for Menzel to be cast as Rachel Berry's biological mother, due to the strong physical resemblance between Menzel and Michele. After it is revealed that Shelby is, in fact, Rachel's biological mother, Shelby discloses that she had signed a contract that stated that she could not seek out her daughter until she was eighteen. She tells Rachel that instead of trying to act like mother and daughter, they should just be grateful that they have met, and maintain a distance.
The third season of the musical comedy-drama television series Glee was commissioned on May 23, 2010, by Fox while the first season aired. It aired between September 20, 2011, and May 22, 2012, and was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Ryan Murphy Television, with executive producers Dante Di Loreto and series co-creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan.
"The Purple Piano Project" is the premiere episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the forty-fifth overall. The episode was written by series co-creator Brad Falchuk, directed by Eric Stoltz, and first aired on September 20, 2011 on Fox in the United States. It features the start of a new school year at McKinley High, and for its glee club, New Directions. Members of the club have left, and a recruitment drive is launched to bring the numbers back up. Blaine Anderson, Kurt Hummel's boyfriend, transfers from Dalton Academy to McKinley High, Quinn Fabray becomes rebellious and joins The Skanks, and Mercedes Jones gets a new boyfriend. Sue Sylvester is running for Congress.
"I Am Unicorn" is the second episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the forty-sixth overall. The episode was written by series co-creator Ryan Murphy, directed by series co-creator Brad Falchuk, and first aired on September 27, 2011 on Fox in the United States. It features the return of Shelby Corcoran to the show to direct a rival glee club at William McKinley High even while New Directions, the current club, is having trouble recruiting members. Shelby also wants Quinn and Puck, the biological parents of her adopted daughter Beth, to be a part of Beth's life. The director of New Directions, Will Schuester sets up a "booty camp" for the less capable dancers in the club, and auditions for the school musical, West Side Story, begin.
"Pot o' Gold" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the forty-eighth overall. It was written by Ali Adler, directed by Adam Shankman, and was first broadcast on Fox in the United States on November 1, 2011. The episode featured the arrival of Irish foreign exchange student Rory Flanagan at McKinley High, a new challenger to Sue Sylvester in her congressional race, Quinn Fabray tries to make Shelby Corcoran look like an unfit mother so she can get her birth daughter back, and the ongoing fragmentation of the show's central glee club, New Directions.
Rory Flanagan is a recurring fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actor Damian McGinty, and appeared in Glee starting with its third season episode "Pot o' Gold", first broadcast on November 1, 2011. Rory is an exchange student from Ireland who arrives as a sophomore, and is living at the home of Brittany Pierce while studying at McKinley High. He joins the McKinley glee club, New Directions, in his first episode. The character was created after McGinty was one of two winners of a seven-episode arc in Glee's third season after having successfully competed in the reality television show The Glee Project. As Rory, McGinty sang four solo covers on the show, and appeared in many group performances. Rory continued as a recurring character beyond the initial seven episode prize, through the end of the third season. He made one more appearance after that, in the fourth season. McGinty was invited back for the series finale, but could not take part due to scheduling commitments with the world tour for Irish singing group Celtic Thunder.
"Hold On to Sixteen" is the eighth episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the fifty-second overall. The episode title is from a line in John Mellencamp's song "Jack & Diane". Written by Ross Maxwell and directed by Bradley Buecker, the episode aired on Fox in the United States on December 6, 2011, and featured the return of Sam Evans to McKinley High and New Directions, and their participation in the Sectionals show choir competition.
"Yes/No" is the episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the fifty-fourth overall. Written by Brad Falchuk and directed by Eric Stoltz, the episode aired on Fox in the United States on January 17, 2012. It contains the revelation of an elopement, and two marriage proposals, including the proposal by Will Schuester to Emma Pillsbury.
The fourth season of the Fox musical comedy-drama television series Glee was commissioned on April 9, 2012. It premiered on September 13, 2012, and is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision with executive producers Dante Di Loreto and series co-creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan.
"Choke" is the eighteenth episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the sixty-second overall. Written by Marti Noxon and directed by Michael Uppendahl, the episode aired on Fox in the United States on May 1, 2012, and features the first appearance of special guest star Whoopi Goldberg as Carmen Tibideaux, Dean of the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYADA), and the introduction of Puck's father.
"The New Rachel" is the premiere episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the sixty-seventh episode overall. Written by Ryan Murphy and directed by Brad Falchuk, it aired on Fox in the United States on September 13, 2012. The episode features Rachel beginning school at the New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts (NYADA), while at McKinley High, the national champion New Directions glee club must regroup after losing eight seniors to graduation. Special guest star Kate Hudson makes her first appearance as Rachel's dance instructor, Cassandra July, and Whoopi Goldberg returns as NYADA dean Carmen Tibideaux.
"Makeover" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the sixty-ninth episode overall. Written by Ian Brennan and directed by Eric Stoltz, it aired on Fox in the United States on September 27, 2012. In the episode, Brittany and Blaine go head-to-head in a debate for student council president, while Kurt lands an internship at Vogue.com and Rachel decides to give herself a makeover. The episode features the introduction of special guest star Sarah Jessica Parker as Isabelle Wright of Vogue.com.
"The Role You Were Born to Play" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the seventy-first episode overall. It was written by Michael Hitchcock and directed by Brad Falchuk, and aired on Fox in the United States on November 8, 2012. The episode features the return of Mercedes and Mike, and the introduction of The Glee Project second-season winner Blake Jenner as McKinley student Ryder Lynn. This is the first episode of the show where lead star Lea Michele did not appear as Rachel Berry since her introduction in the show's pilot episode.
"Dynamic Duets" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the seventy-third episode overall. Written and directed by series co-creator Ian Brennan, it aired on Fox in the United States on November 22, 2012.
"Glease" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the seventy-second episode overall. It aired on Fox in the United States on November 15, 2012, and features the McKinley High production of the musical Grease, and the return of special guest star Kate Hudson as Cassandra July. Kurt and Rachel have awkward reunions with their exes, Will prepares to leave for his vacation and puts Finn in charge of the Glee Club while he is gone. Rachel and Kurt sever ties with their respective exes and leave at the end.
"Sadie Hawkins" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the seventy-seventh episode overall. Written by Ross Maxwell and directed by Bradley Buecker, it aired on Fox in the United States on January 24, 2013.
"Girls On Film" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the eighty-first episode overall. Written by Michael Hitchcock and directed by co-creator Ian Brennan, it aired on Fox in the United States on March 7, 2013, and features the 500th musical number filmed by Glee since its inception.
Turner & Hooch is an American buddy cop action-comedy television series based on, and a continuation of, the 1989 film of the same name. The series, created and written by executive producer Matt Nix, serves as a legacy sequel and is produced in association with Flying Glass of Milk Productions, Wonderland Sound and Vision, 20th Television and Disney Branded Television, starring Josh Peck, Lyndsy Fonseca, Carra Patterson, and Vanessa Lengies. It is the third overall installment in the eponymous franchise and premiered on July 21, 2021 as a Disney+ exclusive. The series was canceled after one season.