Vanessa Lengies

Last updated
Vanessa Lengies
Vanessa Lengies 2016.png
Lengies in 2016
Born (1985-07-21) July 21, 1985 (age 38)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
  • singer
Years active1996–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 .

Contents

Early life

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 ]

Career

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]

Glee

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.

Personal life

She came out as genderfluid and bisexual in her own documentary series The 'S' Word with Vanessa Lengies in 2017. [17]

Filmography

Film roles
YearTitleRole
2005 Waiting... Natasha
2005 The Perfect Man Amy Pearl
2006The Substance of Things Hoped ForDaphne
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
2018ImmortalAlex
2018I'd Like to Be Alone NowLisa
2018Married YoungTalya
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Additional voices
Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1995–1996 The Little Lulu Show Annie InchVoice role
1996–2002 Arthur Emily24 episodes
1997 Lassie CharityEpisode: "The Manhunt"
1997–1999 The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures Various25 episodes
1998 Radio Active Sarah Leigh78 episodes
1998 Caillou Boy / Girl3 episodes
1998The Tale of the Great BunnyAbigailTelevision film
1999–2000 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Vange26 episodes
1999–2001 Popular Mechanics for Kids HerselfHost
2000 For Better or For Worse Elizabeth Patterson5 episodes
2000RatzMarci KornbalmTelevision film
Nominated — Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy) - Leading Young Actress
2002–2005 American Dreams Roxanne BojarskiMain 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
2003–2005Pet StarHerself / Judge4 episodes
2005 8 Simple Rules MonicaEpisode: "The After Party"
2006 Ghost Whisperer Caitlin EmersonEpisode: "The Vanishing"
2006 Monarch Cove Sophia PrestonMain role
2006Split DecisionAshleyTelevision film
2007 Moonlight Leni HayesEpisode: "Fever"
2007 The Cleaner LollyEpisode: "Rag Dolls"
2007Untitled David Kohan/Max Mutchnick TV ProjectTessaTelevision film
2008SqueegeesAnnie Hackett
2009 Medium Zoey LehmanEpisode: "Apocalypse... Now?"
2009–2011 Hawthorne Kelly EpsonRecurring role (Season 1); main role (Seasons 2–3); 29 episodes
2010 Accidentally on Purpose TracyEpisode: "Back to School"
2010 CSI: Miami Shea WilliamsonEpisode: "Reality Skills"
2010 Rules of Engagement JuliaEpisode: "Refusing to Budget"
2011 Castle Eliza WinterEpisode: "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 UnoRecurring role (Season 1); 7 episodes
2014 Mixology KaceyMain role
2014Llama CopDr. Kristen Reynolds2 episodes
2015 Resident Advisors Marissa4 episodes
2016 Second Chance AlexaMain role
2016 The Detour ElfEpisode: "The Drop"
2016–2017 Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Kordi FreemakerMain role
2017The 'S' Word with Vanessa LengiesHerself / HostMiniseries; also producer
2018I.R.L.Catherine VanRicher2 episodes
2018 Lego Star Wars: All-Stars Kordi FreemakerEpisode: "From Trenches to Wrenches: The Roger Story"
2019A Date By Christmas EveChelsea SimmsTelevision film (Lifetime)
2020Heart of the HolidaysSamTelevision film (Hallmark)
2021 Turner & Hooch EricaMain role
2022Christmas in ToylandCharlie SawyerTelevision film (Hallmark)
2023 True Lies QuinnEpisode: "Independent Dependents"
2023Take Me Back for ChristmasReneeTelevision film (Hallmark)
Music videos
YearTitleArtist
2006"We Run This" Missy Elliot

Awards and nomination

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2001 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy) - Leading Young ActressRatzNominated
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 ActressNominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV SidekickNominated
2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Glee Nominated

Discography

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions
US CAN UK ARIA
2011"Candyman"--158-
"Survivor/I Will Survive"51 [18] 47 [19] 9778
2012"Cell Block Tango"--175-
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

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References

  1. Lengies, Vanessa (July 22, 2011). "Twitter / @littlelengies: @BubbaJM5 Oh thank you so much! I had a great birthday. Thanks for the song" . Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Wortham, Jenna (February 28, 2008). "Disney, ABC Enter Online Video Arena With Squeegees". Wired . Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (September 2, 2011). "TNT Cancels TV Medical Drama 'Hawthorne'". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  4. Goldberg, Lesley (May 8, 2014). "ABC Cancels Freshman Comedies 'Trophy Wife,' 'Mixology'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  5. Slezak, Michael (September 11, 2015). "TVLine Items: Fox Drama Promotes Glee Grad, HTGAWM Trailer and More". TVLine . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  6. Ausiello, Michael (August 10, 2011). "Glee Exclusive: American Dreams Girl Vanessa Lengies Enrolls at McKinley High". TVLine . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  7. "(GLE-301) "The Purple Piano Project"". The Futon Critic (Press release). Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  8. Kubicek, John (January 17, 2012). "'Glee' Recap: A Very Decent Proposal". BuddyTV . Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  9. Gonzalez, Sarah (September 21, 2011). "'Glee' newbie Vanessa Lengies on Sugar's upcoming revenge (of sorts) and her scary moment with Idina Menzel". Entertainment Weekly . Time, Inc . Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  10. Zoller Seitz, Matt (September 21, 2011). ""Glee" imagines life beyond senior year". Salon . Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  11. West, Abby (September 21, 2011). "'Glee' season premiere recap: Join the Club!". Entertainment Weekly . Time, Inc . Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  12. Fretts, Bruce (September 28, 2011). "Cheers & Jeers: Glee's Not-So-Sweet Sugar". TV Guide . Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  13. VanDerWerff, Emily (September 27, 2011). ""I Am Unicorn"". The A.V. Club . The Onion . Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  14. "Worst TV Characters of the Year". The Huffington Post . May 24, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  15. Respers France, Lisa (September 21, 2011). "You're right 'Glee,' you need new members". CNN . Archived from the original on September 23, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  16. "Sugar's departure is bittersweet for Glee". digitalspy.co.uk. 21 May 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  17. Why Am I Scared to Question My Sexuality? - S Word w/ Vanessa Lengies on YouTube
  18. Peak chart positions for season 3 singles and album tracks in the United States: "We Are Young", "Survivor / I Will Survive", "Man in the Mirror", "ABC" and "Red Solo Cup" Grein, Paul (December 14, 2011). "Week Ending Dec. 11, 2011. Songs: Mariah's Christmas Gift". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music . Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  19. "Nielsen Music: Canadian Update (December 16, 2011)" (PDF). Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 25, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.