Jenna Ushkowitz

Jenna Noelle Ushkowitz was born on April 28, 1986, in Seoul, South Korea, and was adopted at an early age, growing up in East Meadow, New York. Her career began as a child, appearing in various print advertisements for brands such as Playskool, Toys R Us, Burger King, and Jell-O. She also had regular roles on children’s television shows including “Sesame Street” for four years. Ushkowitz pursued her passion for performing arts through high school, participating in numerous musicals, and later attending Marymount Manhattan College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts in 2007.

Ushkowitz’s professional stage career commenced with her Broadway debut in the 1996 revival of “The King and I.” She later understudied various roles in the Broadway musical “Spring Awakening” in 2008. A significant turning point in her career came in 2009 when she was cast as Tina Cohen-Chang in the Fox musical comedy-drama series “Glee.” This role brought her widespread recognition and led to live concert tours with her co-stars in the United States, Canada, England, and Ireland in 2010 and 2011. Her vocal performances on “Glee” earned critical acclaim and charted internationally.

Beyond acting, Ushkowitz has expanded her career into production and podcasting. In 2015, she executive produced the documentary “Twinsters,” which premiered at South by Southwest. She also co-founded the podcast network At Will Radio in 2016 and launched her own show, “Infinitie Positivities.” Ushkowitz has achieved success as a Broadway producer, winning a Tony Award in 2018 for “Once on This Island” and another in 2020 for the play “The Inheritance.” She continues to engage with her audience through podcasts, including “Showmance” and “And That’s What You Really Missed,” where she shares insights into her experiences on “Glee.”