Jenna Dewan

Biography

Jenna Dewan is an American dancer & TV/ Movie actress. She is popular for portrayal of roles like Lucy Lane(soldier/ Military personnel) in Supergirl TV series, Freya Beauchamp (witch) in Witches of East End(2013-2014), Nora Clark(dancer) in Step Up(2006).

Childhood- Family

Jenna Dewan was born on 3rd December 1980 in Hartford, Connecticut to Nancy Smith(Mother) & Darryll Dewan(Father)- a footballer for Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

She is of English(Maternal; 25%), German(Maternal; 25%), Polish(Paternal; 25%), Syrian Lebanese(Paternal; 25%) descent.

Because of her parents' divorce she moved between cities as a child. Hartford, Raleigh, North Carolina, Grapevine are among the places she lived.

Image: Jenna Dewan childhood photo

Her grandmother Evelyn is a performer too: Evelyn played Piano and liked to dance, she along with her husband Emil would perform at their Club 'Dewan Supper Club'.

Her grandfather Emil died Just before Jenna was born. They never met.

Education

• Notre Dame Preparatory School: She attended the Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland for her primary education. She was very friendly with her fellow students in school, she was very much liked by her peers.
• Grapevine High School: she completed her High school from Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas. She was selected as the High school Prom queen when she was in her senior year.
• University of Southern California: she attended the University of Southern California for a degree, but dropped out of college seeking a full time career in dancing. She was a cheerleader when she was a student in the University.  She was a member of the women Fraternity Pi Beta Phi (ΠΒΦ).

Dancing: She got interested in dancing at the age of 5, she learned ballet & modern dance as a kid, later moved to hip hop as it was more in demand in her youth

Relationships

Jenna Dewan & Channing Tatum

 Jenna Dewan & Channing Tatum acted together in the lead roles of the dance drama Step Up(2006). They soon started dating and got engaged in September 2008 at  Maui;

Marriage: They got married on 11th July 2009 at Church Estates Vineyards(Malibu, California) after the 11 month engagement, she wore Reem Acra gown while donned Giorgio Armani. Emmanuelle Chriqui was the maid of honor. The couple danced to 'Make You Feel My Love' by Adele.

The couple has a daughter named Everly Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum born in 2013.

Image: Jenna Dewan family photo: Channing Tatum(husband), Everly Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum(daughter)

She was a cheerleader at school, who later became a dancer. Coincidentally he too was very athletic and was very much into sports (baseball, football, martial arts, soccer). They are said to have danced on their way to the aisle on the wedding day.

The couple separated in 2017, separation wasn't made public until later, the two officially got divorced in 2019.

Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum in Step Up

Steve Kazee

Jenna has been in relationship with actor Steve Kazee (of Shameless, The Walking Dead, Nashville, Blindspot fame) since October 2018. The knew each other from their Broadway performance in Once, a decade ago to their engagement.

The two got engaged on the eve of 18th February 2020, Jenna announced it through an instagram post.

"A lifetime to love and grow with you...you have my heart"

When you wake in the morning I will kiss your face with a smile no one has ever seen. When you wake in the morning I will kiss your eyes and say it’s you I have loved all these years.

she wrote in two separate instagram post [4] [5]

Jenna has a son named Callum Michael Rebel Kazee born on 6th March 2020 with Steve Kazee. [3]

Career

Dancing

Background Dancer: Jenna started her career as a background dancer for stars/ groups like- Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson(video: Doesn't Really Matter), Missy Elliott, Pink, Celine Dion, Mandy Moore, Ricky Martin among others.

So You Think You Can Dance(2014): She was a guest judge at the show for 3 episodes.

World of Dance(2017): She hosted World of Dance(2017), a dance related reality competition show in the first two editions of the show. She was just separated from Channing Tatum and not many knew about it, Jennifer Lopez caleld her the very next day and asked her to host the show as she would be the perfect fit. [2]

Acting

Modeling for Iconix: She modeled for the dancewear manufacturers Iconix Brand Group in a  photoshoot.

Some of the popular movies she has had prominent roles are: Take the Lead, Step Up, The Grudge 2, Love Lies Bleeding, Falling Awake, The Six Wives of Henry Lefay, American Virgin, Balls to the Wall, 10 Years, Setup, Slightly Single in L.A.

She has had recurring roles in: The Playboy Club(2011), American Horror Story(2012-13), Witches of East End(2013-14), Supergirl(2015-).

33andOut Productions

She is the co-founder of 33andOut Productions along with Adam Martingano, Brett Rodriguez, Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin.

Philanthropy

Love for Animals

• Jenna is also an animal rights activist, she works in association with PETA.
• Vegetarian: Jenna is a vegetarian (vegan). She is raising her daughter Everly Tatum as a vegetarian as well.
• Sexiest Vegan: She was declared by PETA as the Sexiest Vegan of 2017
• She loves animals and has pet dogs(Japanese spitz, bulldog) named- Meeka & LuLu Bella. She has owned dogs from her childhood days.

• Baby2Baby: she worked with the charity to help raise the awareness about Diaper need for babies and help 1/3 of the American families that cannot afford the diapers.
• Breast cancer awareness campaign: She has appeared in public awareness events alongside other Hollywood stars like Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Rachel Boston.
• She wants to do humanitarian works, wants to open a charity foundation of her own.

Filmography

Movies List

TV Series

TV Shows

Music Videos

She has appeared in many music videos, mostly as a part of the background dancing troups.

Interesting Facts

• Technology: She is not very tech-savvy, she can do plenty of internet stuff herself though.
• She believes in Ghosts. She takes crystals wherever she goes,
• She has girl-crush on Reese Witherspoon.
• She calls herself- "closeted pop star".
• Irish Dance mom: Her daughter Evie got interested in dancing at 9, she told Jenna that she wants to learn Irish dance, the one form of dance Jenna didn't know, Jenna even had to google what that is, she found the Celtic Irish Dance Academy and became an Irish Dance mom. [6]
• Secret of her Fitness: Running, hiking, pilates, dancing.
• She wishes to do more Dance related movies.
• She believes in God, she is a spiritual person, than religious. She is into meditation, watches Oprah's spiritual shows.
• As a kid she wanted to be a Veterinary physician.
• She likes Jazz & Hip hop dance forms more than other forms.
• First thing she liked about her husband Channing: His Big heart.
• She likes Shu Uemura brand of Eyelashes & foundations.
• What she feels about nudity: I won't do nudity ever, unless it's a great role.
• Little Monkey: She was called "Little monkey" in her childhood days, because she liked climbing things
• She had auburn hair in childhood. She has often dyed her hair, but never blonde.
• As a kid she was interested in Ice Skating as well, but chose dancing.
• She is a voracious reader, she is known to finish a complete novel within a day or two.
• She likes riding bike at her family house in Nantucket Island, where her family has had the house for many generations.
• She feels Ladybugs are good luck for her.
• She is artistic, she makes vision boards.
• She needs a mask to sleep.
• She usually walks on her tiptoes, she attributes it to her dancing.
• Jenna owns a farm where she takes care of the animals she rescues.
• Jenna designs bracelets for Energy muse jewelry.
• She is a Democratic Party supporter.

Awards

• Teen Choice Awards: she won an award for her dancing scenes in the movie Step Up(2006)
• Peabody Awards: The documentary Earth Made of Glass(2012) she produced won the award in 2012.

Quotes

1. Becoming a mother is quite simply the absolute best most incredible thing that has ever happened to me. [instagram post]
2. There's a reason women are pregnant for nine months; by the end, you're ready to have this baby. [7]
3. I'm open to whatever the universe wants to bring me. [7]
4. Your surroundings may change but your essence and your personality pretty much stay the same. [7]
5. I would say I was always very ambitious and goal-oriented, but rather than being just a go-getter hustler, now I surrender a lot more and I trust my path a lot more. [7]
6.  

Sources

1. Jenna Dewan on wikipedia
2. Jenna Dewan on Entertainment Tonight
3. Steve Kazee announces the birth of their son on twitter
4. Jenna announces engagement to Steve Kazee on instagram
5. Jenna Dewan, Steve Kazee engagement
6. Jenna on Jennifer Hudson show
7. Jenna Dewan imdb bio
8.