Jillian Rose Reed

Intro

Jillian Rose Reed is an actress whose television work includes Tamara Kaplan in MTV's Awkward and the voice of Naomi Turner in Disney's Elena of Avalor. The first role placed her in a live-action high-school comedy; the second made her part of an animated adventure ensemble. Her work has also extended into hosting, digital projects and youth-focused advocacy. The photographs here show her at two different industry events, in 2012 and 2015, during the period when Awkward was making her a familiar face to its audience.

Career snapshot

Reed was born in Hollywood, Florida, and grew up with strong ties to Northville, Michigan. In a 2013 interview with the local Observer, she recalled performing at the Marquis Theatre and returning to Northville for part of high school after her family moved to California. Children's theatre followed earlier dance lessons. TV Guide's biography records numerous stage productions before her teens and an early television appearance in Zoey 101. That background in singing, dancing and ensemble performance preceded her move into television comedy and later voice work.

The entry point

An early recurring role came in Weeds, where she played Simone during 2008 and 2009. Awkward followed in 2011, with Reed as Tamara, the outspoken friend of Jenna Hamilton, played by Ashley Rickards. In her Naluda interview Reed described working through the scripts and developing the character with acting coach Cynthia Bain. She also discussed the pleasure of playing someone so expressive and direct. The performance depended on a sustained relationship within the show's young ensemble rather than a single guest appearance, and she remained associated with the series through its five-season run.

Screen identity and style

Her screen credits also include guest appearances in The Middle, Community, Jessie and Lucifer. TV Guide records a 2012 Young Artist Award nomination for her television work; it should not be confused with a win. The sequence of roles shows an actor working in several comic registers, from the darker setting of Weeds to youth-oriented sitcoms and the heightened social world of Awkward. Tamara became her most recognizable live-action character, but the other appearances belong to the same developing screen career and broaden the range of programmes in which viewers may have encountered her.

Collaborations and patterns

Disney's Elena of Avalor introduced a different kind of recurring performance. Reed voiced Naomi alongside Aimee Carrero as Elena, Jenna Ortega as Isabel and Joseph Haro as Mateo. Disney identifies Craig Gerber as the show's creator and executive producer and Silvia Olivas as head writer and co-executive producer. The animated series began in July 2016, following Elena as she learned to lead her kingdom. Reed's contribution was a voice performance, so the event photographs on this page portray the actress rather than depict Naomi or a scene from the animated story.

Era reflection

Reed also worked on Present Tense, a web documentary project discussed in a 2016 NYLON interview. The article describes her exploring subjects including gender identity and sustainable farming through visits and experiences outside scripted acting. Breaking the Chains Foundation identifies her as the creator of How To Love Yourselfie, a programme concerned with confidence, self-esteem and the relationship between young people and social media. Its profile also records her work as a host and design personality. These activities extend her public work beyond playing a fictional best friend on television.

Legacy and rediscovery

The first gallery photograph shows Reed at the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards in February 2015. The second, from the October 2012 Media Access Awards, includes fellow Awkward performer Nikki DeLoach beside her. Both are credited to the Red Carpet Report and Mingle Media TV photography source, with separate original images and license records. Together they document public appearances during a career that developed from children's theatre into sustained television roles, animation and presenting. Her own interviews and the producing organizations' records provide the context behind those appearances.

Selected screen roles

• Weeds: Simone — 2008-2009
• Awkward: Tamara Kaplan — 2011-2016
• Elena of Avalor: Naomi Turner, voice — 2016-2020
• Present Tense: Presenter — 2016 profile

A career in pictures

Two distinct credited event photographs show Jillian Rose Reed in 2012 and 2015.

Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards (2015)

Public appearance

Jillian Rose Reed at the Paramount Studios event on February 14, 2015; RedCarpetReport photograph.

Media Access Awards (2012)

Public appearance

Jillian Rose Reed at left with Nikki DeLoach at right, October 10, 2012; Mingle Media TV photograph.

Rewatch notes

• She voices Naomi in Disney's Elena of Avalor.
• The gallery uses two separate event photographs, from 2012 and 2015.