Janina Gavankar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Janina Gavankar | |
 |
|
| Born | Janina Zione Gavankar November 29, 1980 Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress/Musician |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Janina Zione Gavankar (born November 29, 1980) is an American actress and musician of mixed Indian and Dutch descent. Gavankar is also trained as a pianist, vocalist, and orchestral percussionist.[1] She majored in Theatre Performance at the University of Illinois at Chicago.[2][3]
Gavankar was born in Joliet, Illinois, to Pete and Mohra Gavankar. Her maternal grandmother was Dutch, and her mother, Mohra, is Indian-Dutch.[citation needed]
Musically, she used to be in Endera, a group signed to Universal Records.[4] She also collaborated on a project for a song called "Tell Me What" in India with Pratichee Mohapatra of Viva, Deep, and Navraaz. She also has had songs licensed to movies and television, and has played marimba on film scores.
Gavankar's most notable roles are that of Papi, a promiscuous lesbian in The L Word, and Ms. Dewey, the personification of a Microsoft branded search engine who comments about the user's searches. Gavankar has appeared in theatre, commercials, short films, independent films, as well as Barbershop and its sequel, Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Gavankar was featured in the San Francisco band Recliner's music video for their single "Float Away"[5], as well as the music video for Manu Narayan's band Darunam[6].
Gavankar has appeared on Epileptic Gaming's Up All Night, where she helped review Rock Band (video game) and Burnout Paradise, and Army of Two.[7]
In 2008, Gavankar was nominated for an Asian Excellence Award.[8]
It has been confirmed that the actress will return to Showtime's hit series "The L Word".[9] It has yet to be confirmed however if her character will be recurring for season six, or for only a couple episodes.
Gavankar is also rumoured to be joining the cast of Grey's Anatomy for the upcoming fifth season.[10]
As of 2004, she is in a relationship with DeviantArt CEO Angelo Sotira.[11]
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Why Is God | Mina | |
| 2002 | Barbershop | Fine Woman | |
| 2003 | Dark | Kaya | |
| 2004 | Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Field Reporter | Sequel |
| 2005 | Cup of My Blood | Iona | |
| 2006 | BBQ Bill | The Fiance | |
| Ms. Dewey | Ms. Dewey | ||
| 2007 | The L Word | Papi | TV series |
| Dash 4 Cash | Melanie | TV series | |
| Epileptic Gaming | Janina Gavankar | ||
| 2008 | Shattered! | Maria | |
| Factory | Laura | TV series | |
| My Boys | Terri | TV series | |
| Stargate Atlantis | Sgt. "Dusty" Mehra | TV series | |
| Grey's Anatomy | Lisa | TV series | |
| Second Coming of Mary | Ms. Rime | Independent Movie | |
| NCIS | Angela | TV series | |
| 2009 | The L Word | Papi | TV series |
| Dollhouse (TV series) | Lynn | TV series | |
| The Cleaner | Usha | TV series | |
| Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey | Nikki (voice) | Animated Movie |
[edit] References
- ^ Nguyen, Bernie (2006-11-06). "Ask Janina". Nirali Magazine: pp. Arts. http://niralimagazine.com/2006/11/ask-janina/. Retrieved on 2007-01-28.
- ^ Swartz, Shauna (January 4, 2007). "Interview With The L Word's Janina Gavankar". Afterellen.com (Viacom International Inc.). http://www.afterellen.com/node/4478. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ "Recent Grads Find Success". UIC Alumni. September/October 2004. http://www.uiaa.org/chicago/uicalumni/ctxt0405e.html. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
- ^ Janina Gavankar
- ^ Recliner's "Float Away"
- ^ Darunam's "All That's Beautiful Must Die"
- ^ Epileptic Gaming's "Up All Night"
- ^ Asian Excellence Awards Nominee List
- ^ Interview on Joseph Mallozzi's Blog
- ^ http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/09/janina-gavankar.html
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David (Dec. 11, 2006). "Rich Geeks in Paradise", pp. 26–28. Fortune.
