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Kat Dennings

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Kat Dennings
Dennings at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
Katherine Litwack[1]

(1986-06-13) June 13, 1986 (age 38)[2]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.[3]
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present
Websitekatdennings.com

Kat Dennings (born Katherine Litwack;[1] June 13, 1986) is an American actress. Emerging with a role in an episode of the HBO dramedy series Sex and the City, Dennings has since appeared in the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Big Momma's House 2, Charlie Bartlett, Raise Your Voice, The House Bunny, Defendor, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and Thor. She also co-stars in the CBS television series 2 Broke Girls.

Early life

Dennings was born and raised in the Bryn Mawr area, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] Her mother, Ellen Judith Litwack, is a poet and speech therapist,[4][5] and her father, Gerald J. Litwack, is a molecular pharmacologist and college professor and chairman. Dennings is the youngest of five children, including an older brother, Geoffrey S. Litwack.[1][6] Her family is Jewish.[6][7]

Dennings was homeschooled; her only enrollment at a traditional school was for a half-day at Friends' Central School.[1] She graduated from high school early, at the age of 14.[8] She moved with her family to Los Angeles, California around 2002 so that she could act full time. She adopted the name Dennings as her professional name when she was younger.[9] According to Dennings, as stated in Interview magazine in 2007, her parents initially considered her idea of pursuing an acting career to be "the biggest tits ever".[10]

Career

Dennings began her career in commercials at the age of 10.[1] Her first acting job was an ad for potato chips.[8] Dennings made her professional debut with an appearance on HBO's Sex and the City in 2000, in the episode "Hot Child in the City", playing an obnoxious 13-year-old who hires Samantha to handle publicity for her bat mitzvah.[9][11] She then starred on the short-lived series Raising Dad from 2001–2002, as Sarah, a 15-year-old raised by her widowed father (Bob Saget), with a pre-teen sister (Brie Larson). In 2002, Dennings appeared in The Scream Team, a Disney Channel movie, as a teenager who stumbles into a group of ghosts. She was cast for a five episode run on The WB's Everwood, but the role was recast with Nora Zehetner.[12]

Dennings continued working in television, guest-starring on Without a Trace, as a teen whose boyfriend goes missing, and on Less Than Perfect, in 2003. She was cast in a pilot for CBS, "Sudbury", about a family of modern-day witches, based on the 1998 film Practical Magic, but the series wasn't picked up. Dennings had a recurring role on ER from 2005–2006 as Zoe Butler, and guest-starred on CSI: NY as Sarah Endecott, in the episode "Manhattan Manhunt", in 2005.

Dennings made her feature film debut in Hilary Duff's Raise Your Voice in 2004, as Sloane, a somber piano student.[13] In 2005, she landed supporting roles in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, as Catherine Keener's daughter, and in Down in the Valley.[8] She played a rebellious teenager in Big Momma's House 2, starring Martin Lawrence, in 2006.[14]

Dennings at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International

Dennings starred in Charlie Bartlett in 2008, the story of a wealthy teenager (Anton Yelchin), who acts as a psychiatrist for his new public high school. She played Susan Gardner, Bartlett's love interest, and the daughter of the school's principal (Robert Downey, Jr.).[10] Dennings appeared in The House Bunny that year, as Mona, a pierced feminist sorority girl.[15] She also starred in the teen romance, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, with Michael Cera. Dennings played Norah Silverberg, the daughter of a famous record producer, and was nominated for the International Press Academy's Satellite Award for Best Actress for the performance.[16] In September 2008, Dennings hoped to make Don DeLillo's novel, End Zone into a film. Actors Sam Rockwell and Josh Hartnett were involved, but the project was not greenlit because of its controversial subject matter of nuclear war.[17]

In 2009, Dennings appeared in The Answer Man, a story about a celebrity author whose manifestos become a sort of new Bible. She also co-starred in the Robert Rodriguez-directed dark children's film, Shorts, that year.[18] She played the protagonist Toe (Jimmy Bennett)'s teenage older sister, Stacey Thompson.[19] Dennings and other rising stars were featured in the August 2009 issue of Vanity Fair, re-enacting scenes from famous Depression-era films, hers being Sydney Pollack's They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969).[20] Dennings was cast in the romantic comedy Liars (A to E) in 2009.[21] The Richard Linklater-directed project was cancelled however, due to cut backs at Miramax Films by the studio's parent company, Disney.[22]

Dennings appeared in the superhero film Defendor in 2010, starring Woody Harrelson and Sandra Oh, playing a crack-addicted prostitute.[23][24] She next starred in the independent feature Daydream Nation as a girl who moves to a strange rural town, and is caught in a love triangle with her high school teacher (Josh Lucas) and a teenage drug dealer (Reece Thompson).[25] The film began shooting in Vancouver in early 2010, and was written and directed by Michael Golbach.[26] In May 2010, Dennings appeared in a music video for "40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)", a single by Austin, Texas-based musician Bob Schneider. Robert Rodriguez directed the video, filmed in various locations around Austin.[27]

Dennings was part of the cast of the Marvel Studios film Thor, released in May 2011, and directed by Kenneth Branagh. She played Darcy Lewis, a tech-savvy, shy sidekick and assistant to Natalie Portman's character, Jane Foster.[28] The film went into production in January 2010; Dennings shot in New Mexico for 6 weeks in early 2010.[25]

Dennings stars in 2 Broke Girls, a CBS television sitcom written and produced by Michael Patrick King and comedian Whitney Cummings. The comedy follows the lives of two under-employed girls. Beth Behrs co-stars as a Manhattan heiress who lost her inheritance, while Dennings plays a tough outspoken girl from Brooklyn.[29] Dennings liked the idea of reaching a wider audience with her work, so she accepted the role on the network sitcom.[30]

Dennings will star in the drama Lives of the Saints, alongside Meg Ryan, 50 Cent, John Lithgow, and Joe Anderson. Written and directed by Chris Rossi, the film was scheduled to begin shooting in Los Angeles in November 2010.[31] She will also star in Renee, with Chad Michael Murray and Rupert Friend. Dennings plays Renee Yohe, a Florida teenager who struggled with substance abuse and self-injury, and inspired the founding of the nonprofit organization To Write Love on Her Arms. The film began production in Orlando, Florida in February 2011.[32]

In August 2012, it was reported that Dennings would reprise her role as Darcy Lewis in Thor: The Dark World.[33]

Personal life

Dennings has been blogging since January 2001, and later transitioned into video blogging on YouTube.[18] She is an avid reader and is friends with author Andrea Seigel. Dennings stated to The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles that Judaism "is an important part of my history, but, as a whole, religion is not a part of my life". The article went on to say that she considers herself more ethnically and culturally affiliated than religiously so.[6] In December 2008, Dennings told BlackBook magazine, "I don't drink and I don't smoke and I don't like being around people who do."[34]

In an interview with The Times in January 2009, Dennings stated, "I don't have a boyfriend. I have friends, girl friends, great friends. We just hang out in other's places and have one-on-one bonding time".[8] Later, in an interview with Daydream Nation co-star Josh Lucas and interviewer David Poland, Dennings admitted to having a boyfriend.[35] As of November 2011, she lives in an apartment in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley.[36]

In December 2011, Dennings began dating 2 Broke Girls recurring actor Nick Zano.[37]

Filmography

Dennings at the showing of Daydream Nation at the Ryerson Theatre in 2010
List of film performances
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Scream Team Claire Carlyle TV film
2003 The Snobs Isabel TV film
2004 Raise Your Voice Sloane
2005 Down in the Valley April
2005 The 40-Year-Old Virgin Marla
2006 London Lilly
2006 Big Momma's House 2 Molly
2007 Charlie Bartlett Susan Gardner
2008 The House Bunny Mona
2008 Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Norah Silverberg
2009 The Answer Man Dahlia
2009 Shorts Stacey Thompson
2009 Defendor Katerina Debrofkotitz
2010 Daydream Nation Caroline Titsler
2011 Thor Darcy Lewis
2012 Renee Renee Yohe
2013 Thor: The Dark World Darcy Lewis Filming
List of television performances
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Sex and the City Jenny Brier Episode: "Hot Child in the City"
2001–2002 Raising Dad Sarah Stewart Main role
2003 Without a Trace Jennifer Norton Episode: "Sons and Daughters"
2003 Less Than Perfect Kaitlin Episode: "The Girl Next Door"
2004 Sudbury Antonia Owens TV pilot
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Missy Wilson Episode: "Early Rollout"
2005 Clubhouse Angela Episode: "Stealing Home"
2005–2006 ER Zoe Butler 5 episodes
2005 CSI: NY Sarah Endecott Episode: "Manhattan Manhunt"
2009–2010 American Dad! Tanqueray/Female Juror 2 episodes
2011–present 2 Broke Girls Max Black Main role
2012 Robot Chicken Various voices Episode: "Executed by the State"

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rys, Richard (2008). "Exit Interview: Kat Dennings". Philadelphia. Metrocorp. Retrieved 2008-10-04. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ http://www.straight.com/article-386000/vancouver/daydream-nation-director-michael-goldbach-emerges-don-mckellars-shadow
  4. ^ Abcairn, Robin (August 26, 2006). "Swag!". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on August 12, 2008.
  5. ^ "Charlie Bartlett – Kat Dennings interview". IndieLondon. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c Klein, Amy (October 29, 2008). "'Nick and Norah' star Kat Dennings is infinitely Jewish, in her own way". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved 2008-10-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Elkin, Michael. "Kid Kat: A local suburban teen plans on 'Raising Dad'", The Jewish Exponent, July 19, 2001.
  8. ^ a b c d Maher, Kevin (January 29, 2009). "Kat Dennings offers directors a touch of va-va-voom". The Times. Times Newspapers. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Gross, Dan (February 18, 2008). "Dan Gross: 'Charlie Bartlett' co-star Kat Dennings fond of Philly roots". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved on August 12, 2008.
  10. ^ a b Cosgrove, Julia (August 2007). "Kat Dennings: giving vapid portrayals of teenage girls the high-heeled boot". Interview.
  11. ^ "It's Evening in America". Vanity Fair. May 2012. Page 153.
  12. ^ "Ch. 3 is wooing a familiar Philly face – Nancy Glass". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 16, 2002.
  13. ^ Gates, Anita (October 8, 2004). "Lost Your Voice? Head West Young Woman.". The New York Times. Retrieved on November 18, 2009.
  14. ^ Lemire, Christy (January 25, 2006). "‘Big Momma’s House 2’ is a one-joke movie". Associated Press. msnbc.com. Retrieved on June 19, 2010.
  15. ^ "No 'Bunny' knows funny". Sun News. August 21, 2008. Retrieved on June 18, 2010.
  16. ^ "Satellite nod for Ricky Gervais". Metro. December 1, 2008. Retrieved on June 18, 2010.
  17. ^ Slotek, Jim (September 8, 2008). "Dennings revels in her dark side". Toronto Sun. Retrieved on September 8, 2008.
  18. ^ a b Miller, Jenni. "'Nick and Norah' Star Kat Dennings " . Premiere. Retrieved from Internet Archive June 23, 2011.
  19. ^ Gire, Dann (August 20, 2009). "Subversive comedy 'Shorts' long on imagination". Daily Herald. Retrieved on August 23, 2009.
  20. ^ "Ain’t We Got Style?". Vanity Fair. August 2009. Retrieved on June 18, 2010.
  21. ^ Swart, Sharon (July 27, 2009). "Richard Linklater favors 'Liars'". Variety. Retrieved on August 2, 2009.
  22. ^ Collura, Scott (November 17, 2009)."Linklater's Latest Un-Link-Likely". IGN. Retrieved on November 18, 2009.
  23. ^ Kilday, Gregg (October 3, 2008). "Kat Dennings negotiating to play 'Defendor'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  24. ^ Debruge, Peter (October 24, 2008). "Kat Dennings – 10 Actors to Watch". Variety. Retrieved on October 28, 2008.
  25. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Kat Dennings Speaks Out on Thor, Daydream Nation and Her Possible Directorial Debut". MovieWeb. April 7, 2010. Retrieved on April 11, 2010.
  26. ^ McNary, Dave (January 7, 2010). "Dennings caught in 'Daydream'". Variety. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
  27. ^ Kim, Brandon (May 4, 2010). "Exclusive Robert Rodriguez Music Video Premiere". Independent Film Channel. Retrieved on May 6, 2010
  28. ^ McNary, Dave (November 24, 2009). "Kat Dennings joins 'Thor' cast". Variety. Retrieved on November 25, 2009.
  29. ^ Huver, Scott. (May 5, 2011). "Kat Dennings Gets Her Comic Book Movie Wish, Sans Workouts". Popcornbiz. NBC Washington. Retrieved on May 10, 2011.
  30. ^ Amatangelo, Amy. (October 2, 2011). Kat Dennings loves playing tough gal on new CBS sitcom". Boston Herald. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  31. ^ McClintock, Pamela (October 20, 2010). "Actors set for 'Saints'". Variety. Retrieved on October 21, 2010.
  32. ^ Moore, Roger (February 24, 2011). "‘Renee,’ starring Kat Dennings, Chad Michael Murray and Rupert Friend, gets underway in Orlandos Uncategorized — posted by otownrog on February, 24 2011 7:04 AM". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved on March 15, 2015.
  33. ^ Patten, Dominic (2012-08-21). "'2 Broke Girls' Kat Dennings Back In 'Thor 2'". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  34. ^ Horkins, Tony (December 7, 2008). "The New Regime: Kat Dennings". BlackBook. Retrieved on December 10, 2008.
  35. ^ "Daydream Nation actors Kat Dennings & Josh Lucas – Uploaded by mcnvideos". Viddler.com. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  36. ^ Weiner, Jonah (November 1, 2011). '2 Broke Girls' Star Kat Dennings Wants to 'Bring the Sitcom Back'. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on November 4, 2011.
  37. ^ "Exclusive: Kat Dennings Dating 2 Broke Girls Guest Star Nick Zano!". Us Weekly. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
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