# Jillian Rose Reed
**Jillian Rose Reed** (born 1991 in [Hollywood, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-florida)) is an American actress best known for playing Tamara Kaplan, the fast-talking best friend of the narrator Jenna Hamilton, on MTV's teen comedy series *Awkward* from 2011 to 2016, and for voicing Naomi, Princess Elena's best friend, in [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel)'s animated series *Elena of Avalor* from 2016 to 2020.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1991, Hollywood, Florida, USA; raised in Northville, Michigan[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) • [2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/) |
| Breakthrough role | Tamara Kaplan on MTV's *Awkward*, 2011–2016, 89 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) |
| Voice role | Naomi, Elena's best friend, in Disney's *Elena of Avalor*, 2016–2020, 51 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) |
| Early training | Children's theater from age seven; 27 productions at the Marquis Theater in Northville, Michigan[2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/) |
| Nominations | 2012 Young Artist Award (Leading Young Actress in a TV series); 2014 Festival Prize Best Actress[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jillian-rose-reed/bio/3000255229/) |
| Marriage | Married Marty Shannon on October 11, 2021[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) |
| Most recent documented credit | Guest role as Nori in one 2022 episode of *Raven's Home*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) |
## Early life and training
Reed was born in Hollywood, Florida, in 1991, and grew up in Northville, Michigan.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) • [2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/) Her stage training began in children's theater: she has said she started at the Marquis Theater in Northville when she was very young and appeared in 27 of its productions.[2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/) A coaching-studio biography places her first role at age seven as Charlotte in *Charlotte's Web*, with more than 27 musicals and plays in Michigan completed by age twelve.[4](https://www.cynthiabain.com/jillianrosereed) [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) likewise records her performing in children's theater from age seven before her television debut.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jillian-rose-reed/bio/3000255229/)
Before moving to Los Angeles she also did commercial voiceover work in Detroit and Chicago, and has said she began working professionally at 16.[2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/)
## Career beginnings
Her television debut came on Nickelodeon's *Zoey 101*, followed by guest-starring roles on Showtime's *Weeds* and HBO's *Hung*, the latter filmed in Detroit.[2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/) IMDb dates her *Weeds* role, Goth Girl Symonne, to 2008–2009 and lists further guest appearances on *Community*, *The Middle*, *Jessie*, *Pair of Kings*, *Daytime Divas*, and *Lucifer*, along with film credits including *My Super Psycho Sweet 16*, *Age of Dinosaurs*, *Confessions of a Womanizer*, and *Sharon 1.2.3.*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
## Awkward and breakthrough
*Awkward*, MTV's comedy series about the life of today's American teen as narrated by Jenna Hamilton, made Reed a familiar face to teen audiences. She played Tamara, described in a 2012 CBS Detroit profile as the "sassy, feisty, desperate-to-be popular sidekick" of narrator Jenna Hamilton, played by [Ashley Rickards](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashley-rickards).[2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/) The series ran five seasons, from 2011 to 2016, and Reed appeared in all 89 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
Her account of the casting is unusual: she was among the last characters to be cast, and after a producer loved her read, her audition tape was sent to MTV without a callback audition. "I didn't even have to go back and audition again," she told *Complex*.[5](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tara-aquino/interview-awkward-actress-jillian-rose-reed-talks-nerdy-guys-cast-pranks-and-bullying) Her coaching studio gives a compatible version, saying she booked the role with a single audition after scene study with Cynthia Bain.[4](https://www.cynthiabain.com/jillianrosereed)
During a hiatus from the show she filmed the MTV horror film *My Super Psycho Sweet 16: Part 3*, shot over five weeks in Atlanta.[5](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tara-aquino/interview-awkward-actress-jillian-rose-reed-talks-nerdy-guys-cast-pranks-and-bullying) • [2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/)
## Voice work and later television
After *Awkward*, Reed worked extensively in voice acting. From 2016 to 2020 she voiced Naomi, described by IMDb as Princess Elena's spunky best friend, in Disney Channel's animated series *Elena of Avalor*, across 51 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) TMDB additionally credits her as the voice of Naomi Turner in the 2017 special *Elena of Avalor: Celebrations to Remember*.[6](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/211647-jillian-rose-reed)
In 2016, at age 24, she hosted the docuseries *Present Tense*, recording voice-over narration for segments that took her behind the scenes at a drag show, to cat yoga, and to eating crickets, as a way into serious topics such as gender identity and sustainable farming.[7](https://www.nylon.com/articles/jillian-rose-reed-interview-nylon-april-2016) TMDB also credits her with a 2018 episode of the anthology *Love Daily* as Gwen and an appearance in *Apologies in Advance with Andrea Russett* (2016).[6](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/211647-jillian-rose-reed) Her most recent screen credit is a 2022 guest appearance as Nori in one episode of Disney Channel's *Raven's Home*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
## Other work and public presence
Reed's public advocacy centers on diabetes awareness. IMDb describes her as an advocate for the American Diabetes Foundation, supporting her older brother, who lives with [Type 1 diabetes](https://www.edgepedia.org/type-1-diabetes), and as a celebrity board member of the nonprofit Breaking the Chains Foundation.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
She has also returned to teaching. At Cynthia Bain's Young Actor Studio, where she herself trained, she teaches and coaches young actors, which the studio calls her "happy place."[4](https://www.cynthiabain.com/jillianrosereed) On the personal side, she married Marty Shannon on October 11, 2021, in a desert-chic ceremony at Rimrock Ranch before 65 guests, with *Awkward* costars [Beau Mirchoff](https://www.edgepedia.org/beau-mirchoff), Brett Davern, Barret Swatek, Molly Tarlov, Desi Lydic, Nikki DeLoach, and [Greer Grammer](https://www.edgepedia.org/greer-grammer) present; the couple had been engaged since July 2019.[8](https://people.com/tv/awkward-star-jillian-rose-reed-marries-longtime-love/)
## Reception and recognition
TV Guide records two nominations: a 2012 [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award) nomination for Best Performance in a TV Series, Leading Young Actress, and a 2014 Festival Prize nomination for Best Actress.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jillian-rose-reed/bio/3000255229/) IMDb frames her *Awkward* part as a fan-favorite turn, the "feisty and sassy no-filter bestie" whose role earned the Young Artist nomination for Lead Actress.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
## By the numbers
The documented shape of her career is dominated by two long runs: 89 episodes of *Awkward* (2011–2016) and 51 episodes of *Elena of Avalor* (2016–2020), together spanning 2011–2020.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) Against that, her stage apprenticeship totaled 27 Marquis Theater productions in Michigan.[2](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/)
Published credits differ on some details. On her recurring *Weeds* character, IMDb says Goth Girl Symonne (2008–2009) while her coaching studio's biography calls her the recurring bad girl Simone; on the 2018 film *Sharon 1.2.3.*, IMDb lists her character as Constance while TMDB lists Linda.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) • [4](https://www.cynthiabain.com/jillianrosereed) • [6](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/211647-jillian-rose-reed) TMDB also lists her as an actress and producer, while her coaching studio's biography documents her coaching young actors.[6](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/211647-jillian-rose-reed) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/) • [4](https://www.cynthiabain.com/jillianrosereed)
In interviews she has described her type preferences simply: she gravitates toward comedy, and her stated dream role is Roxie in *Chicago* on Broadway.[5](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tara-aquino/interview-awkward-actress-jillian-rose-reed-talks-nerdy-guys-cast-pranks-and-bullying)
## References
1. [Jillian Rose Reed, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2882358/)
2. [Northville Actress Jillian Rose Reed Reveals High School Is 'Awkward' For Everyone, CBS Detroit](https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/northville-actress-reveals-high-school-is-awkward-for-everyone/)
3. [Jillian Rose Reed Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jillian-rose-reed/bio/3000255229/)
4. [Jillian Rose Reed, Cynthia Bain's Young Actor Studio](https://www.cynthiabain.com/jillianrosereed)
5. [Interview: "Awkward" Actress Jillian Rose Reed Talks Nerdy Guys, Cast Pranks, And Bullying, Complex](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/tara-aquino/interview-awkward-actress-jillian-rose-reed-talks-nerdy-guys-cast-pranks-and-bullying)
6. [Jillian Rose Reed, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/211647-jillian-rose-reed)
7. [Jillian Rose Reed Interview in 'NYLON' April 2016, NYLON](https://www.nylon.com/articles/jillian-rose-reed-interview-nylon-april-2016)
8. ['Awkward' Star Jillian Rose Reed Marries Longtime Love Marty Shannon, People](https://people.com/tv/awkward-star-jillian-rose-reed-marries-longtime-love/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames R to Ri*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license