# Jolie Jenkins
**Jolie Jenkins** (born 1974) is an American actress known for playing Jennifer Cooper on the Netflix sitcom *[Alexa & Katie](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexa-and-katie)* and Rita Loud in Nickelodeon's live-action *The Really Loud House*, with television credits that also include *The X-Files*, *The West Wing*, and *One Day at a Time*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420884/bio/) • [2](https://www.sbvtalent.com/talent/jolie-jenkins)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, United States[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25318/jolie-jenkins) |
| Signature TV roles | Jennifer Cooper on *Alexa & Katie* (39 episodes, 2018–2020); Rita Loud on *The Really Loud House* (30 episodes, 2022–2024)[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25318/jolie-jenkins) |
| Early series work | Diana on *Shasta McNasty* (UPN, 2000); voice of Princess Rozalyn on *Xyber 9: New Dawn* (Fox, 1999)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) |
| Notable guest roles | FBI Agent Leyla Harrison on *The X-Files* (2001, 2002); Stephanie Gault on *The West Wing* (2001); Nikki on *One Day at a Time* (2017–2019)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) • [5](https://www.watchmode.com/people/jolie-jenkins) |
| Film roles | Angie in *Psycho Beach Party* (2000), Amber in *Buying the Cow* (2002), Gina in *Horse Sense* (1999), Pilar in *Jesus Revolution* (2023)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jolie_jenkins) |
| Stage work | Ensemble replacement roles in *The Who's Tommy* on Broadway (1993–1995); *The Fantasticks* in New York and Washington, DC[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) |
| Writing | Comedic essays for *The Huffington Post* and her own blog, Joeycake[2](https://www.sbvtalent.com/talent/jolie-jenkins) |
## Career
**Theater beginnings.** According to her talent agency, Jenkins began her career on Broadway and in New York musicals before moving to Los Angeles.[2](https://www.sbvtalent.com/talent/jolie-jenkins) Her listed stage credits include replacement roles in the original Broadway production of *The Who's Tommy* at the [St. James Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-james-theatre) between 1993 and 1995, appearances as "the girl" in *The Fantasticks* at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York City, and as Luisa in *The Fantasticks* at the Ford Theatre in Washington, DC.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) She also recorded albums for the Varese Sarabande label, including *The Adventures of [Peter Pan](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-pan-1954-musical)*, *Broadway Bound*, *Sondheim on Television*, *Unsung Musicals 2*, and *Unsung Musicals 3*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie)
**Television.** Her first screen roles came in the late 1990s, including Nadia on *USA High* (1998), Gina in the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) film *Horse Sense* (1999), the voice of Princess Rozalyn on the animated series *Xyber 9: New Dawn* (1999), and Diana on the UPN series *Shasta McNasty* (2000).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) Through the 2000s she guest-starred across a wide range of series: Stephanie Gault on *The West Wing*, FBI Agent Leyla Harrison in two episodes of *The X-Files* ("Alone" in 2001 and "Scary Monsters" in 2002), Kylie on *JAG*, Deidre in *Desperate Housewives* (2005), Gina Rankin on *CSI: Miami*, and roles in *Psych*, *How I Met Your Mother*, *The Mentalist*, *Ghost Whisperer*, and *[Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior](https://www.edgepedia.org/criminal-minds-suspect-behavior)*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) • [7](https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-x-cast-an-x/interview-jolie-jenkins-aka-5-B1OZr8agW/)
Her two main-cast roles came in family and teen comedy. On Netflix's *Alexa & Katie*, about a high school student undergoing cancer treatment, she played Jennifer Cooper, Katie's mother, appearing in 39 episodes from 2018 to 2020.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25318/jolie-jenkins) • [2](https://www.sbvtalent.com/talent/jolie-jenkins) On Nickelodeon's *The Really Loud House*, the live-action adaptation of the animated *The Loud House*, she played Rita Loud, mother of 11 children, appearing in 30 episodes from 2022 to 2024 plus the 2023 television movie *A Really Haunted Loud House*; she also performed songs on the series.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25318/jolie-jenkins) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/es/name/nm0420884/) • [9](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jolie-jenkins/credits/3030157867/) Between these runs she recurred as Nikki on *One Day at a Time* (2017–2019) and Aunt Dena on *Liv and Maddie* (2016–2017).[5](https://www.watchmode.com/people/jolie-jenkins) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/es/name/nm0420884/)
Her more recent guest work includes Detective Goodman in the *[Tracker](https://www.edgepedia.org/tracker-american-tv-series)* season two episode "The Night Movers" (2024) and roles on *Carol's Second Act*, *Sydney to the Max*, and *The Conners*.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25318/jolie-jenkins)
**Film.** Her film credits include *Net Worth* (2000), Angie in *Psycho Beach Party* (2000), Amber in *Buying the Cow* (2002), a premiere audience member in *S1m0ne* (2002), and ET reporter Patty Landry in *Who's Your Daddy?* (2003).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie) In 2023 she played Pilar in *Jesus Revolution*, a Lionsgate feature about the 1970s [Jesus movement](https://www.edgepedia.org/jesus-movement).[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jolie_jenkins) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420884/news/)
## Personal life
Jenkins has been married to David Pagani since October 27, 2001, and they have two children, Louis Rocket Pagani and Hugo Pagani.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420884/bio/)
## References
1. [Jolie Jenkins – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420884/bio/)
2. [Jolie Jenkins – SBV Talent](https://www.sbvtalent.com/talent/jolie-jenkins)
3. [Jolie Jenkins – TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25318/jolie-jenkins)
4. [Jenkins, Jolie – Encyclopedia.com, Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jenkins-jolie)
5. [Jolie Jenkins – Watchmode](https://www.watchmode.com/people/jolie-jenkins)
6. [Jolie Jenkins – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jolie_jenkins)
7. [Interview: Jolie Jenkins (aka Agent Leyla Harrison) – The X-Cast: An X-Files Podcast](https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-x-cast-an-x/interview-jolie-jenkins-aka-5-B1OZr8agW/)
8. [Jolie Jenkins – IMDb (Spanish page)](https://www.imdb.com/es/name/nm0420884/)
9. [Jolie Jenkins List of Movies and TV Shows – TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jolie-jenkins/credits/3030157867/)
10. [Jolie Jenkins – News – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0420884/news/)
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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 Hu to Ji*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license