# Jules Asner
**Jules Asner** (born Julie Ann White, 1968, in [Tempe, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/tempe-arizona)) is an American television personality, author, and screenwriter best known for hosting entertainment programs on E! Entertainment [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television), including *Wild On...*, *E! News Daily*, and *Revealed with Jules Asner*.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) After leaving television presenting she published the novel *Whacked* and, under the pseudonym Rebecca Blunt, wrote the screenplay for the 2017 film *Logan Lucky*.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio) She has been married to director [Steven Soderbergh](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-soderbergh) since 2003.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name and date | Julie Ann White; born 1968 in Tempe, Arizona[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio) |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles, degree in political science and journalism[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) |
| Marriages | Matthew Asner, 1992 to 1996 (divorced); Steven Soderbergh, May 10, 2003[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) |
| Signature E! shows | *Wild On...* (1997 to 1999), *E! News Daily* co-anchor (1999 to 2002), *Revealed with Jules Asner* host (2001)[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) |
| Awards for *Revealed* | Gracie Award for Outstanding Interview Program (2003); Prism Award for the show[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio) |
| Novel | *Whacked* (2008), Weinstein, 294 pages[3](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/jules-asner.html) |
| Screenwriting | Wrote *Logan Lucky* (2017) as Rebecca Blunt; Writers Guild registrations confirm her authorship[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio) |
## Early life and modeling
Asner was the daughter of Lee White, a furniture saleswoman.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) She was discovered at a modeling convention in [Scottsdale, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottsdale-arizona) at age 16 and became an Elite model.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio) She later described the modeling entry as circumstantial rather than deliberate: "I was never really a model. That somehow is in my bio... I was tall since I was a child -- you're either a model or you play basketball."[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html) In the early days of her modeling career she shared a bunkroom with [Cindy Crawford](https://www.edgepedia.org/cindy-crawford).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio) She then attended UCLA, graduating with a degree in political science and journalism.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968)
## Entertainment reporting before E!
Before joining E!, Asner worked as an entertainment reporter for Reuters Television, *Good Morning England*, HCTV, *The Entertainment Show* on Sky Television, and *Extra*; she also contributed to *Buzz* magazine.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) She was a segment director and producer on the tabloid show *Hard Copy* and hosted *Live by Request* on A&E.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio)
## E! Entertainment Television
She was the host of the travel series *Wild On...* from 1997 to 1999, guest-hosted *E! Goes to Cannes!* in 1999, and co-anchored *E! News Daily* with Steve Kmetko from 1999 to 2002.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) The *Wild On* work was demanding: in about a year and a half she taped 40 shows in 25 countries.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html)
*Revealed with Jules Asner* premiered in 2001 as a one-hour interview series profiling A-list celebrities such as [Julia Roberts](https://www.edgepedia.org/julia-roberts), Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney, and [Halle Berry](https://www.edgepedia.org/halle-berry).[5](https://www.tvencyclopedia.org/tv-encyclopedia-5/e-entertainment-network) Guests across the run included [Harrison Ford](https://www.edgepedia.org/harrison-ford), Mel Gibson, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith, Mike Myers, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Faith Hill.[6](https://www.thetvdb.com/series/revealed-with-jules-asner/allseasons/official)
**Interview style.** Asner declined the tabloid-style questions the show's producers initially wanted her to ask, telling them she would not ask stars how they lost their virginity: "It's just not a good story. It's never a good story."[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html) People frequently asked whether she saw herself as the next [Barbara Walters](https://www.edgepedia.org/barbara-walters); she said she wanted instead to be the next [Bob Costas](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-costas), and was lobbying E! for an athlete interview show in addition to *Revealed*.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html) In 2003 *Revealed* won a Gracie Award for Outstanding Interview Program, and Asner received a Prism Award for the show.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio)She also hosted numerous E! specials, including Emmy nomination and post-show coverage, Academy Awards countdown and red-carpet programs, and the 2001 Golden Globes post-show.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) In 2001 she appeared in the film *Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back*, and she presented the 2001 ALMA Awards on ABC.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) A planned weekly newsmagazine, *Assignment E!*, hosted with Steve Kmetko, was announced by E! in May 2001 to premiere in the first quarter of 2002.[7](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2001/05/e-targeting-18-49-demo-with-ne/) She left E! in 2003.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio)
## Writing and screenwriting
After leaving E!, Asner hosted the syndicated series *Life & Style* from 2004 to 2005.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) In 2008 she published her first novel, *Whacked*, about a spurned Hollywood lover plotting creative revenge.[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html) *Publishers Weekly* described it as "a dishy mix of Tinseltown hackdom, chick lit and, surprisingly, a chilling plot," following Dani Hale, an L.A. TV writer for a crime show.[3](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/jules-asner.html)
In 2017 the film *Logan Lucky*, directed by Soderbergh, was credited to the previously unknown screenwriter Rebecca Blunt, and the film's cast and crew ran a press campaign claiming Blunt was a real person in the United Kingdom who had only corresponded by email; [Writers Guild of America](https://www.edgepedia.org/writers-guild-of-america) registrations confirm that Asner wrote the screenplay.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio)
## Personal life
Asner married Matthew Asner, son of the actor [Ed Asner](https://www.edgepedia.org/ed-asner), in 1992; the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. She married Steven Soderbergh on May 10, 2003.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968) In a 2003 interview she declined to discuss the relationship, saying "I never talk about my personal life... We're not famous. We're not movie stars. Why would people care?"[4](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html)
## References
1. [Asner, Jules 1968, Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/asner-jules-1968)
2. [Jules Asner Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039583/bio)
3. [Books by Jules Asner and Complete Book Reviews, Publishers Weekly](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/jules-asner.html)
4. [No gossip here, Choire Sicha, Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2008](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-ca-conversation8-story.html)
5. [E! Entertainment Network, Encyclopedia of TV & Radio](https://www.tvencyclopedia.org/tv-encyclopedia-5/e-entertainment-network)
6. [Revealed with Jules Asner, aired order, TheTVDB.com](https://www.thetvdb.com/series/revealed-with-jules-asner/allseasons/official)
7. [E! targeting 18-49 demo with new programming, TVWeek, May 14, 2001](https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2001/05/e-targeting-18-49-demo-with-ne/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Music and entertainment news hosts*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 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