Jenny Ann Biggs (née Mollen; born May 30, 1979) is an American actress and writer. She played Nina Ash on the television series Angel (2003–04). She appeared on the series Viva Laughlin (2007), Crash (2008), and Girls (2014). Mollen has published two collections of essays, and has written articles for various publications, including Cosmopolitan and Parents. She has appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list twice with her books I Like You Just The Way I Am (2014) and Live Fast Die Hot (2016).

Early life

Mollen was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Mollen's father is Jewish and her mother is Christian; she was raised culturally Jewish. She has a sister and a half-brother. In the late 1990s, Mollen graduated from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. She studied theater and graduated from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Mollen briefly attended graduate school to study psychology.[citation needed]

Mollen worked in local theater as a child. She worked at Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, the Idyllwild Arts Academy, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

Career

Mollen in 2005

In 2005, Mollen announced in an interview about her plans to perform in London in a play she wrote about her dog.

In 2009, Mollen wrote the short film Kidnapping Caitlynn, starring Jason Biggs, Julie Benz, and herself. The film was directed by Katherine Cunningham Eves.

In 2016, Mollen co-starred with her husband Jason Biggs as fictional husband and wife characters in comedy film Amateur Night.

In 2012 and 2013, Mollen wrote a humor column for The Smoking Jacket, a website affiliated with Playboy, as well as an advice column for Playboy.

In January 2013, Mollen signed with St. Martin's Press to write a book of comedic essays, I Like You Just the Way I Am. The book reached #10 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Print & E-Book Nonfiction on its debut in June 2014. On August 4, 2016, it was announced that ABC Digital acquired a single-camera comedy written by and starring Mollen based on her NYT Best Seller I Like You Just The Way I Am.

In June 2016, Mollen published a follow-up, Live Fast Die Hot, which also subsequently became New York Times Best Seller at #8 in Humor. In August 2016, it was reported that the film rights had been acquired by Warner Bros. with Anne Hathaway attached to star and Mollen attached to write and executive produce.

Personal life

Mollen met actor Jason Biggs while filming My Best Friend's Girl and they were engaged by January 2008. On April 23, 2008, the couple eloped and got married in Los Angeles. In July 2008, they had a formal wedding ceremony in Napa Valley. Their son, Sid, was born on February 15, 2014. Their second son, Lazlo, was born on October 2, 2017. After living in Los Angeles for some time, the Biggs family moved to New York City in 2018.

Mollen speaks German fluently.

After the October 7 attacks, 2023, Mollen signed an open letter by Creative Community for Peace calling for the world to "stand with Israel as it defends itself against a terrorist regime in Gaza that seeks Israel’s destruction." Mollen, alongside her husband Biggs, also signed the "No Hostage Left Behind Letter", demanding the release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the attack. In November 2023, Mollen spoke at a Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces fundraiser that doubled as a Shabbat dinner in Atlanta.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002InfluenceJessica the InfluencerShort film
2003Searching for HaizmannGrace Robin
2003What Was That?The DamselVideo short
2003Billy Makes the CutAshleyShort film
2004D.E.B.S.German Deb
2004The RavenLennaShort film
2005Fear ItselfWendy
2006Ring Around the RosieWendy BaldwinVideo
2006Cattle CallMarina Dell
2008My Best Friend's GirlColleen, the new girl
2008An Inconvenient PenguinDr. GootentagVideo short
2008Off the LedgeAmber-Elizabeth
2009Kidnapping CaitlynnEmily; screenplayShort film
2011L!fe HappensRita the Receptionist
2011Crazy, Stupid, LoveLisa
2012ExtractedAbbey
2016Amateur NightAnne Carter
2026Influenced

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
200018 Wheels of JusticeSusan CurranEpisode: "Mr. Invisible"
2001Strong MedicineBlondeEpisode: "Black 'n' Flu"
2003–04AngelNina AshEpisodes: "Unleashed", "Smile Time", "Power Play"
2005Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the GraveJennyTelevision film
2006MediumLydia KyneEpisode: "Method to His Madness"
2007Viva LaughlinGeneva's sister AmyUnaired episodes Episodes: "Need You Tonight", "Bad Moon Rising", "Taking Care of Business", "Fighter"
2008CrashTess Nolan / Theresa NolanskiRecurring role, 7 episodes
2009Chelsea LatelyHerself (Round Table)Episode: "Episode dated 28 October 2009"
2010Law & Order: LACarly MorrisEpisode: "Playa Vista"
2011CSI: NYDetective Angela SayerEpisode: "Life Sentence"
2011SuitsGabby StoneEpisode: "Tricks of the Trade"
2013Hawaii Five-0Dakota HayesEpisode: "Pa'ani"
2013WilfredKimEpisode: "Sincerity"
2014Chelsea LatelyHerself (Round Table)Episode: "Episode #8.98"
2014GirlsCourtneyEpisodes: "I Saw You", "Two Plane Rides"
2015Bachelor in Paradise: After ParadiseCo-Host6 episodes
2016–17ChelseaHerself; also writer7 episodes
2016Chelsea DoesHerself; writerTV series documentary Episode: "Chelsea Does Marriage"
2016Chicago FireDetective Bianca HollowayEpisodes: "What Happened to Courtney", "I Will Be Walking", "The Last One for Mom"
2016I Like You Just the Way I AmJenny; producer, writerEpisodes: "Drone Attack", "You Were ALMOST Kidnapped", "Teets on a Plane", "Sex with Luke"
2019The BacheloretteHerselfEpisodes: "Week 3"

Selected works and publications

Books

  • Mollen, Jenny (2014). I Like You Just the Way I Am: Stories About Me and Some Other People. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-4668-3858-1. OCLC .
  • Mollen, Jenny (2016). Live Fast Die Hot. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-54070-4. OCLC .

Periodicals

  • Mollen, Jenny (January 13, 2012). . The Smoking Jacket. Playboy. Archived from on January 28, 2012.
  • Mollen, Jenny (May 17, 2012). . The Smoking Jacket. Playboy. Archived from on May 20, 2012.
  • Mollen, Jenny (January 7, 2014). . Cosmopolitan.
  • Mollen, Jenny (July 2016). (PDF). Cosmopolitan. pp. 48–49.
  • Mollen, Jenny (July 17, 2017). . Marie Claire.
  • Mollen, Jenny (March 1, 2018). . Parents.
  • Mollen, Jenny (February 6, 2019). . Parents.

External links