Biography

Jillie Reil was raised in rural Delano, Minnesota by parents who met in a candy factory after leaving their family farms. They joke that Jillie got her ‘sweetness’ from their union. Jillie could always make people laugh, and used this talent early in life to amuse friends and family. As a child, she often orchestrated skits, fashion shows and dance routines with her friends. She was affectionately nicknamed “Silly Jillie” and “Spilly Jillie” for her goofiness and clumsiness.

Influenced by her big brother and being a true adventurer at heart, Jillie enjoyed many ‘tomboyish’ pastimes, including riding snowmobiles, motorcycles, quads and jet skis, driving pick-up trucks, boating and ice fishing, playing hockey and golf, and watching sports. Nonetheless, her desire for creativity remained strong. Jillie was elected danceline captain, choreographing routines for the team and performing at high school sporting events and competitions. Along with an affinity for writing, she also dabbled in modeling as a teenager.

At 18 years old, Jillie turned her attention to intellectual goals and went onto spend 15 years in real estate development and corporate law as she began pursuing a business career while obtaining an education at night. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Organizational Management & Communication and an A.A. in Paralegal Studies, eventually holding acquisition management roles within land development companies.

Growing restless in Minnesota, Jillie eventually moved to San Diego to enjoy the beautiful coastal weather while continuing her career in real estate and studying law. However, the bright lights of Hollywood a few hours away lured her back to her childhood dreams. Jillie switched gears, and began attending Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles on the weekends to somehow become involved in the industry. Upon graduating, she demonstrated makeup lines, facial treatments and pharmaceuticals to salons, medical spas, plastic surgeons and dermatologists as well as specializing in beauty and wellness as a freelance journalist.

As fate would have it, on her second makeup artist job in San Diego, Jillie was asked to be the runway model instead. Fashion, spokesmodel, runway and print work ensued shortly thereafter, which lead into local news and radio appearances, commercials and short films. Jillie fell in love with acting and comedy, and a year later, left her cherished beachside apartment for Hollywood to pursue her true passion in entertainment.

Jillie has appeared in feature films, television shows, reality-based shows and theater, playing quirky lead or supporting characters such as Cheryl, the ditzy sidekick to the twisted plastic surgeons in the Universal Pictures feature comedy, Hole in One, Yoni, the frigid Tantric Yoga instructor in the sitcom pilot “Yoga Madness,” and Roxanne, the porn star with a heart of gold in Jerry Zucker's TBS sketch pilot “National Banana.” She is also co-writing and producing her own spiritual comedy feature film. Jillie’s witty sense of humor and sunny disposition keeps whisking her from one adventure to another, soaring straight to the top.

Written by Bobbi Miller-Moro