Actor Jennifer Tilly will receive the Asheville Film Festival’s Career Achievement Award at the Spotlight Celebration Awards Ceremony on Saturday, November 11 at Diana Wortham Theatre.

An actress who always attracts audiences' attention, Jennifer Tilly is by turns funny, sexy, compassionate, and compelling - often all at once.

Her breakthrough movie role tapped into all of those qualities as she portrayed failing singer Blanche "Monica" Moran in Steve Kloves' The Fabulous Baker Boys, opposite Jeff and Beau Bridges.

A few years later, Jennifer earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal as the aspiring, but hopelessly untalented, actress Olive Neal in Woody Allen's “Bullets over Broadway”.

She has become well-known to filmgoers for both major studio and independent films. In Tom Shadyac's blockbuster Liar Liar, she kept pace with star Jim Carrey. Her steamy performance opposite Gina Gershon helped make the Wachowski Brothers' Bound a breakout indie success at the Sundance Film Festival and then in theatrical release. The latter film also expanded Jennifer's already significant gay and lesbian following.

Her many films over a two-decade span include High Spirits, The Doors, Made in America, The Getaway, Let It Ride, Relax, It's Just Sex, The Crew. Dancing at the Blue Iguana, The Cat's Meow, The Magnificent Ambersons, Hide and Seek, The Haunted Mansion, The Muse, St Ralph, Tideland and the infamous Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky.

Jennifer is also well known for her vocal work. She played Celia in Monster's Inc, Grace in Home on the Range, and is a regular on the Fox series “Family Guy”.

Over the years, Jennifer has made memorable appearances on some of television's best series, including “Cheers”, “Moonlighting”, “It's Garry Shandling's Show”, and “Frasier”. She had a recurring role on “Hill Street Blues”, and was a series regular on “Shaping Up”, and “Key West” and “Out of Practice” opposite Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing.

Jennifer has also continued to act on the stage. She won a Theater World Award for her performance in off-Broadway's “One Shoe Off”, and appeared on Broadway in the 2001 revival of “The Women” (which was later taped for, and broadcast on, PBS).

A selection of some of Tilly’s best films will be screened during the festival.

Produced by Asheville Parks and Recreation
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