Tessa Allen
Encyclopedia
Tessa Allen is an American
teen actress who made her motion picture debut in Enough
starring as Gracie, the young daughter of Jennifer Lopez
's character. Before Enough, Allen appeared in many commercials, the first of which when she was only 4 months old in a Maytag commercial. Following this Allen appeared in many commercials including the very popular McDonalds Happy Meal
"The Tigger Movie" promotion which ran for 3 weeks, the longest McDonalds promotion of its time.
After she filmed Enough, Allen was picked up almost right away by NBC
to play Hannah Hansen on their Friday night family drama Providence
. Hannah from 2001 until the show was discontinued in December 2002. She was the third Hannah Hansen and the first non-twin role. Providence co-stars Melina Kanakaredes and Seth Peterson have said that it was easy to be upstaged by Allen with her wacky outfits, her perfect timing and her cuteness because the camera loved her.
After Providence ended, Allen shot many commercials including a Jif Peanut Butter commercial called "Sleepover" which has been reported to be seen on air until late 2005, early 2006. Allen was next seen on a TV show as a guest star on CSI: Miami
's 2002-2003 season 1 finale playing Emma Kaye, a little girl who was abducted by a child molester. The episode aired in May 2003.
Allen continued to film many commercials and then in February 2004, she landed a small part on General Hospital playing Molly Farrell, a young girl trapped with her young brother in a hotel fire. After this short stint, Allen was asked to return to the show to play Luke and Laura Spencer's daughter Lesley Lu (Lulu) Spencer
, a change that required that the character's age be retroactively lowered
. Allen appeared as Lulu every now and then, often with TV grandmother Lesley. Allen left General Hospital
when Julie Marie Berman took over the role in fall 2005 to play a SORASed (rapidly aged for plot purposes) Lulu.
During her time on General Hospital, Allen filmed a short film called Walls of Jericho
for the 168 Film Festival. Here she was reunited with on-screen mom Karen Geraghty who had also played Allen's mother in her 2003 Jif commercial. Karen stated after filming Walls of Jericho that "I have worked with many kids before through commercials, short films, etc. but none compare to Tessa. I love working with her and would do so again in a heartbeat". For her role as Emily in this short film, Allen was nominated for best supporting actress.
After Allen 's run as Lulu Spencer ended, she continued to film TV commercials including a Mass Mutual commercial which aired during both the 2006 and 2007 US Tennis Open. In 2006, Allen was in her first theatre production as the evil stepsister Anastasia in Cinderella and in early 2007, Allen shot another short film, this time a USC grad film entitled Open House, where she plays a younger version of the main character. In March 2007 Allen shot a Doritos commercial which featured the music group The Black Eyed Peas
. In October 2007, Allen began filming another USC grad film called Sunnier Days, where she plays the lead character on a road trip with her falling-apart family. Sunnier Days (now called Little Canyon) won awards at the UCLA Directors Spotlight. In May 2008 Allen booked and shot another lead role in a student film called The Moment She Fell, a story about a father and daughter learning to deal with the grief of their wife/mother as well as their new life together.
Allen was born in Manhattan Beach, California
. She has three sisters, Madison, Jeanne, and Adeline, all of whom have acted in the past.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teen actress who made her motion picture debut in Enough
Enough
The score for Enough, composed by David Arnold, was released on June 4, 2002.#"Give Me a Sign"#"F.B.I.?"#"New Leaf"#"Slim and Joe"#"Get Out of the House"#"Goodbye Gracie"#"Training Day"#"Breaking In"#"Setting the Trap"#"Fight Club"...
starring as Gracie, the young daughter of Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
's character. Before Enough, Allen appeared in many commercials, the first of which when she was only 4 months old in a Maytag commercial. Following this Allen appeared in many commercials including the very popular McDonalds Happy Meal
Happy Meal
A "Happy Meal" is a meal specifically marketed at children, sold at the fast-food chain McDonald's since June 1979. A toy is typically included with the food, both of which are usually contained in a small box or paper bag with the McDonald's logo....
"The Tigger Movie" promotion which ran for 3 weeks, the longest McDonalds promotion of its time.
After she filmed Enough, Allen was picked up almost right away by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
to play Hannah Hansen on their Friday night family drama Providence
Providence (TV series)
Providence is an American drama series that aired on NBC starring Melina Kanakaredes. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.-Synopsis:The show revolves around Dr...
. Hannah from 2001 until the show was discontinued in December 2002. She was the third Hannah Hansen and the first non-twin role. Providence co-stars Melina Kanakaredes and Seth Peterson have said that it was easy to be upstaged by Allen with her wacky outfits, her perfect timing and her cuteness because the camera loved her.
After Providence ended, Allen shot many commercials including a Jif Peanut Butter commercial called "Sleepover" which has been reported to be seen on air until late 2005, early 2006. Allen was next seen on a TV show as a guest star on CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
's 2002-2003 season 1 finale playing Emma Kaye, a little girl who was abducted by a child molester. The episode aired in May 2003.
Allen continued to film many commercials and then in February 2004, she landed a small part on General Hospital playing Molly Farrell, a young girl trapped with her young brother in a hotel fire. After this short stint, Allen was asked to return to the show to play Luke and Laura Spencer's daughter Lesley Lu (Lulu) Spencer
Lulu Spencer
Lesley Lu "Lulu" Spencer is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She is the daughter of supercouple Luke and Laura Spencer. She has notably been portrayed by Julie Marie Berman, who debuted in the role in November 2005...
, a change that required that the character's age be retroactively lowered
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
. Allen appeared as Lulu every now and then, often with TV grandmother Lesley. Allen left General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
when Julie Marie Berman took over the role in fall 2005 to play a SORASed (rapidly aged for plot purposes) Lulu.
During her time on General Hospital, Allen filmed a short film called Walls of Jericho
Walls of Jericho
Walls of Jericho is an American metalcore band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1998.-Early career :Walls of Jericho were formed following the demise of two Detroit based bands. The first being the influential Earthmover, featuring members Mike Hasty and Wes Keely . The second was a band called...
for the 168 Film Festival. Here she was reunited with on-screen mom Karen Geraghty who had also played Allen's mother in her 2003 Jif commercial. Karen stated after filming Walls of Jericho that "I have worked with many kids before through commercials, short films, etc. but none compare to Tessa. I love working with her and would do so again in a heartbeat". For her role as Emily in this short film, Allen was nominated for best supporting actress.
After Allen 's run as Lulu Spencer ended, she continued to film TV commercials including a Mass Mutual commercial which aired during both the 2006 and 2007 US Tennis Open. In 2006, Allen was in her first theatre production as the evil stepsister Anastasia in Cinderella and in early 2007, Allen shot another short film, this time a USC grad film entitled Open House, where she plays a younger version of the main character. In March 2007 Allen shot a Doritos commercial which featured the music group The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
. In October 2007, Allen began filming another USC grad film called Sunnier Days, where she plays the lead character on a road trip with her falling-apart family. Sunnier Days (now called Little Canyon) won awards at the UCLA Directors Spotlight. In May 2008 Allen booked and shot another lead role in a student film called The Moment She Fell, a story about a father and daughter learning to deal with the grief of their wife/mother as well as their new life together.
Allen was born in Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
. She has three sisters, Madison, Jeanne, and Adeline, all of whom have acted in the past.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Enough Enough The score for Enough, composed by David Arnold, was released on June 4, 2002.#"Give Me a Sign"#"F.B.I.?"#"New Leaf"#"Slim and Joe"#"Get Out of the House"#"Goodbye Gracie"#"Training Day"#"Breaking In"#"Setting the Trap"#"Fight Club"... |
Gracie Hiller | co-star | Mitch("Billy Campbell Billy Campbell William Oliver "Billy" Campbell is an American film and television actor. In television, he is best known for his roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City Miniseries... ") and Slim's ("Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller... ") daughter |
| 2005 | Walls of Jericho | Emily | lead | Short film for the 168 Film Project; nominated for best supporting actress |
| 2007 | Open House | Young Sara | lead | UCLA Grad film - Michelle O'Keefe |
| 2008 | Little Canyon | Greta | star | UCLA Grad Film - Olivia Silver; 2009 Sundance Official Selection |
| 2009 | "The Moment She Fell" | Alice Green | lead | Chapman Grad Film - Fevzi Balli |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2002 | Providence Providence (TV series) Providence is an American drama series that aired on NBC starring Melina Kanakaredes. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.-Synopsis:The show revolves around Dr... |
Hannah Hansen | Series Regular | 3rd 'Hannah' and first non-twin to play the role |
| 2003 | CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.... |
Emma Kaye | Guest Star | Season 1, Episode 24 'Body Count' |
| 2004 | General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
Molly Farrell | Guest role | February 2004, Hotel Fire storyline |
| 2004–2005 | General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
Lesley Lu 'Lulu' Spencer | Recurring role | Was asked to return to General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... in April 2004 to play a de-aged Lulu Spencer after playing Molly Farrell for 4 episodes in February 2004. Lulu was recast in January 2006 when the character was aged 10 years. |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Result | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168 Film Awards | 2005 | Best Supporting Actress | Walls of Jericho | |