August 2026

 

Jennifer Beals is an internationally renowned actress who stars as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells in CBS’ new series NCIS: NEW YORK, from the world’s most successful television franchise.

 

Beals is best known for her role as Bette Porter in Showtime’s groundbreaking drama THE L WORD, which originally aired for six seasons. For her role, Beals received the prestigious GLAAD Golden Gate Award, as well as two NAACP Image Award nominations. Beals also executive-produced and starred in the revival of the series, THE L WORD: GENERATION Q.

 

Most recently, Beals has been seen as Twi’lek in “The Book of Boba Fett,” a spinoff series of “The Mandalorian,” and the film “Luckiest Girl Alive” opposite Mila Kunis. Additional credits include a recurring role in “The Last Tycoon,” “Taken,” “Swamp Thing,” “A Wife’s Nightmare,” “The Night Shift,” “The Chicago Code” and more.

 

Throughout her accomplished film career, Beals has co-starred alongside Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman in the blockbuster “The Book of Eli” and starred opposite Garry Marshall, Faye Dunaway and Brendan Fraser in “Twilight of the Gods.” Also, she starred alongside Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman and Rachel Weisz in the crime thriller “Runway Jury.” For her role in the iconic film “Flashdance,” Beals earned a Golden Globe nomination and an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress. Additional film credits include “The Madonna and the Dragon,” “Manhattan Night,” “After,” “A House Divided,” “In Soup,” “Cinemanovels,” “Rodger Dodger,” “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle,” “Four Rooms,” “Before I Fall” and “Devil in a Blue Dress.”

 

In 2019, Beals and filmmaker Tom Jacobson created the gripping thriller novel The Hive, which is set in a near future that focuses on escalating mob violence, and was named one of People magazine’s Best Books of Fall 2019.

 

Originally from Chicago, Beals attended Yale University, where she graduated with honors. Her birthday is Dec. 19