Jackie Tohn

Dress: Michael Depaulo Shoes: Badgley Mischka Star Earrings: Ole Drop Earrings: Dea Dia Ring: Aureus + Argent Snake Ring: Stylist’s Own

Corset: Michael Depaulo Jeans: Cotton On Tulle Skirt: Michael Depaulo Earrings: Kasha Bali Wave Bracelet: Dea Dia 2nd Bracelet: Calista Shoes: Steve Madden

Corset: Michael Depaulo Jeans: Cotton On Tulle Skirt: Michael Depaulo Earrings: Kasha Bali Wave Bracelet: Dea Dia 2nd Bracelet: Calista Shoes: Steve Madden

Dress: Michael Depaulo Shoes: Badgley Mischka Star Earrings: Ole Drop Earrings: Dea Dia Ring: Aureus + Argent Snake Ring: Stylist’s Own

Dress: Videmus Omnia Shoes: BCBG Earrings: Open Edit Stud Earrings: Calista

Jackie Tohn

Tunic: Zara Pants: Zara Bralette: Zara Bikini Bottoms: Zara Bracelets: Calista Earrings: Stylist’s Own Shoes: Saks Fifth Avenue

By: Ashley Oken

Actress Jackie Tohn is not one to be put in a box— she has range.. She gave Netflix viewers the hardpartying character of Melrose on Netflix series Glow, embodied beloved comic legend Gilda Radner in Netflix’s A Futile, Stupid Gesture, and can now be seen as Re in the Amazon Original Series Do, Re, Mi , which focus on the musical adventures of three birdie best friends. In addition to acting on the show alongside Kristin Bell and Luke Youngblood, Tohn wrote 50 of the original songs for the series. Tohn wears multiple hats in Hollywood— she’s an actress, singer-songwriter. comic, writer, and show creator— and loves pursuing it all, as creating is something that she’s always done. Born and raised in Oceanside, New York, Tohn has been acting professionally since the age of nine and has been doing stand-up comedy since she was fourteen years old. First appearing on the PBS children’s series Ghostwriter as an extra at 10 years old, she achieved snagging her first credited role on the CBS sitcom The Nanny. Since then, Tohn has amassed credits in various shows such as The Good Place, Rules of Engagement, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and even a few episodes of Sesame Street. Additionally, Tohn has appeared on Season 8 of American Idol in 2009, flexed her songwriting chops on the 2011 songwriting competition series Platinum Hit on the Bravo Network, where she reached 7th

Corset: Michael Depaulo Jeans: Cotton On Tulle Skirt: Michael Depaulo Earrings: Kasha Bali Wave Bracelet: Dea Dia 2nd Bracelet: Calista Shoes: Steve Madden

place, portrayed Joan Rivers in an episode of Epic Rap Battles of History in 2019 and has been a judge on the Netflix cooking competition show Best Leftovers Ever! in 2020 . She continues to write and develop her own projects.

Tohn caught up with Rival Magazine LA and chatted with us about her career, how her love of music has shaped her, and the freedom in creating one’s own projects.

You co-created and co-wrote all the music for “Do, Re, Mi”, the new animated preschool musical series on Amazon. You also star and executive produce with Kristin Bell! What was it like to work with one of your best friends on this show?

JT: Working with KB is amazing. I don’t know how she has enough hours in the day to accomplish everything she does! Once she heard that our mission with the show was to “sneak-teach” music education to kids, she was in. She was monumentally instrumental in getting us meetings, keeping us on track with the mission of the show, and making sure the emotional lessons of the show were on point. Also, as you know, she sings like an angel so we were over the moon to have her voice Mi the bird. And it’s just so easy working with your friends because you have a shorthand and don’t have to beat around the bush to make a point.We just get each other , so that helped too!

Music education tools are a great tool for teaching kids life lessons and are more important than ever in light of educational budget cuts. How have these shows shaped you and your love of music?

JT: I was lucky enough to grow up in a house where music was being played constantly. My dad plays piano, guitar, and bass and was always in singing groups. He and I would sing songs at the piano mu entire childhood and still do to this day. I picked up the guitar in my teens and never put it down. Music education cartoons are so key for the many, many children who don’t have access to music and music education. I am so honored that children will be developing a love of music and learning musical lessons and from out show, Do, Re, Mi. It’s not a responsibility we took lightly.

You played Melrose in the Netflix series GLOW. What was the most fun part of it?

JT: Glow was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Since we did all of our own wrestling on the show, we had to do four weeks of wrestling training before shooting

every season. The cast got so close during that time. We had to have so much trust in one another. It was so empowering to use our bodies in that way. I had never considered myself much of an athlete before the show and working on Glow allowed me to rewrite the stories I had told myself my whole life and lift the false limitations I needlessly constructed. But the most fun part was the constant laughing. The middle school vibes were strong.

You also played the iconic Gilda Radner in the Netflix film A Futile and Stupid Gesture , someone you referred to as a hero of yours. Did you feel any pressure to perform well because of her standing in comedy?

JT: I did! I watched her “Best of SNL” VHS constantly growing up. She was a huge inspiration in my life ; showing me it was possible for girls to be funny on TV. But the Gilda I played in FSG was a Gilda before SNL. So I was more embodying her spirit and who she was as a person and a comedian as opposed to doing the characters she did on SNL.

You’re a singer-songwriter and comedian as well as an actress and a writer. What inspires you to pursue so many passions?

JT: I didn’t even mean to pursue so many. I’m just super lucky I get to do many of the things I love to do. In my teens and 20’s, I was often being asked whether I wanted to be a musician or an actress. As though there was this choice I had to make instead of trying to be a well-rounded performer and do both / do it all. to work out your material in front of people. You can’t get the set to where it needs to be without seeing what works ( and what doesn’t) in front of an audience. So you have to be ok to fail. Publicly. Which is not an easy hump to get over. So different from acting where you don’t roll the cameras until you have it perfect.

You made it to the semi-finals on Season 8 of

American Idol. What’s the best memory you

have from that experience?

JT: One of the craziest/best moments for me was when Paula Abdul was on Jay Leno and he asked her who her favorites were that season and she said me and another contestant. It was nuts! I was like ‘I’M GONNA WIN THIS THING!’ Paula Abdul shouted me out on Leno!” And then I got eliminated immediately after that.That’s the roller coaster of reality tv / this business for ya. Up one minute, WAY DOWN the next.

What was it like to work on Amazon series The Boys? Tell us about your character

JT: It’s always so cool to be on a show you’re a big fan of. My character, Courtenay— best spelling of any character ever—is a ruthless reality tv producer who does whatever she has to to make compelling TV, even if that means stepping on people to make it happen.

You’ve achieved so much in your career already. What advice do you have for others who want to be an actor or otherwise in the entertainment industry?

If you weren’t in the entertainment industry, what would you choose to do?

JT: The truth is, i have zero marketable skills. Acting, singing, writing, creating is what I do. It’s what I did when no one was watching and it’s what I do now that a few folks are. If I HAD to choose something else, I like psychology so maybe a therapist. But let’s be real. I’m never going to be a therapist.

You started doing stand-up comedy at the age of 14. What have you learned about the art of performing since then?

JT: The best advice I’ve ever been given and pass along to anyone who asks is: make your own stuff. Write your own scripts. Get on stage. Do shows. Do stand up. Write projects for yourself. We have to be such creation engines in this business especially today in such a saturated market. Don’t just wait for the phone to ring, make a space for yourself.

Photographer: Heather Koepp Stylist: Haili Pue Hair: Iris Moreau

MUA: Iris Moreau

Dress: Michael Depaulo Shoes: Badgley Mischka Star Earrings: Ole Drop Earrings: Dea Dia Ring: Aureus + Argent Snake Ring: Stylist’s Own

Tunic: Zara Pants: Zara Bralette: Zara Bikini Bottoms: Zara Bracelets: Calista Earrings: Stylist’s Own Shoes: Saks Fifth Avenue

“The best advice I’ve ever been given and pass along to anyone who asks is: make your own stuff...We have to be such creation engines in this business especially today in such a saturated market. Don’t just wait for the phone to ring, make a space for yourself.”

Tunic: Zara Pants: Zara Bralette: Zara Bikini Bottoms: Zara Bracelets: Calista Earrings: Stylist’s Own Shoes: Saks Fifth Avenue