Jessica Szohr is an American actress and former model who became a familiar face in 2007 as Vanessa Abrams, the Brooklyn outsider on Gossip Girl. Since then, she has moved through horror films, studio comedies, cable dramas, and sci-fi television. She also built a stable family life away from the tabloids. This guide covers where she came from, how her career grew, and where she is today.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jessica Karen Szohr |
| Nickname/Stage Name | Jessica Szohr |
| Date of Birth | March 31, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA |
| Age | 41 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (African-American and Hungarian heritage) |
| Profession/Occupation | Actress, model, podcast host |
| Years Active | 2003–present |
| Education | Menomonee Falls High School |
| Genre/Field | Television, film |
| Spouse/Partner | Brad Richardson (married August 2024) |
| Children | Bowie Ella Richardson (born January 2021) |
| Parents | Sadie Szohr and Rich Szohr |
| Siblings | Eldest of six, including Nick, Megan, and Danielle Szohr |
| Net Worth | Estimated around $4 million |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Notable Works | Gossip Girl, The Orville, Piranha 3D, Twin Peaks, Shameless |
| Social Media | Instagram: @jessicaszohr |
Early Life, Family, and Heritage
Jessica Szohr was born on March 31, 1985, in Menomonee Falls, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the eldest of six children, so she grew up in a busy house where responsibility came early. That role as the big sister shows up in how she talks about family even now.
Her surname is Hungarian, and it is pronounced “Soar.” Her family background is mixed, with Hungarian and African-American roots. She has spoken about growing up in a very normal Midwestern way, with school, sports, and family dinners taking up most of her time.
Her mother, Sadie Szohr, ran a house-cleaning business, and Jessica often helped with clients. Her siblings include brother Nick Szohr and sisters Megan and Danielle. The close family bond stayed strong even after Hollywood took her far from Wisconsin.
As a kid, she played soccer and did cheerleading. Her passion for the arts started early, though. She began modeling as a young child and soon had an agent. That early exposure to sets and cameras shaped what she wanted to do with her life.
Education and the Move to Los Angeles
Jessica attended Menomonee Falls High School. Her modeling work made her stand out, and not always in a good way. She has said some classmates harassed her out of jealousy, which made school harder than it needed to be.
She graduated early, at age 17. Her parents supported her ambition but also wanted a backup plan. She briefly enrolled at Columbia College Chicago, keeping education as a safety net in case acting didn’t work out.
Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles with her mother. This is a pattern I see in many successful young actors: a parent who relocates with them during the risky first years. That support helped her stay grounded while she chased auditions.
Early Career: Modeling, Commercials, and First TV Roles
Before acting, Jessica worked as a teen print model in the Milwaukee area. Around age 10, she landed a national Quaker Oats commercial. For a Wisconsin kid, that was a big early win, and it proved she could handle professional sets.
Her screen career began around 2003, the same year she appeared in the indie film Uncle Nino. She then booked guest spots on sitcoms and dramas, including What I Like About You, My Wife and Kids, Joan of Arcadia (2004), and CSI: Miami.
Those small parts were not glamorous, but they built her early screen credits. She has said the first few years were slow. She changed management, kept auditioning, and treated each booking as practice rather than a final destination.
Her first real steady attention came with a recurring role on ABC’s What About Brian (2006–07), the Barry Watson drama. It gave casting directors a clear look at her range, and it set the stage for the role that changed everything.
Gossip Girl and the Rise of Vanessa Abrams
In 2007, Jessica joined The CW’s Gossip Girl, based on Cecily von Ziegesar’s book series. She was first signed for a short guest arc of four or five episodes as Vanessa Abrams. Producers liked her so much that she became a series regular.
Vanessa was different from the rich kids of the elite school. She was a Brooklyn girl and an aspiring filmmaker with a strong will and her own opinions. That contrast gave the show a grounded voice next to Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, and Ed Westwick.
Not every viewer loved Vanessa at the time. When I rewatched the series recently, though, her character felt more relatable than many of the Upper East Side storylines. She was often the one asking the questions the audience was thinking.
The role made her a breakthrough star. In 2008, she was named to People’s Most Beautiful People list. She stayed with the ensemble through the 2007–12 run, leaving as a regular after season four and returning for the finale.
Jessica Szohr Movies: Film Career Highlights
Gossip Girl opened doors to feature films. Her best-known movie role came in Piranha 3D (2010), a remake inspired by the 1978 horror film. She played Kelly, a local girl caught in a spring break disaster.
In 2011, she joined Sarah Jessica Parker in the comedy I Don’t Know How She Does It. She later appeared in The Internship (2013) and Ted 2 (2015), giving her exposure in big studio comedies.
She also mixed in indie projects that let her play more complex characters. Here is a quick look at her major film credits:
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Uncle Nino |
| 2010 | Piranha 3D |
| 2011 | I Don’t Know How She Does It |
| 2011 | Love, Wedding, Marriage |
| 2012 | Hirokin |
| 2013 | The Internship |
| 2013 | Pawn |
| 2013 | Brightest Star |
| 2014 | Two Night Stand |
| 2014 | 10 Cent Pistol |
| 2015 | Ted 2 |
| 2015 | Club Life |
| 2022 | Designing Christmas |
Later TV Work: Shameless, Twin Peaks, and The Orville
After Gossip Girl, Jessica returned to television with sharper, more adult roles. In 2015, she played Nessa on Shameless and Gretchen Polk on USA Network’s Complications. Both roles showed she could leave Vanessa behind.
In 2017, she appeared as Renee in the Twin Peaks revival. Being part of David Lynch’s world was a strong signal that respected creators saw her as a serious actor, not just a teen-drama name.
Her biggest later role came on The Orville, Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi series. She joined in its second season on Fox in 2018 as Lt. Talla Keyali, a strong security officer. She stayed for The Orville: New Horizons on Hulu in 2022.
Fans keep asking about Season 4 of The Orville. The cast’s busy schedules and production timing have kept it uncertain, so anyone following her work should watch for official updates.
| Years | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Joan of Arcadia | Guest role |
| 2006–07 | What About Brian | Recurring role |
| 2007–12 | Gossip Girl | Vanessa Abrams |
| 2015 | Shameless | Nessa |
| 2015 | Complications | Gretchen Polk |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Renee |
| 2018–22 | The Orville | Lt. Talla Keyali |
XOXO Podcast and the Gossip Girl Reunion
In January 2022, Jessica launched the XOXO rewatch podcast with her former co-star Zuzanna Szadkowski, who played Dorota. The hosts go episode by episode, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the set.
The podcast lets her look back at the show as an adult. She talks openly about being young on set, the dramatic episodes, and how she now views Vanessa’s choices. For longtime viewers, it adds real context to scenes they remember.
The cast stayed connected off-screen too. In August 2024, Ed Westwick married Amy Jackson on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Jessica and Kelly Rutherford attended, and photos from the wedding were widely shared as a mini Gossip Girl reunion.
Relationships and Dating History
Jessica’s most famous past romance was with Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick. The couple went public around 2008 and split in early 2010. Their off-screen romance drew constant attention from tabloids during the show’s peak years.
She was later linked to NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which fueled plenty of speculation. She also dated NFL wide receiver Scotty McKnight. She has generally kept these past relationships private and rarely discusses them in detail.
In a Cosmopolitan interview and later in podcast conversations, she has shared that she values privacy in dating. That approach explains why her current relationship stayed largely out of the spotlight until she chose to share it.
Marriage to Brad Richardson
Jessica Szohr’s husband is Brad Richardson, a former NHL player who played as a center. The couple kept their relationship low-key for a long time before going public on social media.
They became engaged in 2022, after they had already welcomed their first child. Choosing to start a family first and plan the wedding later suited their private, family-first style.
The couple married on August 11, 2024, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Guests included Nina Dobrev, Shaun White, and Gossip Girl co-star Chace Crawford. The wedding photos showed a relaxed, outdoor celebration rather than a flashy Hollywood event.
Jessica Szohr’s Daughter and Life as a Mom
Jessica announced her first pregnancy in September 2020. She and Brad welcomed their daughter, Bowie Ella Richardson, on January 11, 2021. They shared the news with fans shortly after the birth.
She has spoken honestly about giving birth and how her body changed. She described feeling strong and resilient, but also learning as a new mom. That honesty connected with many fans going through the same thing.
Since then, she has been open about juggling work and motherhood. Long filming days on sci-fi sets and podcast recordings now fit around family time. She often says motherhood has changed what she looks for in roles and how she spends her time.
Jessica Szohr Net Worth
Jessica Szohr’s net worth is estimated at around $4 million. Most of it comes from acting, especially her five-year run on Gossip Girl and her regular role on The Orville.
Her income has also come from feature films, guest TV roles, modeling, and her XOXO podcast. Her career spans more than two decades, which has given her a steady, varied income rather than one big payday.
Like most celebrity net worth figures, this is an estimate, not an official number. Her personal and family finances, including her husband’s NHL career earnings, are not public.
FAQs
How Old Is Jessica Szohr?
Jessica Szohr was born on March 31, 1985, which makes her 41 years old in 2026. Her zodiac sign is Aries.
Who Is Jessica Szohr’s Husband?
Jessica Szohr is married to Brad Richardson, a former NHL center. They wed on August 11, 2024, in Flagstaff, Arizona, after getting engaged in 2022.
Does Jessica Szohr Have Children?
Yes. She has a daughter named Bowie Ella Richardson, born on January 11, 2021. She shares her with husband Brad Richardson.
Why Did Jessica Szohr Leave Gossip Girl?
Jessica left as a series regular after season four to pursue other projects, including film work. She returned for the series finale in 2012 to close out Vanessa’s story.
Is Jessica Szohr Still in The Orville?
She played Lt. Talla Keyali in seasons two and three of The Orville, including New Horizons on Hulu. Any return depends on whether a fourth season moves forward.
What Is Jessica Szohr’s Ethnicity?
Jessica Szohr has mixed heritage, with African-American and Hungarian roots. Her Hungarian surname is pronounced “Soar.”
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