A comedian and an actress as she shares her inspiring journey from small-town Minnesota to the bright lights of Hollywood and reveals how she broke free from a traditional path, leaving behind an unfulfilling marriage and career to pursue her true passion

Jillie Reil is a stand-up comedian as well as an actress and writer. Known as THE Cougar of Comedy®, she has taken the stage at The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, The Improv, The Ice House, Flappers and various venues throughout the US in addition to guest hosting and producing events, radio and podcasts. ⁣ Jillie has also appeared in feature films, television shows, sketch comedies and theatre. She often plays quirky characters such as Cheryl, the ditzy sidekick to the twisted plastic surgeons in the Universal Pictures feature comedy Hole in One (known as American Pie 8 internationally), Yoni, the frigid tantric yoga instructor in the sitcom pilot "Yoga Madness," and Roxanne, the porn star with a heart of gold in the Jerry Zucker/TBS sketch pilot "National Banana." ⁣ Throughout her career, Jillie has balanced acting, stand-up, and navigating the challenges of a rapidly changing entertainment industry. Despite facing challenges like ageism and evolving audience sensitivities, she remains an advocate for pursuing dreams and embracing the power of laughter.