Jessica Makinson is an American actress, comedian, and improviser known as a series regular for several Comedy Central programs, for voice-over work for animation, and as a sketch player for late night talk shows.
Education
Makinson graduated from Arizona State University in 2000 with a Bachelor in theater. Soon after graduating, Makinson moved to Los Angeles, where she studied at Improv Olympic, going on to become a stand-out performer in groups like Brand X, King Ten, and The Armando Show.
Career
She then began sketch and improvisation work at Arizona State University. Makinson helped build Arizona State University"s Farce Side Comedy Hour and Barren Mind into on-campus hits with her comedic skills. A go-to girl for Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Makinson guest-starred on their political sitcom That"s My Bush and has contributed voices to their long-running animated series South Park. She has also contributed sketches and characters to American Broadcasting Company"s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Columbia Broadcasting System"s The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Showtime"s The Underground.
In 2003, Makinson starred in a season of Comedy Central"s improv/hidden camera series Trigger Happy television before landing the role of Eleanor (the weeper) on Spike television"s 2004 reality parody Joe Schmo 2.
The following year she starred in two pilots, The Hollywood Show for Comedy Central (playing a mock reporter) and The Sportsmen"s News for the Outdoor Channel (playing a mock news co-anchor). In early 2007, Makinson starred in arguably her biggest role to date, Carly Barzak in the short-lived series, Halfway Home.
In December 2007, she appeared in television commercials for Toshiba HDTV that h cross-promoted with Shrek the Third. She also appears on True Jackson, VP as a rude airline passenger in the episode "Trapped in Paris." She also appears in Liquid Plumr"s "Double Impact" commercial as an overheated shopper.