Jennifer Tilly: ‘RHOBH’ and Poker – ‘Everybody’s playing a game’

Camille Meyer, Sutton Stracke, and Jennifer Tilly on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo

Jennifer Tilly’s Poker Skills Meet Real Housewives Drama

Jennifer Tilly, a new addition to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, brings a unique blend of strategy and experience to the reality TV world.

As an Oscar-nominee and now a full-time cast member, Tilly finds the role more challenging than expected. However, her background as a professional poker player has equipped her well for the dynamics of the show.

 “I like to play with the best in the world. I like the challenge. It ups my game,” Tilly recently shared with The Hollywood Reporter, drawing parallels between poker and Housewives that reveal their similarities.

“Everybody’s playing a game. It’s like, who’s playing it the best?” she explained. “That’s the one who’s going to come out on top. But the stakes [on Housewives] are that you’re playing your real relationships.”

Tilly’s success at the poker table, with over $1 million in lifetime earnings and a place in the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame, indicates her ability to navigate the Beverly Hills drama. Nonetheless, she acknowledges the learning curve involved in adapting to the show’s dynamics.

“All of these girls have history. I mean, they barely sit down at the table before they just start yelling at each other,” Tilly shared. “And I’m just ducking and dodging and trying to avoid the shrapnel. I like all the girls, but being a loyal and faithful friend, I don’t know if I’ll ever get close to those girls that are just, mortal, mortal enemies.”

Despite her prior onscreen experience, Tilly admits that nothing could fully prepare her for the realities of the show.

“It’s really easy when you go on a talk show to be funny and delightful for seven minutes,” she said of the Housewives shooting schedule. “When they are filming you for 17-hour days, the real you starts to creep through.”

Jennifer Tilly.

Phylicia J. L. Munn/Bravo

From Superfan to Cast Member: Jennifer Tilly’s Housewives Journey

 Tilly, previously a friend of Sutton Stracke on the show, now embarks on her first season as an official cast member. As a self-proclaimed “superfan” of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Tilly compares her excitement to joining the cast to landing a role in a Martin Scorsese film.

“I was so excited about her being on the show because I’ve been obsessed with the Housewives ever since the very beginning. I was a Housewives superfan,” Tilly told THR. “When Sutton got on, I thought, ‘This is so strange, I’m obsessed with the show and now I’m so close to it.’”

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Apart from her reality TV endeavors and poker career, Tilly boasts a 40-year screen presence in Hollywood. From starring in cult classics like Bound to earning an Oscar nomination for Bullets Over Broadway, her versatility shines through. Not to mention her iconic role as Tiffany Valentine in the Child’s Play franchise.

Don’t miss The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.

FAQs

Q: How has Jennifer Tilly’s poker career influenced her role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?

A: Tilly’s experience as a professional poker player has equipped her with strategic skills that prove valuable in navigating the drama of the show.

Q: What challenges has Jennifer Tilly faced as a new cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?

A: Tilly has encountered the complexities of established relationships and high stakes drama, requiring her to adapt quickly to the dynamics of the show.

Credit: ew.com