JILL WAGNER

“The Mercury Girl” Making Her Mark In Hollywood

You might have seen her on Maxim’s list of Hot 100 Women or possibly in FHM, perhaps you recognize her face from the Lincoln Mercury commercials; regardless of where, Jill Wagner standing at 5’ 8” is hard to forget! A North Cacalacky native, Jill graduated Sigma Cum Laude in Business from North Carolina State, which means, yes gentlemen she is more than just a pretty face. Packing her bags and heading to Los Angeles on gut feeling, Jill quickly made her mark in Hollywood. Initially signing with friend and modeling agent Alex Fox from CSD, Jill realized the modeling world was not for her. Going on calls, walking into a room full of hundreds of women that looked just like her, seemed pointless. Luckily it only lasted a short while, after landing a job on MTV’s hit television series Punk’d, as the shows first female regular sketch performer, Jill began her acting career. Her charm and incredible sense of humor kept opportunity knocking, and soon guest star roles on series such as Monk on USA, Quintuplets on Fox, and a recurring role on Dr. Vegas for CBS began to open up.

Although Wagner was making steady strides forward checks were not steadily rolling in. As thoughts of returning to North Carolina began to cloud her head, a call from her manager sealed her stay in LA. On her way to the airport Al Hassas, current manager urged her to go on an open call for Lincoln Mercury who was on the search for a spokeswoman. “Typically I wouldn’t go on an open call, they just seemed like a waste of time, but since it was on the way to the airport I decided to stop. I was a little concerned because Al told me they were looking for a bilingual spokeswoman, which I am not! His advice? ‘Fake it!’” Wagner giggles. Needless to say she went in there, all American and nailed it. There were a series of cuts, from 100’s to 50 to 10 to Jill Wagner as the final pick for Lincoln Mercury’s 2005 Spokeswoman, which she continues to hold as of today. Jill comments, “It’s a good thing it came through, with only $150.00 in my bank account I was ready to go home.”

Taking her first stab in a lead role, Jill embarked on a new challenge in acting. Transforming herself into Krista Starr in Blade: The Series, she played the role of a woman trying to find her brother’s killer and in her quest was infected with vampire blood. Wagner confesses it was “the toughest role” she’s had to play thus far. “I say this because it was the first time I had to carry a series.” Although it only aired for one season, Jill was on the rise, even winning Spike TV’s 2006 honor of “Woman of Action.”

Fast forward two years and Jill Wagner has now become a household name. A feature film with a starring role in the science fiction thriller Splinter, released this past Halloween and currently out on DVD, and perhaps even more exciting is her co-hosting position on the ABC primetime competition reality series Wipeout, proclaimed this summer’s biggest splash! Her play by play commentary along with her contagious laugh has definitely played a significant role in the show’s success.

If you missed out while you were barbequing, no need to fret. Jill, along with special guest Michael Irvin, will co-host a special themed Super Bowl edition that will air during half-time and a post Super Bowl full episode in which cheerleaders will compete against male couch potato sport fans; primetime exposure showcasing Jill’s likeability.

Making all the right moves, Jill Wagner is rapidly becoming a household name and America’s next sweetheart.