Jennifer Gareis (born August 1, 1970) is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder. She is best known for her roles as Grace Turner on The Young and the Restless (1997–2000, 2002, 2004, 2014) and as Donna Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful (2006–).
Early life Gareis was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and graduated from J. P. McCaskey High School in 1988. She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, then earned a Master's of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University.
Her father was German American. She is also of partial Italian descent (Sicily). Her great-grandmother Sebastiana Tringali came from Militello in Val di Catania and the city gave her the honorary citizenship.
Career Gareis competed in her first beauty pageant in 1991 when she placed second runner-up at Miss Pennsylvania USA 1992. She later competed in New York, winning the Miss New York USA 1994 title, and representing New York in the Miss USA 1994 pageant held in South Padre Island, Texas on February 11, 1994. Gareis placed in the top six of the nationally televised pageant, which was won by Lu Parker of South Carolina.
Gareis later began an acting career and landed the role of Grace Turner on CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, which she played from 1997 to 2000 and again in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2014. She is best known for her current role as Donna Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful, a role she has played intermittently since July 2006. She was ranked #90 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2002.
In 2024, Gareis received a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Donna.
Personal life Gareis married Bobby Ghassemieh on March 7, 2010. On June 11, 2010, Gareis gave birth to a son. Her daughter was born June 29, 2012.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1996 The Mirror Has Two Faces Unknown uncredited1997–2000, 2002, 2004, 2014 The Young and the Restless Grace Turner Contract role: 1997–99, recurring role: 2000, 2002, 2004, 20141997 Private Parts Coed 1997 Lifebreath Elevator Woman 1998 Enough Already Unknown 2000 Gangland Sarah 2000 Luckytown Sugar 2000 The 6th Day Virtual Girlfriend 2000 Miss Congeniality Tina 2001 College Try Christine 2001 Diagnosis: Murder Thalia Roselawn Episode: "Less Than Zero"2001 Downward Angel Woman 2001 Feather Pimento Woman in Green Short2001 What Boys Like Brooke2002 Air Strike Charlie 2002 Boat Trip Sheri 2005 Veronica Mars Cheyenne Episodes: "A Trip to the Dentist" and "Leave It to Beaver" 2005 Venus on the Halfshell Honey O'Hara 2006– The Bold and the Beautiful Donna Logan Contract role: July 20, 2006 – February 18, 2015; October 29, 2018 – Present Recurring role: March 2015 – September 20182006 Escape Ecstatic Blonde Short2007 Panic Button Susan 2014 Infernal Sarah 2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Handsome Harbor Actress Episode: "Kristen Schaal Wears Strawberry Colored Pants and a Multicolored Shirt"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category WorkResult 2020Soap Hub AwardFavorite ActressThe Bold and the Beautiful 2021 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
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