Movie Star Jennifer Tilly Moonlights as Poker Babe

American actress and Academy Award nominee Jennifer Tilly is a World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner.

In 2005, Tilly won a cherished World Series of Poker bracelet along with the first place prize of $158,625 in the Ladies’ No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em event, outlasting 600 other players. She followed up this accomplishment on September 1, 2005, by also winning the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament held at Los Angeles’ Bicycle Casino. Tilly has appeared in the GSN Poker Royale series, as well as Poker Superstars, Celebrity Poker Showdown and other televised poker shows.

In a television interview, Tilly stated that at this point in her career she is more interested in pursuing poker than acting. Her live tournament winnings exceed $500,000. Tilly also appears in the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions 2007 Edition video game along with current boyfriend, Phil Laak, that was released in 2007 by Activision.

As of December 2008, Tilly retired from the pursuit of poker as a career. In the December, 2008, edition of Bluff Magazine she says: “I love poker but greatness in poker is an elusive dream. There are too many variants. Trying to find validation in poker is like trying to find a virgin in a whorehouse. I’m not giving up poker entirely — gambling is an addiction after all. I’m just going to treat it more like a hobby and less like a career.”