Jenna Elfman (born Jennifer Mary Butala, September 30, 1971) is an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1999, and three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. After making her film debut in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), she appeared in Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), Dr. Dolittle (1998), EDtv (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), Town & Country (2001), (2003), Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004), and Big Stone Gap (2014).
Elfman has also played leading roles in other television comedies, including Courting Alex (2006), Accidentally on Purpose (2009–2010), 1600 Penn (2012–2013), Growing Up Fisher (2014), and Imaginary Mary (2017). She had a recurring role in the FX legal drama Damages in 2012, and has been a series regular on the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead (2018–2023).
During her time on Dharma & Greg, Elfman starred in a number of films. In 1998, she starred alongside Richard Dreyfuss in the comedy film Krippendorf's Tribe. The film received generally negative reviews from critics. In 1999, she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in the satirical comedy film EDtv. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with some criticizing its similarity to The Truman Show (1998), but was a box office flop, grossing only $35.2 million compared to its $80 million production budget. The following year, she starred in the romantic comedy film Keeping the Faith opposite Ben Stiller and Edward Norton (who also directed). The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $60 million. Elfman received Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination for her performance. In 2001, she appeared in the romantic comedy film Town & Country, a $105 million production budget box office bomb. The film was filmed in 1998, and after 12 release date changes, the film finally made it into theaters on April 27, 2001, nearly three years after filming began. It received negative reviews from critics. Elfman has also done voice-over work in the animated films Dr. Dolittle (1998) and CyberWorld (2000).
In 2006, Elfman returned to television with the leading role in the CBS sitcom, Courting Alex. The series was cancelled after one season. She guest-starred on Two and a Half Men, My Name Is Earl and Brothers & Sisters. In 2009, she appeared in the comedy films The Six Wives of Henry Lefay and Love Hurts. In 2011, she had a supporting role in the romantic comedy film Friends with Benefits, and in 2012 she and her husband Bodhi launched a podcast called Kicking and Screaming by Jenna and Bodhi Elfman.
Elfman starred in another short-lived CBS sitcom, Accidentally on Purpose during the 2009–10 season. In 2012, she took a recurring role in the FX legal thriller series, Damages. In 2013, Elfman starred in the NBC comedy series, 1600 Penn and later in Growing Up Fisher, which were each cancelled after a single season. She starred in the romantic comedy film, Big Stone Gap (2014) opposite Ashley Judd, and appeared in the drama film Barry about Barack Obama's life at Columbia University in 1981. In 2017, she starred in another one-season sitcom, Imaginary Mary on ABC. Like 1600 Penn and Growing Up Fisher, the series was cancelled after its first season.
In 2018, Elfman was cast in the AMC horror drama series, Fear the Walking Dead playing the mysterious nurse June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie. She made her debut in the fourth season and stayed on show to the eighth and final season. The series ended in 2023. In 2020, she starred in an episode of the horror anthology series, The Twilight Zone. She later guest-starred on the ABC crime drama Will Trent and the AMC thriller Dark Winds. In 2025, she made her return to sitcoms with the recurring role in the ABC comedy series, Shifting Gears.
In 2005, she appeared at the grand opening of , a museum sponsored by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. On May 24, 2006, Elfman was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Hero Award event in participation with the Scientology-affiliated groups Youth for Human Rights International and Artists for Human Rights (AFHR). On March 27, 2008, she and actor Charlie Sheen co-hosted the Scientology-affiliated New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project charity event at Geisha House in Hollywood.
Elfman participated in awareness-raising initiatives, including modeling for a fashion show, reading to schoolchildren as part of the National Education Association Read Across America program, and hosting a party in her home to raise awareness for causes headed by the Environmental Working Group.
Elfman is on the board of directors of the Dizzy Feet Foundation.
| 1997 | Grosse Pointe Blank | Tanya | |
| 1998 | Dr. Dolittle | Owl | Voice |
| Can't Hardly Wait | The Angel | Uncredited | |
| Krippendorf's Tribe | Prof. Veronica Micelli | ||
| 1999 | EDtv | Shari | |
| Venus | Venus | ||
| 2000 | Lorelei | Voice | |
| CyberWorld | Phig | ||
| Keeping the Faith | Anna Riley | ||
| 2001 | Town & Country | Auburn | |
| 2003 | Kate Houghton | ||
| 2004 | Clifford's Really Big Movie | Dorothy | Voice |
| 2005 | Touched | Angela Martin | Executive producer |
| What's Hip, Doc? | Supermodel | Voice – uncompleted short | |
| 2008 | Struck | Pregnant date | Short film |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Ophelia | |
| Love Hurts | Darlene | ||
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Annie | |
| 2014 | Big Stone Gap | Miss Iva Lou Wade | |
| 2016 | Barry | Kathy Baughman |
| 1992 | Murder, She Wrote | Ballet Dancer in background | Uncredited; Episode: "Dance Diabolique" |
| 1993 | Double Deception | Lisa Majorski | Television film |
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show | Psychedelic girl | As Jenna Butala; Episode: "George Does A Bad Thing" |
| 1995 | Lily | Episode: "Bottoms, Up" | |
| Roseanne | Garland | Episode: "The Getaway, Almost" | |
| 1996 | Her Last Chance | Leslie | Television film |
| Townies | Shannon Canotis | Main role; 15 episodes | |
| Murder One | Angela Scalese | Episode: "Chapter Seventeen" | |
| Almost Perfect | Becky Toll | Episode: "Being Fired Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry" | |
| NYPD Blue | Patty Snow | Episode: "The Nutty Confessor" | |
| 1997 | The Single Guy | Jordan | Episode: "Just Friends?" |
| 1997–2002 | Dharma & Greg | Dharma Freedom Finkelstein Montgomery | Main role; 119 episodes |
| 2002 | Obsessed | Ellena Roberts | Television film |
| 2004–2011 | Two and a Half Men | Frankie / Dharma Montgomery | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Courting Alex | Alex Rose | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Lizzie Jones-Baker | Episode: "Game Night" |
| 2008 | My Name Is Earl | Kimmi Himmler | Episode: "We've Got Spirit" |
| 2009–2010 | Accidentally on Purpose | Billie Chase | Main role; 18 episodes |
| 2012 | Shameless | Jill | Episode: "Fiona Interrupted" |
| Damages | Naomi Walling | 7 episodes | |
| 2012–2013 | 1600 Penn | Emily Nash Gilchrist | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Royal Pains | Lacy | Episode: "Open Invitation" |
| 2014 | Growing Up Fisher | Joyce Fisher | Main role; 13 episodes |
| So You Think You Can Dance | Herself | Guest judge | |
| 2015 | The Perfect Stanleys | Ellen | Television film |
| 2017 | Imaginary Mary | Alice | Main role; 9 episodes |
| 2018–2023 | Fear the Walking Dead | June "Naomi / Laura" Dorie | Main role; 75 episodes |
| 2018–2021 | Talking Dead | Herself | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | The Twilight Zone | Barbara | Episode: "A Human Face" |
| 2024 | Will Trent | Edie Reynolds | Episode: "Cpt. Duke Wagner" |
| 2025 | Shifting Gears | Eve Drake | 10 episodes |
| Dark Winds | Agent Sylvia Washington | 8 episodes |
| 1990 | "Halo" | Depeche Mode |
| American Comedy Awards | 1999 | Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication | Dharma & Greg | rowspan=3 | |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | 2001 | Favorite Actress — Comedy/Romance | Keeping the Faith | ||
| Golden Globes | 1998 | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy | Dharma & Greg | ||
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| Golden Apple Awards | 1998 | Female Discovery of the Year | |||
| Online Film & Television Association | Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Dharma & Greg | rowspan=10 | ||
| 1999 | |||||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 1998 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | |||
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| Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical | ||||
| 2001 | |||||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical | Keeping the Faith | ||||
| 2002 | Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Dharma & Greg | |||
| TCA Awards | 1998 | Individual Achievement in Comedy | |||
| TV Guide Awards | 1999 | Favorite Actress in a Comedy | rowspan=2 | ||
| 2000 | |||||
| 2001 | rowspan=3 | ||||
| Viewers for Quality Television Awards | 1998 | Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series | |||
| 1999 |
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