Ellie Reed

While many first learned the comedic timing of actor Ellie Reed from her role as Annie on the series "Girlboss" (Netflix, 2017), Reed was actually a veteran of the Chicago theater scene. Born in Deerfield, Illinois, Reed attended Northwestern University in nearby Evanston. After graduating with a B.A., Reed eventually enrolled in improv classes at Chicago's Second City Conservatory and at iO West Theater. She also co-founded the theater troupe Buzz22 Chicago, and began working as its casting director. After winning the Douglas Morrison National Playwriting Cagematch in 2012, Reed began working extensively with the Griffin Theater, working as the Company Manager in addition to appearing in a number of the group's productions including 2014's "Men Should Weep." She would soon transition to the screen with small parts, such as on an episode of "Chicago P.D." (NBC, 2014-) and "Empire" (Fox, 2015-), but Reed continued to work in theater, earning immense acclaim after producing her own play, "The Beecher Sisters" at the Awkward Pause Theatre in 2015. She still continued pursuing TV work however, appearing on "2 Broke Girls" (CBS, 2011-) in 2016. Then in 2017, Reed opened herself up to an even wider fanbase, joining the cast of "Girlboss," based on the memoir by Sophia Amoruso.