Jennifer Tilly Compares ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ to Poker: ‘It’s All About Strategy’
Jennifer Tilly may be a new face in the glamorous chaos of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but she’s no novice when it comes to playing high-stakes games. The Oscar-nominated actress and poker pro says her experience in strategy and quick thinking has been invaluable in navigating the drama-filled world of reality TV.
Tilly, now a full-time cast member of the hit Bravo series, likened the Housewives experience to a poker match, where the stakes are far more personal. “Everybody’s playing a game. It’s about who’s playing it the best,” Tilly told The Hollywood Reporter. “The one who plays it best comes out on top. But here, the stakes aren’t just chips—they’re your real relationships.”
With over $1 million in lifetime poker winnings and a recent induction into the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame, Tilly is no stranger to pressure. Yet even she admits the dynamics on RHOBH have been more intense than she anticipated. “These women have so much history together. They barely sit down before the shouting starts,” she said. “I’m just ducking and dodging, trying to avoid the shrapnel. I like all of them, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get close to people who are such, well, mortal enemies.”
Tilly’s Hollywood background has certainly helped her adapt, but she acknowledged that reality TV is an entirely different beast. “When you’re on a talk show, you only have to be funny and charming for seven minutes,” she explained. “On Housewives, they’re filming you for 17 hours a day. Eventually, the real you starts to show.”
The actress first appeared on RHOBH as a friend of Sutton Stracke but joined the main cast this season. A self-proclaimed Housewives superfan, Tilly said stepping into the spotlight on her favorite show felt surreal. “When Sutton got on, I thought, ‘This is wild—I’ve been obsessed with the show forever, and now I’m so close to it.’ Being cast was like getting a part in a Martin Scorsese movie.”
Tilly’s decades-long career has spanned critically acclaimed films like Bound—the Wachowski sisters’ cult classic—and Bullets Over Broadway, which earned her an Oscar nomination. She’s also beloved by horror fans for her role as Tiffany Valentine, the iconic bride of Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise.
Though her acting career and poker expertise have prepared her for high-stakes situations, Tilly admits that learning the ropes of RHOBH has been anything but smooth. “I’m used to challenges, but this is something else entirely,” she said with a laugh.
Catch Jennifer Tilly and the rest of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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