Summary
- Amber Tamblyn played the character Jenny Harper on Two and a Half Men.
- Tamblyn enjoyed playing Jenny and felt proud of the character.
- Tamblyn described Jenny as a queer character.
Amber Tamblyn isn't known for starring in sitcoms, but she gave a memorable performance as Jenny Harper in two seasons of the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men. Some of her fans might not even realize that she was part of this cast since there was always so much attention on the other actors. While the show could have stopped after Charlie Sheen's departure, it continued on for several more seasons. That's a good thing since it meant getting the chance to watch the talented Tamblyn on the show.
Given the press surrounding Charlie Sheen's Two and a Half Men journey, fans are definitely curious about Amber Tamblyn's experience on the sitcom. Here's what she actually thinks about her character.
Who Did Amber Tamblyn Play On Two And A Half Men?
Amber Tamblyn's career after Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants has been impressive. She balances the causes that she believes in with smart movies like You Hurt My Feelings, Paint It Black, and Girlfriend's Day. She has also grown up a lot since her early days in Hollywood. She and her husband David Cross are parents to their daughter Marlow Alice Cross, who was born in February 2017.
While she broke out playing spunky Tibby Rollins in the 2005 Sisterhood movie, Tamblyn is no stranger to TV sets. She played the intelligent and compassionate Joan Girardi in the teen drama Joan of Arcadia from 2003 to 2005.
In 2013, Tamblyn was cast as Charlie Harper's child Jenny Harper. She played this role for 24 episodes throughout seasons 11 and 12.
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Jenny is introduced in the season 11 premiere, "Nangnangnangnang." She has to deal with trauma right away when she learns that Charlie has passed away. When Two and a Half Men came back for the season 9 premiere called "Nice To Meet You, Walden Schmidt," fans learned that Charlie was on the subway in Paris with Melanie Lynskey's character Rose when he died. Jenny wanted to be part of her dad's life, but that isn't possible now.
Instead, Jenny gets to know Charlie's Brother, Jon Cryer's brother Alan. In her first episode, she shares that she is gay, and her main plotline involves her meeting someone at a bar. Her character arc revolves around her dating life, but she also bonds with the other characters.
Jenny is a fun character that has some nuance to her. While she is of course sad that she will never get the chance to know her father, she seems to really enjoy life and is a layered character.
What Did Amber Tamblyn Say About Two And A Half Men?
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Amber Tamblyn talked about Two and a Half Men and explained that when she was told about Jenny Harper, she was intrigued. She said that she met with Jim Patterson, a producer on the sitcom, and Jon Cryer and Chuck Lorre, which went well. She was excited about starring in a sitcom.
At the time of her interview, Tamblyn shared that she had filmed three Two and a Half Men episodes. She said that she was enjoying playing her character: "They’ve been — I pinch myself. It’s the funnest job in the world. It’s also something I’ve never really played before, so it feels new and fresh and exciting and terrifying all at the same time."
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Every time Amber Tamblyn shared her feelings about Jenny Harper on Two and a Half Men, she sounded proud of the character she played. Some might wonder if she felt that the portrayal of Jenny Harper was offensive. But she doesn't feel that way at all. It sounds like she loved playing Jenny and liked that she's a smart character who brought a lot to the show.
In 2013, Tamblyn talked more about her character with HuffPost Live.
When asked about the representation of a gay woman on a sitcom like this one, the actress said, "I don't think you should be looking to 'Two and a Half Men' for that. This is pure, unadulterated fun. It's a sitcom. It's entertainment at its purest." She continued, "The fact that she is a lesbian is sort of the secondary conversation. What makes it really remarkable is the fact that it's actually a female character that is not a cliche in a lot of respects, and that's really cool."
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In a 2013 interview with TV Line, Tamblyn shared her opinion of Jenny and was asked if there was anything that she wanted to explain about her. She paused before replying, "I think it’s been perfectly handled. I think maybe I would say that I think we’re describing Jenny as a gay character, and I actually think she’s queer. That would be my thought. I haven’t said that yet, but that’s my thought."
When Tamblyn spoke more on the subject, she was thoughtful and compassionate, which is often her approach to important topics. Fans can always count on her to be well-spoken and caring.
The actress continued, "Well, that’s specifically for the gay community to understand, in the sense that it’s very complicated for Jenny. I’ve given a lot of thought to that, and I think the queer community is less about definition. It’s more about a community of culture. That would be my thought about it, because a lot of people are like, 'I’ve heard some say she’s bi, and I’ve heard other writers say she’s gay. Which is it?'"
Two and a Half Men fans enjoyed watching Amber Tamblyn in seasons 11 and 12. She was also a big part of the series finale, "Of Course He's Dead," which was a funny title since Charlie Sheen's character Charlie Harper turned out to be totally fine. He tries to make things right with Jenny by giving her $100,000, and it seems like she gets a little bit of closure.
