Tavi Gevinson
Gevinson in 2013
Born (1996-04-21) April 21, 1996 (age 27)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationOak Park and River Forest High School
Occupations
  • Writer
  • magazine editor
  • actress
Website

Tavi Gevinson (born April 21, 1996) is an American actress, writer, and magazine editor. At age twelve, she came to public attention for her fashion blog Style Rookie. By 15, she had shifted her focus to pop culture and feminist discussion. Gevinson began acting in 2013, and later starred in the HBO Max series Gossip Girl (2021–2023).

Gevinson was the founder and editor-in-chief of the online magazine Rookie, aimed primarily at teenage girls.

Early life

Gevinson was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the suburban town of Oak Park, Illinois.[1] Her father, Steve Gevinson, is a high school English teacher.[2] Her mother, Berit Engen, is a weaver and part-time Hebrew instructor who grew up in Oslo, Norway.[3][4] Gevinson's father was born to an Orthodox Jewish family; her mother, who was raised Lutheran, converted to Judaism in 2001.[5][6][7] Gevinson and her two older sisters, Rivkah and Miriam, were raised in the Jewish faith; she had a Bat Mitzvah ceremony.[4][7][8] Gevinson attended Oak Park and River Forest High School and graduated in 2014.[9]

Career

2008–2011: Style Rookie

Gevinson started a fashion blog, Style Rookie, in 2008. The blog, featuring photos of the 11-year-old in distinctive outfits and her commentary on the latest fashion trends, began drawing nearly 30,000 readers each day.[10] Her father "wasn't terribly interested" in her new hobby until she asked for his permission to be interviewed by The New York Times for an article about young bloggers.[11]

Because of the blog's success, Gevinson was invited to attend New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. She made overseas fashion-related trips to Tokyo and Antwerp, funded by Pop magazine,[4] and was commissioned to write articles for Harper's Bazaar and Barneys. She styled a shoot for BlackBook magazine,[4] acted as a muse and model for Rodarte's clothing line at Target stores,[4][12] and partnered with Borders&Frontiers to design and sell her own T-shirt.[13] In 2010, she spoke at a marketing conference in New York and at Idea City, a Canadian version of the TED conference.[4]

There was a backlash to Gevinson's early success in the fashion industry. New York magazine questioned whether it was possible for Gevinson to write her blog without "some help from a mom or older sister".[14] Sarah Mower of The Daily Telegraph, while conceding that Gevinson had a "truly independent, original voice", criticized her father for taking her out of school "to go to haute couture shows ... It's hard to imagine a kid being able to come back down to reality."[15] A Grazia fashion editor complained on Twitter that a large bow Gevinson wore had blocked her view of a runway during fashion week.[4] Anne Slowey of Elle felt her success was "gimmicky" and commented, "She's been thirteen for, like, the last four years."[4] Gevinson later remarked: "A lot of people on the Internet have a problem with a young person doing well. I felt like there were people who were [at fashion week] because of their name, their money or their family, and I didn't have any of those things."[16]

2011–present: Rookie, acting roles, etc.

In early 2011, Gevinson decided to stop writing primarily about fashion: "Lately I've been looking to other places for a creative outlet and for inspiration ... Now I'm more intrigued by mixing fashion with the other stuff I've been enjoying."[17] Her personal style also became less outlandish: "Before, dressing up was my outlet, and now I'm pursuing other creative things that take up a lot of time and energy, so in the morning I usually want to put on something simple and comfortable."[18][19]

In the fall of 2011, at the age of 15, Gevinson founded Rookie magazine.[20][21] The site was originally conceived of as a joint venture with Jane Pratt, but Gevinson ultimately decided to maintain sole ownership.[22] Ira Glass acted as a mentor figure to Gevinson. The website focused on issues impacting teenage girls and was written mainly by teenage girls. It also featured guest contributors. A one-off print edition of the magazine, Rookie Yearbook One, was published by Drawn & Quarterly in 2012.[23] In 2012, Gevinson spoke at TEDxTeen, with a focus on representation of women in popular culture, and at The Economist's World in 2012 Festival.[24][25] She is also a contributing editor at Garage magazine.[26] In November 2018, Gevinson announced that she was shutting down Rookie due to its no longer being financially sustainable.[27]

Gevinson first acted in a short film, First Bass, in 2008, but became more visible in 2012.[28] That year, she voiced a character in the animated short film Cadavar, which was directed by First Bass's Jonah Ansell and co-starred Kathy Bates and Christopher Lloyd.[29] In the film, she sang renditions of both Neil Young and Pet Shop Boys songs.[30] Also in 2012, Gevinson filmed a role in Enough Said by director Nicole Holofcener.[9] Gevinson is interviewed on screen in the 2013 documentary film The Punk Singer, talking about riot grrrl punk icon Kathleen Hanna.[31] In 2014 and 2015, she starred in This Is Our Youth in Chicago and at the Cort Theatre on Broadway.[32] In 2015, she made a guest appearance as Feather McCarthy on "Beware of Young Girls", the seventh episode of the American comedy horror television series Scream Queens.[33] She played Mary Warren in Ivo van Hove's 2016 production of The Crucible at the Walter Kerr Theatre.[34] Later that year, she played Anya in The Cherry Orchard at the American Airlines Theatre.[35]

On the MSNBC chat show So Popular!, host Janet Mock dubbed Gevinson the "Queen of the Millennials".[36] She then made a guest appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on a panel critiquing Sean Penn's Rolling Stone interview with El Chapo.[37]

In 2016, Gevinson recorded a duet with Hunx and His Punx frontman Seth Bogart, singing on "Barely 21" from Bogart's self-titled debut solo album.

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role
2013 Enough Said Chloe
2016 Goldbricks in Bloom Calvin's ex
2017 Person to Person Wendy
2023 Shortcomings Autumn

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Parenthood Lauren Episode: "The Pontiac"
2014 The Simpsons Jenny (voice) Episode: "What to Expect When Bart's Expecting"
2015 Scream Queens Feather McCarthy Episode: "Beware of Young Girls"
2017 Neo Yokio Helena St. Tessero (voice) Main role; 6 episodes
2020 The Twilight Zone Maggie Episode: "The Human Face"
2021–2023 Gossip Girl Kate Keller Main role; 24 episodes[38][39]
2023 American Horror Story: Delicate Cora 3 episodes

Theater

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2009 Les Misérables Gavroche Circle Theatre
2014–2015 This Is Our Youth Jessica Steppenwolf Theatre Chicago revival
Cort Theatre Broadway transfer[40]
2016 The Crucible Mary Warren Walter Kerr Theatre Broadway
2016 The Cherry Orchard Anya American Airlines Theatre Broadway
2017–2019 Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Irina Williamstown Theatre Festival: 2017
MCC Theater: 2019 Off-Broadway transfer
2018 The Member of the Wedding Frankie Addams Williamstown Theatre Festival
2018 Days of Rage Peggy Second Stage Theater Off-Broadway
2020 Assassins Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme Classic Stage Company Off-Broadway

Politics

During the 2012 US presidential campaign, Gevinson supported Barack Obama,[41] and appeared in a public service announcement for women's rights, mouthing the words to Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me". She organized a get-well-soon-card drive for Malala Yousafzai, the fourteen-year-old Pakistani girl whose campaigning for education rights led to her shooting in October 2012.[42]

References

  1. ^ Elisabetta Sordi (2011-01-05). "Tavi Gevinson: 14 y.o. and she's the world's most famous blogger". LUUUX. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  2. ^ Melouney, Carmel (2011-09-14). "The veteran 'Rookie'". The Daily. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  3. ^ Twohey, Megan (January 12, 2010). "Petite teen becomes big voice in fashion world". The Seattle Times.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Widdicombe, Lizzie (12 September 2010). "Style Rookie, Tavi Gevinson's fashion blog". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  5. ^ "At 18, Tavi Gevinson Is a Fashion Veteran—and a Broadway Rookie". 10 August 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Bio « Berit Engen Tapestries". Beritengen-tapestries.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  7. ^ a b Lieblich, Julia (June 28, 2001). "Reform rabbis return to tradition". Chicago Tribune.
  8. ^ "'This Is Our Youth' Portrays the 'Pathetic Remnants of Upper West Side Jewish Liberalism'". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. ^ a b Christopher Borrelli (2012-09-18). "Teen fashion maven Tavi Gevinson is 16 going on 30". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  10. ^ Twohey, Megan (2010-01-12). "Petite teen becomes big voice in fashion world". Seattletimes.com. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  11. ^ Kwan, Amanda (13 August 2008). "Young fashion bloggers are worrisome trend to parents". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  12. ^ "Tavi Gevinson defines Rodarte for Target". Teen Vogue. November 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  13. ^ Bloggers turn designers... who's next? Archived 2009-09-25 at the Wayback Machine Catwalk Queen
  14. ^ "Meet Tavi, the 12-Year-Old Fashion Blogger – The Cut". Nymag.com. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  15. ^ Mower, Sarah (2010-02-03). "Pre-fall 2010 heralds the return of classic dressing, brown leather and Tavi Gevinson". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  16. ^ Laura Kane (2012-10-24). "Tavi Gevinson: Teenage "Rookie" still figuring it out". Toronto Star. Thestar.com. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  17. ^ Tavi Gevinson (2011-03-27). "i feel like the photo to accompany this post should be a lot more intense and introspective-seeming but hey! mirrors are pretty introspective!". Thestylerookie.com. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  18. ^ Oatman, Hunter (2012-11-28). "Nostalgia is Magic: Tavi Gevinson Remixes Teen Culture". Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  19. ^ Judy Berman (2011-09-01). "Lady Gaga Hates Cathy Horyn, Loves Tavi – Flavorwire". Flavorwire.com. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  20. ^ Bering, Jesse (2011-09-13). "Tavi Gevinson Rookie magazine: how it combines fashion and feminism". Slate. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  21. ^ Trong, Stephanie (2011-04-19). "Tavi Gevinson Explains Her New Website, Rookie - The Cut". Nymag.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  22. ^ "New York Post". New York Post. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  23. ^ Merle Ginsberg (2012-06-08). "UTA Signs Web Publishing Phenom Tavi Gevinson". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  24. ^ "TEDxTeen Tavi Gevinson: Still Figuring It Out". May 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  25. ^ Sarah Leon (2011-05-12). "Tavi Gevinson and Cintra Wilson At The Economist's World in 2012 Event". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  26. ^ Rookie Yearbook One: Tavi Gevinson. Amazon.com. 2012-09-04. ISBN 978-1770461123.
  27. ^ "'Rookie,' Tavi Gevinson's Online Magazine And Cultural Touchstone, Is No More". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  28. ^ First Bass – Tavi Gevinson – Style Rookie – Debut Film – 2008 on YouTube
  29. ^ "Tavi Gevinson 'Cadaver' Trailer Debuts: Teen Style Prodigy Sings Neil Young Cover". The Huffington Post. 2012-02-02. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  30. ^ Hilary Moss (2013-01-16). "Tavi Is Animated and Singing Pet Shop Boys for Cadaver". Nymag.com. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  31. ^ Anderson, Sini. "Punk Singer Press Notes". Opening band films. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013. Zipped Microsoft Word file at http://www.thepunksinger.com/downloads/punk-singer-press-notes.docx Archived 2013-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ Witt, Emily (6 June 2014). "Tavi Forever". The New York Times.
  33. ^ Davis, Allison P. (November 4, 2015). "Tavi Showed Up on Scream Queens Last Night". The Cut. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  34. ^ "The Crucible as you've never seen it" by Peter Marks, The Washington Post, March 31, 2016.
  35. ^ "Broadway first look: Diane Lane leads star-studded cast in revival of The Cherry Orchard by Tamsen Fadal, PIX11, September 14, 2016
  36. ^ "Tavi Gevinson: 'Queen of the Millennials'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  37. ^ "El Chapo Speaks". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  38. ^ Greenwood, Douglas (11 March 2020). "Tavi Gevinson is joining the new cast of Gossip Girl". i-d.vice.com. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Kate Keller: Ambition". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  40. ^ Sabina Aouf, Rima (9 April 2014). "Tavi Gevinson Will Make Her Broadway Debut in This Is Our Youth". concreteplayground.com. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  41. ^ Abbey Goodman (2013-01-02). "Tavi Gevinson may take over the world while you read this". CNN. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  42. ^ Eva Wiseman (2012-12-09). "Tavi Gevinson: the fashion blogger becoming the voice of a generation". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-05-13.

Further reading

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