Vanessa Bednar is a talented actress, comedian, and entrepreneur who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, she grew up with a passion for entrepreneurship, often going door-to-door as a child to sell various items, including pillows, plants, and homemade perfume.
After attending Maine West High School, Vanessa opened a tanning salon with her business partner while pursuing her studies at Oakton Community College. However, it was during her time at Oakton that she discovered her true calling in acting and began to pursue it seriously.
At 19, Vanessa moved to California to further her acting career, obtaining her SAG card in 1996 after guest-starring in the Stu Segal series Silk Stalkings and later appearing in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also worked as a Hawaiian Tropic girl, appearing in several movies, including Vegas Vacation and My Favorite Martian.
However, Vanessa's passion for production soon took over, and she began producing hundreds of live model search events worldwide. She not only produced the events but also hosted most of them, becoming a familiar face in the industry. Her hard work paid off when she was named the Executive Producer for the 25th Anniversary Hawaiian Tropic International Model Search featuring Everclear, which was syndicated nationwide.
After the model search came to an end in 2010, Vanessa returned to Burbank to focus on her passion for television and film. She discovered a love for comedy and improv, attending programs at Second City and IoWest. Since her return, Vanessa has been grateful for every job she has booked and has even published her first book, "Left Behind," in 2014.
"Left Behind" is a heartfelt memoir about coming to terms with and moving on after her father's suicide when she was just 16. Vanessa hopes that her story will help others who have been "left behind" to find the strength to move forward and not live with a lifetime of guilt.
Throughout her journey, Vanessa has been inspired by the words of Oprah, who once said, "Luck = Preparation meets Opportunity." Vanessa believes that with hard work, determination, and a bit of luck, anyone can achieve their dreams.
